Rent The Exorcist (1973)

The Original Exorcist - The Exorcist review by CP Customer

For some reason in the 70's Hollywood produced a series of devil or occult themed films that have not been surpassed since. The Exorcist stands alongside The Omen as one of the most memorable.

It is not the gore-fest or out and out screamer that it would have been in today's effect heavy horror movies. Instead it slowly builds towards its climax, displaying the suffering of all those involved, whether it is the family, priests or the never better Linda Blair.

Horror Film And a Masterpiece - The Exorcist review by GI

Of all the fantastic horror films that were released in the 1970s, for example The Omen and Carrie, The Exorcist still retains the power of controversy mostly due to false myths about the filmmaking process and the subsequent effects on young actor Linda Blair. As a demonic possession narrative it's still probably the most famous and the best, indeed it's a cinematic masterpiece. As a psychological horror it retains its ability to shock and disturb even when you've seen it many times. The film came out at a time of growing social despair in the US, a time of Vietnam, the collapse of the peace & love movement as murder and violence increased alongside Government corruption. The Exorcist tapped into the feeling that all was lost and targeted the innocent child in its story to amplify that despair and sense of dread. This is a horror film that doesn't rely on image to create its growing sense of fear but combines it with subtlety of script and thematic challenges to the safety of hearth and home, family and religion. It really is a great film and one of those that everyone should see (the Extended Cut is the one to go for, replacing scenes taken out but subsequently reintroduced by the director William Friedkin). Famous film actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is making a movie in Washington. She has her 12 year old daughter Regan (Blair) accompany her there and they live in a large rental house. When Regan begins to show behavioural changes Chris becomes frustrated that the medical experts can find nothing wrong even though Regan's behaviour and strange things begin to worsen in the house. Desperate she confides in a young priest (Jason Miller), who is facing his own issues, and he agrees to perform an exorcism becoming convinced that Regan maybe possessed. The Church insists that experienced priest Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow) is summoned to perform the ceremony. Merrin and the demon have a history! With its infamous scenes of medical procedures (which are even more shocking when seen today) and some stomach churning stuff that occurs The Exorcist is a truly uncomfortable viewing experience but it's also enthralling and it thoroughly deserved its awards and nominations. The performances are all superb and include the great Lee J. Cobb as a detective who investigates some of the events that occur.

Horror Epic. - The Exorcist review by Steve

This has an epic dimension, particularly in the early scenes of the exhumation of a satanic statue in Iraq. William Friekin was hot property and the visual effects are state of the art. The sound is extraordinary. It is from the era when horror began to attract big budgets and went on to make a fortune for Warner Brothers. 

Divorced from the hype, it no longer disturbs as it once did. We are an audience who has lived through its influence. But the profanities are startling. The ritualistic traditions of catholicism, with its medieval imagery and Latin ceremonies are unsettling. And the film draws on primal images of satan which are part of our communal childhood fears. The genre motifs still work.

It is interesting how much time is spent creating an impression of America in crisis. The poor man begging in a subway, the student protests. The US is socially and politically divided. The family is falling apart and there is a crisis of faith. And now the youth is going to hell... There is an impression that in the west, it's the right time for an anti-christ to re-enter the stage.

Max von Sydow is exceptional in the title role, going head to head with his satanic majesty. The 14 year old Linda Blair is also astonishing as the possessed child. And it feels like the demon has a personality. It's a key film of the '70s and new kind of horror. We been introduced to the devil before, but nowhere near as viscerally or explicitly.