The Exorcist Movie Review
The Exorcist Movie Review
The Exorcist is an award-winning 1973 horror movie directed by William Friedkin adapted from a novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty which was inspired by a 1949 true story of demonic possession of a 14 year-old boy in Mr. Ranier, Maryland. Instead, the possessed in the movie is a sweet and innocent 12 year-old girl named Regan who is gradually transformed from normalcy to a horrific twisted and blasphemous evil spirit who can levitate, spin her head around and spit green vomit at will. The visually-shocking images and dialogue during the exorcism scenes as two Catholic priests battle the demon in Regan will leave you pained, drained, and unnerved.
The Exorcist is touted as the scariest movie of all time yet without the fast-paced slashfest and gore of modern day horror flicks. What is it then about this American classic horror film "The Exorcist" that terrified and fascinated an international audience and withstood the test of time?
William Blatty wrote the novel The Exorcist two decades after reading a Washington Post story about a 1949 exorcism when he was a student at Georgetown University.
It was in this house in St. Louis, Missouri that a harrowing exorcism was performed on a 14 year-old boy for two weeks to rid him of demonic possession. The two Jesuit priests who took part in the exorcism were Father Walter Halloran and Father William Bowdern who gave details of the rites to author Thomas B. Allen, who would record them in his 1993 novel, Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism. Allen would use a pseudonym of "Robbie" for the boy's name. The book describes some of the events that took place in this home. One passage goes like this: "Something now rippled on Robbie's right leg. As Bowdern again commanded the demon to identify himself, red welts formed an image on the leg. It was, the witnesses later said, an image of the Devil."
The true story that inspired William Blatty - The story behind the story
This is the 1949 exorcism that inspired William Blatty to write the novel and screenplay The Exorcist. Legend persists that a 14-year-old boy, given the pseudonym "Robbie Manheim," was possessed after attempting to contact his deceased aunt via a Ouija Board.
The Ultimate Review
If you have not read the book or seen the movie, this review will prepare you for your worst nightmare.
Excellent review of The Exorcist - a must read
25th Anniversary version
The updated release of The Exorcist added the extra minutes and scenes deleted from the original movie. It included a longer focus on the psychiatric and medical tests that Regan was subjected to help determine her bizarre behavior and mental state. We feel the frustration of Chris McNeil (Ellen Burstyn) as the possessed girl's mother, when the doctors and psychiatrist suspect lesions on the brain when she knows that there is something more sinister going on with her daughter. Linda Blair, as the little girl, has obviously been put through an ordeal in this role, and puts us through one. Jason Miller, as the young Jesuit Fr. Karras is tortured, doubting, intelligent. The older priest, Fr. Merrin is an authority on exorcism and will keep us on our toes in the disturbing scenes as he battles the Devil who wants to kill the possessed Regan.
The possessed girl is one of the scariest faces in movie history. It was makeup artist Dick Smith that created the terrifying and ghoulish face of the tormented Regan. The asymmetrical cuts, darkened eye sockets gave her unhuman eyes, done with contact lenses.
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Regan (Linda Blair) is the adolescent daughter of a movie actress Chris Mcneil (Ellen Burstyn) who is possessed by an ancient demon. This was after she finds a Ouija board game in the basement and made contact with somebody she identifies as Captain Howdy. Regan begins to act violently, speak in a demonic voice and hurling obcenities at her mother. After subjecting her daughter to harrowing psychiatric and medical procedures to determine Regan's mental state, Chris who is an atheist, calls in young priest and psychiatrist Fr. Damien Karras (Jason Miller) for help. Fr. Karras is convinced that the young girl is possessed by the Devil and they must call in an exorcist, Father Merrin (Max von Sydow).
Two priests are summoned to exorcise the demon
Fr. Merrin and Fr. Karras administer exorcism rites to cast out the devil from the possessed girl. The bed shakes and tilts violently as Regan writhes and contorts while the Devil mouths obcenities through the child. The process of casting the demon out of Regan's body soon begin to take a toll on the Jesuit priests.
This is the scariest scene from The Exorcist that scared the daylights out of every viewer. Regan (Linda Blair) sits on her bed, spews obscenities with a gravelly voice and spins her head around 360 degrees to the horror of audiences around the world. This self-mutilation with a crucifix with nauseating and horrendous special effects fo 360 degree head rotation, and the projectile spewing of the green puke was the most frightening.
How did she do that? - Animatronics was used to spin Regan's head
A spitting image of Regan was created with wires in its head which can be remotely controlled to move the eyes, mouth and head. Not only did the head spin around 360 degrees, but it has the creepiest smile on its face. Linda Blair had to be maintain her ghoulish looks in the exorcism scenes. Although it is obvious that the spinning head is a model, it is still unsettling to see it happen.
Regan defies gravity - The levitation scene
In this scene, Regan levitates and hovers above the bed, with her arms outstretched in the form of a cross. The two priests repeatedly chants "It's the power of Christ! The power of Christ compels you!" and sprinkle more holy water producing raw slashes on Regan's legs. She slowly sinks back down onto the bed. Fr. Karras binds her wrists and she retaliates by striking him with a powerful force from behind.
The green vomit projectile scene - One of the most memorable scenes - the pea soup effect
In this scene, the possessed Regan taunts Father Karras with a low gravelly voice and asks him about his mother, catches him off-guard, and then spews a vile green substance that smothers his face.
The wind king demon "Pazazu" makes his grand entrance
The forces of the demon are unleashed - a back-lit demonic Pazuzu statue appears behind the possessed Regan. Pazuzu. materializes and makes an appearance in Regan's bedroom during the exorcism rites.
Horror at it best
The 5 most horrific scenes from The Exorcist
The expulsion of the devil - Two priests die to save Regan
At the climax of the exorcism, Father Merrin keels over from heart failure and Father Damien Karras commands the demon to enter himself, which the devil does. The priest immediately flings himself out of Regan's bedroom window and falls to his death on the steep concrete steps below in order to stop the spirit from murdering Regan. Regan is restored to her normal self and does not have any recollection of any of the harrowing experiences.The film ends as the MacNeil mother and daughter return to Los Angeles to move on from their ordeal.
The Exorcist Curse
Read about the injuries and deaths during filming of the movie.
- Exorcism and the Catholic Church
Highly Recommended Books: "An Exorcist Tells His Story" and "The Exorcist - More Stories" both books are by Father Gabriele Amorth found on Amazon.com What is possession? What are the signs of possession - Part I - The Haunted Boy: the Inspiration for the Exorcist
Part 1: The Haunted Boy: the Facts Behind the Story that Inspired the Exorcist - Part II - The Haunted Boy: the Inspiration for the Exorcist
After the Movie Media interest peaked after the movie's release and subsequent success. The most fascinating and in-depth article ever to appear on the subject appeared in the January 1975 edition of Fate magazine. - Part III - The Haunted Boy: the Inspiration for the Exorcist
Debunking the Myth of 3210 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier Rumors that the haunted boy had actually lived at 3210 Bunker Hill Road in Mount Rainier have been around since the early 80s and have mostly been spread by neighborhood teens and newcomers - A memorable 37th year for fans of THE EXORCIST | Everything Exorcist
Exorcist News Video Blu-ray Linda Blair NECA Releases Rare Stuff Exorcist Remake According To Captain Contact Everything Exorcist The Exorcist Exorcist II: The Heretic Exorcist III: Legion Exorcist: The Beginning Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcis - Facts About The Ouija Board - Hope From Beyond
Hope From Beyond is a wealth of information all about developing psychic abilities.
Critical Acclaim
The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including (in addition to the acting nominations for Jason Miller, Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn), Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Set Decoration, Best Sound, Best Art Direction and Best Picture. It won the awards for Best Sound and Best Screenplay.
It is the first horror film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The Exorcist:
The Complete Anthology
(The Exorcist/ The Exorcist- Unrated/ The Exorcist II:
The Heretic/ The Exorcist III/ The Exorcist:
The Beginning/ The Exorcist:
Dominion)
The Exorcist III
Exorcist
The Beginning
(Widescreen Edition)
Exorcist II:
The Heretic
(Keepcase)
The Exorcist
The Rite:
The Making of a Modern Exorcist
The Real Story Behind the Exorcist:
A Study of the Haunted Boy and Other True-Life Horror Legends from Around the Nation's Capital
An Exorcist Tells His Story
Hostage to the Devil:
The Possession and Exorcism of Five Contemporary Americans
The Haunted Boy
While filming a haunted asylum in St. Louis, Missouri, documentary filmmakers uncover a secret diary of the infamous 1949 exorcism involving a 13 year old boy possessed by the devil that later inspired the book and movie, The Exorcist. Utilizing hi-tech paranormal gadgetry along with a legion of supernatural experts they search out to capture the scariest entity known to man, The Unholy Ghost. Nothing you have ever seen or heard before gets you closer to the ungodly truth of what really happened in this most terrifying, best selling story of all time! This is the untold-real story of The Exorcist, a chronicle of true events based on the actual priest's secret diary the world was not to see, Until Now!
Purple Star Award
On August 24, 2011, this lens was bestowed a Purple Star Award. I wholeheartedly thank the lensmaster who nominated this lens to be worthy of this honor.