The Exorcist: Review By Daveactor7

Undoubtedly one of the best horror films to date. Having gone to the "fathom events" one day re-release in theaters, I took the opportunity to see this film for what it was on the big screen. The theater was jam packed left and right with people of every age. I was blown away and mesmerized by the masterful screenplay conceived by William Peter Blatty, the excellent acting, and the sheer terror that grasps you even in the scenes in which the girl, played by young Linda Blair, is not even possessed.

The main concept of the story revolving around a possessed girl is old for me, but yet this was the film in which made this sort of story stand out the most and no other film seems to have mastered that, not even to this very day.

The film opens up with the great Max Von Sydow as Father Merrin, who is in Irag for an archaelogical dig. There is suddenly the discovery of more artifacts that reveal sculptures of the demon named Pazuzu (though it is not mentioned in the film) What I loved the most in this sequence was the long time periods on each shot. The sun rising, and especially the "face off" between the statue of Pazuzu and Merrin. Also , the shot of the two dogs fighting below Merrin and the demon's confrontation symbolizes the evil in which both opponents are to face later on in the film.

We then go to focus on the story in the states in which we meet the excellent Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, a famous actress whose daughter, Regan suddenly starts to act very strange and starts having compulsions. It is quite apparent that demonic possession is underway here, but the way it is conveyed is just terrifying. This is what I also loved in this film, the slow process of buildup within each character and then the full exposure of the demon and its intentions. What I also loved was the realism in each character, especially the detective Kinderman, played by a great Lee J. Cobb, who is perplexed by this demonic possession and its effect on everyone involved. That brings us to Father Karras, played by jason Miller, who steals the show here. His character is the most emotionally struck in the film, having lost his dear old mother and how her death contributes to his never ceasing depression. In the foreseeable exorcism soon to come, things will just take a stronger turn for the worse.

I feel that father Karras is the most intriguing character in the entirety of the film, being that his personal life is being used as an weak point for the demon, who is trying to do all it can to stop the exorcism.

The ending of the exorcism is perhaps the best out of all other films in a similar genre-the demon goes into Karras, upon his beckoning and he leaps out of the window to his death. (I know there are exorcist sequels, but im not counting those, for they were terrible)

From all other Exorcism films, this film has the best casting indeed and perhaps even in other cinematic terms as well. How this possession comes to bring all the characters together is an excellent concept. Blatty, having based this screenplay from an actual exorcism in which a young boy was involved, created a screenplay that doesn't focus on strong religious aspects, but on how people would really act in this sort of situation. That is what I like about his work here, its a film for those religious and non-religious. The only recent character I actually liked from a film with a similar concept was that of "The last exorcism" in which the character Reverend Cotton Marcus, does not believe and the thing he does believe is that exorcism is a giant hoax. Nonetheless, his lone character does not match the wits of the entire cast in this film.

Director William Friedkin, over the course of a quite daunting schedule, brings forth a film that is indeed both masterful in technicality and acting wise and especially in maintaining the horror around it.

The special effects for this time were simply outstanding. The 360 degree head twist of Linda Blair was sickening to look at, but terribly realistic looking. The sound played when her head turns is that of a special effects crew member running a comb over his teeth very slowly. The interaction of the set with the performances are brilliant as well, particularly during the exorcism scene in which the room shakes, objects fall, the walls and doors crack, the bed levitates, makes one wonder-how in the world did they pull this off? With no cgi?

Most memorable of all from the film is the makeup applied to Linda Blair and making her simply an iconic horror figurine. The face bearing fresh scars, greenish eyes, and a very pale face is totally scary enough to give you nightmares. Whenever I see the face to this day, I'm still freaked out about it and the film was released nearly three decades ago!

What is also memorable: the enchanting and haunting score of a piano playing and then the full blast of orchestra, filling in and continuing to keep the entire mood of the film till the very end.

If you are looking for a fright, see this film, if you are looking for a great film, see it. Do not skip this. A classic.

This has been one of the reviews written very late at night by daveactor7