Review

In Georgetown a girl aged 12 is going through some changes that having nothing to do with hormones. Seems the devil is inside and it wants Regan to die, or is that the real reason for the possession, if indeed it is a possession! Chris MacNeil, Regan's mother, tries to find a solution but medical science fails her leaving her one option, an exorcism.

With Regan becoming progressively more disturbed and violent Chris seeks out the help of Catholic Priest Damon Karras. At first the priest is sceptical but he gradually comes to the conclusion that Regan is indeed harbouring a demon and seeks permission from the Diocese to perform an exorcism. The Diocese agrees but decides Father Merrin should conduct the exorcism, which might be just what the Demon wanted all along. Can the forces of good defeat an ancient evil and rescue the soul of an innocent?

In 1973 Director William Friedkin took William Peter Blatty's script and created a classic, a horror movie that many still consider to be the most frightening film ever made. Sure it now has its critics, mainly younger commentators who don't have a single notion of drama or tension, but at the time this was a must see movie. People were queuing down the street and around the corner, patrons passed out in theatres, and various churches saw a surge in membership. The Exorcist laid down the blueprint for all exorcism orientated movies released since 1973 and pretty much showed the dark genre, which was faltering at the time, could still pack a bunch at the box office. In short the movie was a phenomena that has stood the test of time, albeit with a few effects that are notably dated for modern audiences.

Watching the movie again, after a number of years, for this review I was struck by just how intense it still is. Friedkin isn't pulling his punches and puts his audience through the ringer. We're talking intrusive medical procedures, a number of possession scenes that would have been cut for a modern audience, and a risk taking approach that most modern Directors would be averse to trying. The atmosphere is sombre, nearly every scene is shot in low light and it would appear to be permanently overcast in Georgetown throughout the events being portrayed. There's an overall oppressive atmosphere that gives the audience no escape from the developing horror. For a horror movie The Exorcist sure does understand the concepts of drama and setting reflecting the inner condition and thoughts of the main characters.

To be honest this movie isn't for the faint of heart or those with social reserve, we're talking masturbation with a cross, a fair amount of bad language, and the sort of overriding atmosphere that has the power of turning non horror fans into fanatics for the genre. This is a serious horror movie that asks the audience to decide on an individual basis if Regan has a severe mental condition or is the victim of a demonic attack of unusual ferocity.

A classic of the genre that puts about every mainstream Hollywood horror release to shame

Naturally since its 1973 we don't have the terror of CGI rearing its ugly head; everything is done via props and makeup. The makeup used on Linda Blair (Regan) is simply impressive, Regan looks demonic and continues to get worse as the movie progresses, you can readily believe the Demon is gaining more control and Regan's health is deteriorating as a result. Added bonus here is the voice of Mercedes McCambridge which is used for the Demon is completely different from Linda Blair's tones, hence you can readily believe another personality inhabits the girl. I was also impressed with the furniture movements, including the shaking bed, and a number of other almost throw away effects that also made their way into Paranormal Activity. I was less impressed with things like the head twisting 180 degrees, that was notably fake. Of course who doesn't like the pea soup, that was simply awesome and added to the whole gross nature of things.

There are a few aspects to The Exorcist that certainly had me scratching my head, in bemusement rather than outrage I would add. The whole Kinderman subplot, which actually works in the source novel, seems wholly redundant in the movie, it goes nowhere and doesn't overly force Chris to seek the services of the local god squad. Equally Karl getting it on with Dennings at the party Chris throws goes against the ideas presented in the novel and does so to no discernible purpose. Even great movies occasionally get it wrong it would appear.

Otherwise the movie pretty much follows the novel, dispensing with some scenes considered unlikely to support the movie's narrative flow, hitting each and every one of the major scenes Blatty created in his search for a best seller. Considering this was the early 1970s I have to say no wonder people were running screaming from cinemas. Interestingly there's a fair amount of subliminal content in The Exorcist that would not be acceptable for modern audiences, it does work to increase the scare factor for mine, but guess you have to draw the line somewhere.

Notably there are a number of horror tropes established by The Exorcist or at least brought forwarded by the movie to a wider audience. Implied, but you don't need to dig far to work it out, playing with an imaginary friend on an Ouija board is never a good thing. Things that go bump in an attic are never likely to be benign, another idea Paranormal Activity borrows. And the ever popular favourites, cold and nasty smelling rooms involve demonic activity - an idea that pervades even Supernatural.

Director Friedkin is freaking on with this excursion into your darkest nightmare, from the prologue piece that has Father Merrin confronting a statute of the demon Pazuzu in the North Iraq desert with wild dogs snarling and yelping in the background, through Father Karris walking up an underground stair and then dreaming of his mother walking down one - this is for no discernible purpose quite an eerie idea, to Chris MacNeil finding a crucifix under Regan's bed while Kinderman finds one of her sculptures at the bottom of the stairs where Denning's body was discovered. The Director simply knows what he is doing and inserts some seldom seen class into a horror movie, the little touches raise The Exorcist well above the usual flotsam we get in the horror genre.

Of course The Exorcist isn't only relying on an excellent script and above average Director, the cast really nail the requirements delivering stand out moments. Ellen Burstyn (Chris MacNeil) is ideally cast as the worried mother who grows increasingly alarmed and desperate as various Doctors can't find an answer to what ails her daughter. Max von Sydow (Father Merrin) is excellent as the experience world weary Priest who knows exactly what he is facing in Georgetown, he constantly tells Father Karras what the real situation is. Jason Miller (Father Karras) is a revelation, and I have to say I'm surprised I haven't seen him in more genre outings. Miller is a serious actor who deserves wider recognition then he has received to date. And finally Linda Blair (Regan) is holding her own alongside the adults.

There's a bunch more I could say in support of The Exorcist, locations, set design, music etc but I feel I've out stayed my time as it is. Director Friedkin has made a classic horror movie that continues to scare people, excepting the brain dead who don't get the drama or hero's progress thing, and make new fans each generation. There's a hell of a lot going on in the movie that wouldn't be done in a modern horror fan, I reiterate the crucifix scene, and somehow puts a young person in harm's way without dropping the ball on that aspect as most horror movies do. This is one serious adult movie that is unapologetic in aiming to scare the crap out of people, full recommendation there's a reason this movie is considered a classic. If you don't believe me the Academy nominated the movie for 10 academy awards with The Exorcist taking out the Oscars for sound and writing.