The Exorcist (Extended Director's Cut & Original Theatrical Edition) [Blu-ray] Review
I have the VHS tape, the original DVD, the 25th anniversary DVD, The 25th anniversary box (with book, lobby cards and actual frame from the film),the extended version DVD, the anthology box set with all the films in the series, the paperback, 2 hard covers, and the audio book read by the author. I also have an excellent book on the making of the film. Needless to say I am an expert on the film as I have been revisiting it since I first saw it on tv in the 70's.
I am psyched for the Blue-ray release. I am about to turn 41, and have yet to see a movie that scares me as much as The Exorcist. The Omen came close, Texas chainsaw was cool. Amityville was great, but let's face it. The Exorcist was so well written, expertly researched (based on a true story), and brilliantly directed.
Linda Blair was 14 years old, playing a 12 year old. She never matured into a great actress, but what a job she did in this film, and she was only 14! The movie was so well cast. Even some of the priests were real priests! It doesn't scare me any more due to the hundreds of times I've seen it, but I still revisit it because it is an achievement beyond any other film. There were no computers back then, so you can't really compare the effects to a Star Wars, or a Titanic. The job these guys did with what they had is beyond words.
The scares don't come from a Freddy, Jason or Michael Myers jumping out of a dark corner. The true fright comes from the fact that the movie makes you feel like you might actually be looking directly into the eyes of a demon, if not Satan himself. The mind games that the demon plays with Father Karras, while Karras is trying to prove genuine possession are riveting.
If you've never owned it I demand that you purchase the Blue-ray edition. If you own it already, you may not want to shell out the extra cash for an upgrade unless you are a fanatic like me. I highly recommend the original novel. I also recommend the book on the actual TRUE case this story is based on. It's called Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism by Thomas B. Allen.
Fans of the film are welcome to e-mail me at NolanKevin7@aol.com.
The Exorcist (Extended Director's Cut & Original Theatrical Edition) [Blu-ray] Overview
Controversial and popular from the moment it opened, The Exorcist marks its historic Blu-ray premiere in a 2-Disc Edition featuring Stunning Hi-Def Presentations of the Original 1973 Theatrical Version and the 2000 Extended Director's Cut. The frightening and realistic tale of an innocent girl inhabited by a terrifying entity, her mother's frantic resolve to save her and two priests--one doubt-ridden, the other a rock of faith--joined in battling ultimate evil always leaves viewers breathless. This greatest supernatural thriller of all time astonishes and unsettles like no other movie.
The Exorcist (Extended Director's Cut & Original Theatrical Edition) [Blu-ray] Specifications
Director William Friedkin was a hot ticket in Hollywood after the success of The French Connection, and he turned heads (in more ways than one) when he decided to make The Exorcist as his follow-up film. Adapted by William Peter Blatty from his controversial bestseller, this shocking 1973 thriller set an intense and often-copied milestone for screen terror with its unflinching depiction of a young girl (Linda Blair) who is possessed by an evil spirit. Jason Miller and Max von Sydow are perfectly cast as the priests who risk their sanity and their lives to administer the rites of demonic exorcism. Ellen Burstyn plays Blair's mother, who can only stand by in horror as her daughter's body is wracked by Satanic disfiguration. One of the most frightening films ever made, The Exorcist was mysteriously plagued by trouble during production, and the years since have not diminished its capacity to disturb even the most stoic viewers. --Jeff Shannon
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