THE EXORCIST REVIEW!!! (ONE OF THE BEST CLASSIC HORROR FILMS EVER!!!)

Initial release date: December 26, 1973

Studio: Warner Bros.

Tagline: Somewhere between science and superstition, there is another world. The world of darkness.

Plot: One of the most profitable horror movies ever made, this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events. When young Regan starts acting odd - levitating, speaking in tongues - her worried mother seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. A local priest, however, thinks the girl may be seized by the devil. The priest makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert to help with the difficult job.

Cast

Ellen Burstyn - Chris MacNeil

Max von Sydow - Father Lankester Merrin

Lee J. Cobb - Lt. William Kinderman

Kitty Winn - Sharon

Jack MacGowran - Burke Dennings

Jason Miller - Father Damien Karras

Linda Blair - Regan MacNeil

William O’Malley - Father Dyer

Barton Heyman - Dr. Klein

Peter Masterson - Dr. Barringer (Clinic Doctor)

Writer William Peter Latty (screenplay/novel)

Director: William Friedkin (The Hunted; Rules of Engagement)

Rated R for strong language and disturbing images (122 minutes)

During the holiday season of 1973, no one would never know that a film would be released during the holidays that would absolutely terrify them. Over time, this particular movie ended up being hailed by many as the scariest movie ever seen. I took another look at the “scariest movie ever seen.” And that particular movie is the only and only ‘The Exorcist.’

From the very start of the 1973 film, you can easily get the feeling that this horror film was going to be different. Just seeing that memorable demonic statue can still give you the chills no matter how many times you have seen the film. And, once you hear the eerie ‘Exorcist’ theme and the rest of the music, it perfectly helps with the atmosphere of the film.

This shocking horror classic still holds up til this very day and the demonic possession scenes are still very scary. In fact, I think with all of the other possession films out there, none of them have come close to the possession scenes that are featured in this film. Once the young girl slowly becomes possessed, the film’s intensity grows as well. The exorcism sequence towards the climax of the film is probably one of the eeriest scenes ever created and no other exorcism scene would ever beat it.

You can catch this 1973 classic on the Max streaming service.

Here are some interesting tidbits about this 1973 horror classic:

• The scene where Regan projectile vomits at Karras only required one take. The vomit was intended to hit actor Jason Miller’s chest, but the plastic tubing backfired, hitting him in the face. His reaction of shock and disgust while wiping away the vomit is genuine, and Miller admitted in an interview that he was very angered by this mistake.

• Due to death threats against Linda Blair from religious zealots who believed the film “glorifies Satan,” Warner Brothers had bodyguards protecting her for six months after the film’s release.

• On the first day of filming the exorcism sequence, Linda Blair’s delivery of her foul-mouthed dialogue so disturbed the gentlemanly Max von Sydow that he actually forgot his lines.

• This is WB’s highest grossing film of all time when adjusted for inflation.

• The original teaser trailer, which consisted of nothing but images of the white-faced demon quickly flashing in and out of darkness, was banned in many theaters, as it was deemed “too frightening.”

• Jack Nicholson was up for the part of Father Karras, before Jason Miller landed the role. Friedkin thought he was too unholy to ever play a priest.

• Upon its initial theatrical release the film affected many audiences so strongly that at many theaters, paramedics were called to treat people who fainted and others who went into hysterics.

• Friedkin had to take an all-British crew to film in Iraq because the US had no diplomatic relations with Iraq at the time. They were allowed to film near ancient buildings and actual archaeological digs on conditions that included teaching Iraqi filmmakers advanced film techniques as well as how to make fake blood.

• Before starting the exorcism, Merrin asks Chris whether her daughter has a middle name. In the Middle Ages Catholics used to give their children several names as they believed it would hinder Satan from finding out the child’s real name and controlling one’s soul.

• In the documentary ‘The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist,’ Friedkin stated that the studio execs would come up on a weekly basis to have a look at the shooting progress. They shook their heads continuously, believing that the movie was total ridiculousness.

• According to William Peter Blatty, WB wanted to change the film’s title after taking a survey which found none of the participants knew what an exorcist was.

• Blatty based his novel on a supposedly genuine exorcism from 1949, which was partially performed in both Cottage City, MD and St. Louis, Missouri. Several area newspapers reported on a speech a minister gave to an amateur parapsychology society, in which he claimed to have exorcised a demon from a 13 year old boy named Robbie.

• Upon its December 1973 release, the film received mixed reviews from critics. Audience reaction was strong, however, with many viewers waiting in long lines in cold temps to see it again and again.

• Since it was a horror film that had gone well over budget and didn’t have any major stars in the lead roles, WB didn’t have high expectations for ‘The Exorcist.’ It didn’t preview the film for critics and booked its initial release for only 30 screens in 24 theaters, mostly in large cities.

• It grossed $1.9 million in its first week, setting house records in each theater. The huge crowds attracted to the film forced the studio to expand it into wide release very quickly; at the time that releasing strategy was rarely used for anything but exploitation films.

• The film earned $66.3 million in distribution rentals during its theatrical release in 1973/1974 in the US and Canada, becoming the second most popular film of that year (trailing ‘The Sting’ which earned $68.5 million). Worldwide total of $112 million at the time.

• After several re-issues, the film grossed $232.6 million in the US and Canada, which when adjusted for inflation, makes it the 9th highest grossing film of all time domestically and the top-grossing R-rated film of all time. As of 2019, it has grossed $441 million worldwide. Adjusted to 2014 prices, has grossed $1.8 billion.

• For almost half a century ‘The Exorcist’ was the top grossing R-rated horror film until the 2017 release of ‘It.’

• Since its release, the critical reputation of the film has grown considerably.

• The film has gone on to spawn two sequels and two different versions of a prequel.

• In August 2020, it was announced that a reboot of the film from Morgan Creek Entertainment was in development. The announcement received a generally negative reaction from audiences loyal to the original and resulted in a petition being launched to have the project canceled.

• In December 2020, Blumhouse and Morgan Creek announced that the reboot would be a “direct sequel” to the 1973 film and that ‘Halloween director David Gordon Green would direct. The movie is scheduled for an October 13, 2023 release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyW5YXDcIGs