Powerful filmmaking

Rating: 8/10 (27 April 2002)

THE EXORCIST is a truly great film that has had its reputation marred by terrible sequels, countless parodies, and a lot of talk about the "shocking" material. Look past this if you can; this film is definitely worth a look.
THE EXORCIST is labeled by most people as a horror movie, but it is really much more than that. Director William Friedkin and writer William Peter Blatty avoid most horror movie conventions in favor of more subtle material. The film never goes for the easy scare to make the audience jump; it opts instead for great characterization.
Most horror movies would open with something really exciting to get the audience's attention. THE EXORCIST begins rather quietly, with only the hint that there are great things to come. Some call the film's first half boring, I see it as completely essential. We are introduced to the main characters, but at the same time we see that all is not well. Father Karas, a priest who is struggling with his faith, has to deal with the death of his mother. Father Merrin is another priest who wrestles with more obvious demons; everywhere he goes he sees evil at work. Even the seemingly happy MacNeils struggle; there is the divorce, the misbehaving Ouija board, and strange sounds coming from the attic.
The care taken to place these elements in place pays off when the story really gets going. Regan's problems begin and grow in magnitude, Chris MacNeil is forced to question her beliefs about God, and Karas faces his own demons as these characters struggle against a terrible, faceless evil. The supernatural horror story, combined with elements of a character-drive drama and a murder mystery drive this movie to an amazing climax, one that will not soon be forgotten.