Reissue of a classic

Rating: Null/10 (1 October 2000)

The 2000 reissue of this film adds a number of scenes that really don't do much for the story. In fact, they slow things down, making it clear why they weren't in the original version.
The story holds up well, and the confrontation between Max Von Sydow and the demon are especially good. Von Sydow has played Jesus in THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD and Satan in NEEDFUL THINGS. Here his portrait of an aging but determined priest is strong and is essential to the believability of the final act which seems to indicate that the devil and the priest have an old score to settle.
The effects are good although somewhat tame by modern standards, yet it was this film that led the way for the more vivid horror films that followed.