The Exorcist

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2005)

From Golden Globe winning, and Oscar nominated Willaim Friedkin director (The French Connection, The Hunted, Killer Joe), based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, this is called "the scariest movie of all time", it is certainly one of the most talked about, and deservedly so. Basically in Georgetown, Washington D.C., actress Chris MacNeil (Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Ellen Burstyn) is filming her latest film, she is taking temporary resident in a large house, and she has her twelve year old Regan MacNeil (Oscar nominated, and Golden Globe winning and nominated Linda Blair) with her. Chris starts to notice changes in Regan's behaviour, slowly becoming stranger and frightening, including swearing and abnormal strength, medicine fails and hospital tests are negative which confuses doctors, they are not aware that she in fact possessed, due to an ancient Ouija board, by the spirit of Pazuzu. Chris's British film director Burke Dennings (Jack McGowran) is killed in mysterious circumstances, falling out of Regan's bedroom window, investigating a suspected murder is detective Lieutenant William Kinderman (12 Angry Men's Lee J. Cobb), he questions Chris, and also young priest and psychiatrist Father Damien Karras (Oscar nominated Jason Miller), who is losing his faith, and his elderly Greek mother eventually dies from illness. Following Regan assaulting a psychiatrist, the doctors conclude the only option to cure the girl is to have an exorcism, but Chris questions this as she and Regan have no religious beliefs, Karras agrees to see Regan, who has hideously changed facially, he refuses to perform an exorcism, but further terrifying supernatural phenomena force him to accept. Karras gets permission from the bishop, as long as an experienced priest assists him, archaeologist and priest Father Lankester Merrin (Golden Globe nominated Max Von Sydow) has recently returned from an archaeological dig in Norhtern Iraq, where he found evidence that Pazuzu, who he defeated many years ago, would return, he is called in to help. Karras and Merrin work together reciting from the Bible and splashing holy water in the hope of removing the demon from Regan, who is tied down to the bed, but the spirit taunts them, especially Karras knowing his weakened faith and guilt of his mother's death, he is dismissed during a break and told to wait outside while Merrin continues the second attempt. Karras returns to the room, and finds Regan free of her binds and Merrin dead on floor, in rage he attacks Regan and demands the demon to enter his body, Pazuzu does so and in a moment Karras throws himself out of the bedroom window, his friend Father Dyer (Reverend William O'Malley) gives him his last rites before he dies, days later Regan is back to normal and remembers nothing, the MacNeills leave for Los Angeles, and onlooking Kinderman walks with Father Dyer. Also starring Kitty Winn as Sharon, Titos Vandis as Karras' Uncle, Wallace Rooney as Bishop and Mercedes McCambridge as the Voice of the Demon. Burstyn is great as the distraught mother trying desperately to help her daughter, Sydow is great as the elderly priest and exorcist of the title, young Blair is brilliant as both the innocent girl and the demon claiming to be the Devil inside her, and the rasping voice of McCambridge is suitably evil sounding. Released at the cinemas this became the highest grossing scary movie, but there was also at the time reports of people fainting, walkouts and vomiting while watching, this has only added to it's reputation. The most memorable moments are the masturbation with the crucifix, the spider walk down the stairs (often cut out), the head spinning and the girl floating while the priests repeat the words "the power of Christ compels you". I admit the first time I saw this I found some of it funny, but the second time being uncut I respected it much more as a masterpiece, with it's fantastic makeup, special effects and sound effects, you could argue that over time the terror has lessened slightly when you watch, but no matter what it will always remain a quality horror film. It won the Oscars for Best Sound and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for William Peter Blatty, and it was nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing and Best Picture, it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Sound Track, and it won the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Screenplay. Regan MacNeil was number 9 on 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains, the film was number 3 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, it was number 2 on The 100 Greatest Scary Moments, it was number 91 on The Ultimate, and it was number 49 on The 100 Greatest Films. Outstanding!