"The Exorcist" The classy shocker.

Rating: Null/10 (18 December 1998)

A horror film with subtext. This is why William Friedkin's film of "The Exorcist" far surpasses so many films in the history of the horror genre. When the sensationalism of the various stage effects has faded, the questions of faith and family remain. From its inception, author and screenwriter William Peter Blatty was not satisfied in telling a mere campfire tale of shock and suspense, he invested his story with philosophy and characters with purpose. This attention to character nuance gives the story its true power, humanity. Characters struggle with loss and depression, each fighting the seduction of hopelessness.
Friedkin's instincts for the direction of the film were intelligent, artful and most importantly, compassionate. This is humanist filmmaking which begs questions of its audience. "The Exorcist" remains a brave and graceful motion picture.