The Classic. See it again on DVD soon. Banishes the Blair Witch Blues...

Rating: 10/10 (9 August 1999)

In this millinneum summer, when little stick figures and poor camera work and three whiny improvers have convinced America to be very afraid, it can be instructional and even inspirational to revisit the truly great works of the horror genre.
The Exorcist may be the best ever. Now available on a beautiful DVD transfer, this brilliant William Friedkin film looks better than ever. Devoid of the considerable hype which accompanied both the book and subsequent film of this title when first released in the seventies, the film actually grows in power. Director Friedkin, working a familiar vein, never once falls into the kind of cliches which endear the old Hammer and Castle films. It all looks and sounds fresh and real. The cast is simply perfect, the pacing is impeccable, the horror truly and deeply delivered directly to the viewer's soul.
If you felt let down by all the hype (and then the reality) of The Blair Witch Project, or if you'd simply like to see one of the really great horror films, check this out soon, even if you've seen it before. I had, several times years ago. But The Exorcist, if anything, has gained power with time.