Dr. Drew says.... 9 out of 10

Rating: 9/10 (26 September 2013)

The Exorcist (1971): The Good, the Bad and the Unholy
Synopsis: The "original" tale of possession and exorcism with rich, religious undertones that set the world ablaze with it's audacity. A young girl is possessed by Satan himself and aided by two priests fighting demons of their own.
The Good: Even now, forty years later, the film is disturbing. That means something to an avid horror buff like myself. Deemed a classic or not, I call a spade a spade. If it's no longer gory or scary or disturbing in the here and now, I don't mince words. Too many films have lost their sparkle as the years have faded, but not The Exorcist. The film is as shocking and audacious as it was the year it came out. There have been far too many possession-style movies heaped into the market as of late and all will pale in comparison to the original. The idea was too brilliant: take a young, angelic girl and have her possessed by the devil himself and don't hold back on the shock factor. The result is chilling even by today's standards. Sure, the effects look a tad dated, but the core theme burns into minds like it's a new film and it affects you. That's the real trick... being affected. It's why we watch movies. This movie, regardless of how many times viewed, affects you. That is success in the horror genre.
The Bad: At times, the pacing is horribly slow. It is, in essence, dramatic horror, but there are far too many scenes that bog the movie down in dramatic dialogue. The movie could be just as effective if it was twenty minutes shorter. Despite the poor pacing in parts, there are also portions of the movie that feel rushed, like the onset of the possession. There are moments where the characters "tell" you that Regan is "getting" worse, but you are not shown, and it gives a bit of a "huh?" effect to the plot. These are minor gripes though and at times the slow moving parts allow for a more shocking affect when the possession scenes come.
The Unholy: To think a parent allowed their eleven year old daughter to act in this movie aside, Linda Blair's performance lends credence to the whole movie actually working. Had Regan's part been cast to an adult, the movie falls apart. It would have been a forgotten part of cinematic history like so many others. The chilling affect is only because you see a child doing very un-childlike things. The audience is fully disturbed by thinking of their own child behaving in such a way or using vulgar language. It's a shock to the senses. The angelic look and portrayal of Regan in the beginning of the film only adds depth to the stark contrast of the demon she becomes. Brilliantly conceived and brilliantly acted on Blair's part.