Dated but still effective horror film.

Rating: 7/10 (24 June 2017)

The reputation of "The Exorcist" film was such, that I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first saw this when the ban on the film had been lifted. I saw the film at the cinema in 1998 and I enjoyed it but it hasn't dated too well. The special effects for their time may have been pretty good but nowadays, they wouldn't satisfy most audiences. What still works about "The Exorcist," is the way it is written, directed and acted. It is in one sense, a good old fashioned story about Good vs Evil. Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller and Linda Blair take the acting honours between them. The making of the film was just as eventful as anything that occurred in the film itself. About 9 people who were directly or indirectly associated with the film, met with sudden deaths. It makes one wonder if the film set was cursed! It was a long time in the making - over a year altogether but it was worth it. The screenplay is one of the best I have come across for a horror film. The script avoids all the usual clichés by being more subtle, insightful and creative. Not much happens in the way of horror for about the first hour but that is a good thing. Watch this with the lights off!