Maybe the Best Supernatural Horror Film of the 20th Century--quite Christian in its rhetoric

Rating: 10/10 (1 November 2008)

Despite that some in the Christian evangelical community have burned the original book by Blatty along with books by Stephen King and Anne Rice, the "Exorcist" hearkens back to the religious rhetoric of the late Middle Ages which has, in many ways, been reborn in the American Christian Evangelical movement. The writers of the "Malleus Maleficarum" (Hammer of Witches, 1486) and the likes of Martin Luther and John Calvin probably would have approved of both the book and the resulting movie, the Exorcist. It is the classic tale of good versus evil with the power of the Christian religion battling the forces of the Devil, right in line with many-an evangelical preacher currently propagating the "Word of God". And yet there is an underlying theme of the power of faith running underneath the superficial rhetoric of God versus the Satan.
The story of a little girl in late 20th-century Georgetown possessed by a demon claiming to be the devil is an updated version of the rhetoric from centuries ago. Here, the devil/demon is not like Bram Stoker's Dracula who is versed in culture and etiquette, sporting black tie and tales. He is not the Mephistopheles of Faust by Goethe (19th century) in which the antagonist is highly eloquent. Nor is he even the character of Milton's Paradise Lost, a tragic figure who feels he has been betrayed by God. Milton's Satan is more like a fallen god or tragic hero of Greek mythology.
The devil/demon of "The Exorcist" seems unearthed straight out of 14th, 15th, and 16th-century illuminated manuscripts, early printed books, and priestly/pastoral sermons, both Catholic and Protestant. Even Dante's portrayal of the Devil encased in ice at the bottom of Hell in the Divine Comedy (early 14th century) seems less horrifying than the Blatty/Friedkin monster. In the film, the devil/demon is a truly terrifying supernatural force who growls like a deranged animal, exhibits reptilian behavior, spews green vomit, speaks in tongues, reads minds, and can move objects telekinetically. And it is so highly intelligent that it "mixes the truth with lies" to attack any foe as stated by Father Merrin (Max von Sydow). If someone in the Middle Ages were transported to 1973 and saw this film when it was first released, it would have been their worst imagined nightmares realized in front of them. .
There is probably no supernatural horror film of the caliber of the Exorcist, with the possible exception of F.W. Murnau's silent film masterpiece "Nosferatu" (1922). What sets the Exorcist apart is its pacing. It begins with the young Regan, played with amazing credibility by Linda Blair, having strange physical and emotional symptoms. The medical community examines her and concludes her condition is psychological and prescribes ritalin. Later, they believe it is a lesion in her brain. But as her symptoms worsen, the explanation for her illness seems beyond the ability of medical science much to the devastation of her mother, played by Ellen Burstyn in an equally fine performance. And this is where the shift from nature to the supernatural occurs. The girl begins to exhibit the demonic behavior described above.
As a final recourse, the mother asks a morbid priest, Father Karras, played by Jason Miller in probably his most memorable role, to perform an exorcism on her daughter. Karras is the practicing psychiatrist for priests at Georgetown University, a Jesuit Catholic college. Although a devout Catholic clergyman, he has turned away from the medieval sensibilities of demonic possession and witchcraft in favor of psychiatric science. He agrees to investigate the case initially as a psychiatrist instead of a priest. Some of the best moments of the film are Karras' interactions with the possessed demon-girl. I only wished some of those scenes were slightly more developed as they were in the book. Karras begins to slowly conclude that the girl's condition may not be natural but supernatural...
As stated above, probably the best film in the supernatural horror genre, which subsequently spawned poor sequels and forgettable rip-offs. It may be that the horror film genre is somewhat limited in the number of stories it can tell in two hours. This is probably the best film of its type in which most other offerings are god-awful (no pun intended). Simultaneously, potential new viewers should be warned that if supernatural horror is not your cup of tea, you may want to avoid this film. This is probably more terrifying than any roller coaster ride you have ever taken.