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The Exorcist (1973)
Director: William Friedkin
Cast overview: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow
Running time: 122 minutes
The Exorcist - perhaps 1973's most acclaimed film - is one of those films that I starts uncertainly and grows into itself as it progresses. With an early sequence in northern Iraq, it then moves back to Georgetown, Washington D.C. and follows Chris MacNeil, a woman whose daughter appears to be possessed by an evil and demonic entity. The premise of possessed children was one that was heavily touched upon in films of the 1960s and 1970s, most notably in this and in equally successful efforts such as The Omen. It must have been incredibly powerful upon its release.
While I don't think this is, as its tagline stated at the time, the scariest film of all time, it's certainly up there, thanks to its shocking portrayal of a girl possessed. Regan starts off as an ordinary fourteen-year-old girl, but it soon becomes apparent that something is amiss. Her transformation from mild-mannered girl into demonic presence is quite chilling. For such a young figure, Linda Blair gives a particularly memorable performance. You can really understand why, given this was a much different era, the film created such a stir upon its release, with syncope and even suicides attributed to it. Burstyn - someone I consider an underrated actress - gives a troubled and affecting performance as the worried mother.
I feel that part of what makes it such a powerful film is its realism. This isn't, and doesn't feel like, a conventional horror film - the characters are far more detailed and developed than in the usual horror fare, and the plot is a slow-burner that's given chance to develop and mature. It doesn't feel rushed, as many films in the genre often do. Another positive is Mike Oldfield's iconic music, that stands alongside the Halloween and The Amityville Horror scores as the pinnacle of horror music for me.
Overall, an excellent horror that set the bar high for subsequent genre films. I don't think it's perfect, but it's not far off, and it should make my seventies list.
Quotes
Demon: What an excellent day for an exorcism.
Father Damien Karras: You would like that?
Demon: Intensely.
Father Damien Karras: But wouldn't that drive you out of Regan?
Demon: It would bring us together.
Father Damien Karras: You and Regan?
Demon: You and us.
Demon: Your mother sucks cocks in Hell, Karras, you faithless slime.
Demon: I'm not Regan.
Father Damien Karras: Well, then let's introduce ourselves. I'm Damien Karras.
Demon: And I'm the Devil. Now kindly undo these straps.
Father Damien Karras: If you're the Devil, why not make the straps disappear?
Demon: That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras.
Trivia
The scene where Regan projectile vomits at Father Karras only required one take. The vomit was intended to hit him on the chest. Instead, the plastic tubing that sprayed the vomit accidentally misfired, hitting him in the face. The look of shock and disgust while wiping away the vomit is genuine. Actor Jason Miller, (Father Karras), admitted in an interview that he was very angered by this mistake.
Actress Mercedes McCambridge, who provided the voice of the demon, insisted on swallowing raw eggs and chain smoking to alter her vocalizations. Furthermore, the actress who had problems with alcohol abuse in the past, wanted to drink whiskey as she knew alcohol would distort her voice even more, and create the crazed state of mind of the character. As she was giving up sobriety, she insisted that her priest be present to counsel her during the recording process. At William Friedkin's direction, McCambridge was also bound to a chair with pieces of a torn sheet at her neck, arms, wrists, legs and feet to get a more realistic sound of the demon struggling against its restraints. McCambridge later recalled the experience as one of horrific rage, while Friedkin admitted that her performance--as well as the extremes which the actress put herself through to gain authenticity--terrifies the director to this day.
Due to death threats against Linda Blair from religious zealots who believed the film "glorified Satan", Warner Bros. had bodyguards protecting her for six months after the film's release.
Trailer
Director: William Friedkin
Cast overview: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow
Running time: 122 minutes
The Exorcist - perhaps 1973's most acclaimed film - is one of those films that I starts uncertainly and grows into itself as it progresses. With an early sequence in northern Iraq, it then moves back to Georgetown, Washington D.C. and follows Chris MacNeil, a woman whose daughter appears to be possessed by an evil and demonic entity. The premise of possessed children was one that was heavily touched upon in films of the 1960s and 1970s, most notably in this and in equally successful efforts such as The Omen. It must have been incredibly powerful upon its release.
While I don't think this is, as its tagline stated at the time, the scariest film of all time, it's certainly up there, thanks to its shocking portrayal of a girl possessed. Regan starts off as an ordinary fourteen-year-old girl, but it soon becomes apparent that something is amiss. Her transformation from mild-mannered girl into demonic presence is quite chilling. For such a young figure, Linda Blair gives a particularly memorable performance. You can really understand why, given this was a much different era, the film created such a stir upon its release, with syncope and even suicides attributed to it. Burstyn - someone I consider an underrated actress - gives a troubled and affecting performance as the worried mother.
I feel that part of what makes it such a powerful film is its realism. This isn't, and doesn't feel like, a conventional horror film - the characters are far more detailed and developed than in the usual horror fare, and the plot is a slow-burner that's given chance to develop and mature. It doesn't feel rushed, as many films in the genre often do. Another positive is Mike Oldfield's iconic music, that stands alongside the Halloween and The Amityville Horror scores as the pinnacle of horror music for me.
Overall, an excellent horror that set the bar high for subsequent genre films. I don't think it's perfect, but it's not far off, and it should make my seventies list.
Quotes
Demon: What an excellent day for an exorcism.
Father Damien Karras: You would like that?
Demon: Intensely.
Father Damien Karras: But wouldn't that drive you out of Regan?
Demon: It would bring us together.
Father Damien Karras: You and Regan?
Demon: You and us.
Demon: Your mother sucks cocks in Hell, Karras, you faithless slime.
Demon: I'm not Regan.
Father Damien Karras: Well, then let's introduce ourselves. I'm Damien Karras.
Demon: And I'm the Devil. Now kindly undo these straps.
Father Damien Karras: If you're the Devil, why not make the straps disappear?
Demon: That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras.
Trivia
The scene where Regan projectile vomits at Father Karras only required one take. The vomit was intended to hit him on the chest. Instead, the plastic tubing that sprayed the vomit accidentally misfired, hitting him in the face. The look of shock and disgust while wiping away the vomit is genuine. Actor Jason Miller, (Father Karras), admitted in an interview that he was very angered by this mistake.
Actress Mercedes McCambridge, who provided the voice of the demon, insisted on swallowing raw eggs and chain smoking to alter her vocalizations. Furthermore, the actress who had problems with alcohol abuse in the past, wanted to drink whiskey as she knew alcohol would distort her voice even more, and create the crazed state of mind of the character. As she was giving up sobriety, she insisted that her priest be present to counsel her during the recording process. At William Friedkin's direction, McCambridge was also bound to a chair with pieces of a torn sheet at her neck, arms, wrists, legs and feet to get a more realistic sound of the demon struggling against its restraints. McCambridge later recalled the experience as one of horrific rage, while Friedkin admitted that her performance--as well as the extremes which the actress put herself through to gain authenticity--terrifies the director to this day.
Due to death threats against Linda Blair from religious zealots who believed the film "glorified Satan", Warner Bros. had bodyguards protecting her for six months after the film's release.
Trailer