Other Titles • The Exorcist • The Exorcist: The Version You Haven't Seen Yet (1973) • The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen (1973) • William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist (2000) • Der Exorzist (1974)
Synopses for The Exorcist (1973)
1.
Director William Friedkin was a hot ticket in Hollywood after the success of The French Connection, and he turned heads (in more ways than one) when he decided to make The Exorcist as his follow-up film. Adapted by William Peter Blatty from his controversial bestseller, this shocking 1973 thriller set an intense and often-copied milestone for screen terror with its unflinching depiction of a young girl (Linda Blair) who is possessed by an evil spirit. Jason Miller and Max von Sydow are perfectly cast as the priests who risk their sanity and their lives to administer the rites of demonic exorcism, and Ellen Burstyn plays Blair's mother, who can only stand by in horror as her daughter's body is wracked by satanic disfiguration. One of the most frightening films ever made, The Exorcist was mysteriously plagued by troubles during production, and the years have not diminished its capacity to disturb even the most stoical viewers. The film is presented in letterbox format on digital video disc, with a soundtrack that's guaranteed to curdle your blood. Don't say you weren't warned! --Jeff Shannon
2.
With THE EXORCIST, William Friedkin (THE FRENCH CONNECTION, THE BOYS IN THE BAND) rivals Hitchcock for heart-stopping terror in this deeply horrifying
masterpiece that led to religious boycotts, fainting and nauseous audiences, and a commercial success that forever changed Hollywood. Linda Blair plays Regan, a 12-year-old girl possessed by the devil. After exhausting all the options of science, psychology, and medicine, Regan's mother (Ellen Burstyn) realizes the supernatural nature of her daughter's condition and resorts to a religious solution, turning to Father Karras (Jason Miller) for an exorcism. Aided by the mysterious Jesuit exorcist Father Merrin (Max von Sydow), Karras must confront not only supernatural phenomena but also his own inadequate faith and displaced guilt over his mother's recent death, a personal torment Regan uses to manipulate him, but with disturbing results.
Like THE GODFATHER before it and JAWS soon after, THE EXORCIST enjoyed
tremendous commercial and critical success that directly transformed Hollywood into the blockbuster behemoth of American culture.
3.
The chilling account of what happens to a little girl when she becomes possessed by the devil. Linda Blair is the child and Ellen Burstyn's her distraught mother. Max von Sydow and Jason Miller are troubled priests determined to break Satan's hold. Will include a feature-length documentary entitled "The Fear of God: The Making of 'the Exorcist'". Contains new interviews and scenes previously unavailable on any American release.
4.
The Scariest Movie Of All Time.
Brace yourself as one of the all-time spellbinders possesses you all over again. Director William Friedkin and producer/screenwriter William Peter Blatty have revisited The Exorcist to integrate 11 minutes of scenes and images deleted before the film's 1973 release and digitally restore the picture and audio elements. The result is an experience more gripping than ever.
Now seen are moments deepening the impact of the performances by Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow and Lee J. Cobb. They include a "nervous disorder" diagnosis, expansion of Father Merrin's arrival before the ritual, priestly doubts during the ritual, an epilogue with Lt. Kinderman and Father Dyer and most notably, a shattering staircase descent by Regan. Winner of Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay (by Blatty) and Sound, The Exorcist astonishes time and again like no other movie.
5.
The Tale of Possession That Shocked Millions.
The belief in evil - and that evil can be cast out. From these two strands of faith, author William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin wove The Exorcist, the frightening and realistic story of an innocent girl inhabited by a malevolent entity.
Academy Award-winner Friedkin, who introduces the film and supervised this new video transfer from restored picture and audio elements, gets effective performances from Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow and Lee J. Cobb. Winner of 1973 Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Sound, The Exorcist remains, 25 years later, one of the most shocking and gripping movies ever made.
Disc 2 - Songs Include:
Iraq
Five Pieces for Orchestra
Polymorphia
String Quartet No. 1
Beginnings from the "The Wind Harp"
Kanon for Orchestra and Tape
Fantasia for Strings
Music from the Unused Trailer
Suite from the Unused Score to The Exorcist
Rock Ballad (Unused Theme from The Exorcist)
6.
This is the movie that you can't stand to watch and yet can't turn away from. THE EXORCIST is a horrifying, riveting film based on William Peter Blatty's best-seller (he also wrote the screenplay). In the ultimate transformation plot, a 12-year-old girl (Linda Blair) becomes possessed by the devil. Soon the once-sweet child beomes a murderous, vomit-spewing, bed-twirling hellhound. A dedicated but naive priest attempts to exorcise Satan from Regan's body--and in the process is forced to confront personal demons of his own. The theatrical release led to outrage, fainting, nausea--and huge box-office receipts. The result was two cash-in sequels, the second directed by Blatty.
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