In 1949, reports came in across several newspapers of a young man in Cottage City, Maryland, (around 14 at the time), going by the pseudonym "Roland Doe" or "Robbie Mannheim", whose erratic behavior made him the subject of a series of exorcisms by several local Catholic priests.This incident became the subject of speculation for decades, including claims (even by the ones doing the exorcism) that the boy merely suffered mental illness, or had even just been making the events up for attention. Regardless, occasional screenwriter and author William Peter Blatty used the incident as the basis of the 1971 novel The Exorcist, though only the idea of an exorcism was used, other details were changed. This was all it needed to be very controversial in its time. Warner Brothers got the rights to make the film adaptation, and, after directors like Mike Nichols and Stanley Kubrick ultimately passed on the project, chose William Friedkin (known at the time as the director of The French Connection, which was why he was chosen) to direct. Blatty served as both screenwriter and producer. Many child actresses were screened for the part of Regan MacNeill before Linda Blair was chosen. After a difficult filming process, where the actors were often either shocked by the content, or physically injured during the more intense, the film was released on December 26th, 1973. It was immediately controversial, with people either fainting from shock during the film, or throwing up in the aisle. Others condemned the film for its content, mainly revolving around the depiction of the exorcism. Still, it garnered critical acclaim, and became the first horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture (while it didn't win, it won "Best Adapted Screenplay" and "Best Sound Mixing"). However, during editing, Friedkin made the decision to cut several scenes from the movie. Many years later, these scenes were cut back into the film in 2000, with this being the version in most DVDs. The film is considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made.
The film opens in northern Iraq, where Father Merrin (Max von Syndow) finds a strange amulet for the pagan god (and demon) Pazuzu (Mercedes McCambridge), a demon he had encountered years earlier, and after viewing the statue of Pazuzu, he realizes Pazuzu. The narrative shifts to actress Chris MacNeill (Ellen Burtsyn) and her daughter Regan (Linda Blair). While Chris is in Washington, DC, for a film shoot, Regan begins to exhibit strange behavior. These behaviors begin to escalate, including strange events happening around Regan, (like steps in their attic, or objects moving around her) and Chris' director, Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran), getting killed while watching over Regan. After doctors and psychiatrists fail to find an Earthly cause for Regan's problems, one of the doctors suggests an exorcism, and tells Chris to find Father Karras (Jason Miller). While Karras is skeptical, seeing Regan gradually transform into a human representation of the demon convinces him, and he agrees to do the exorcism. However, he needs help, and gets Merrin to come and help him out. Together, they try to compel the demon to leave Regan's body.
I suppose I should start with the first thing that impressed me about this film: the music. It helps build the atmosphere of the film, and accentuates certain events. The opening title screen uses a discordant music score the same way 2001 did to great effect in both cases, to give the audience an unsettling feeling going into a film. This is the definition of a good horror score, one which doesn't distract from, but adds to the fears of the film. The build-up also works, giving each main character personalities, and enough background to really care for them, when events begin to turn south. Foreshadowing is also used to great effect, sometimes very subtly. The cinematography emphasize the strangeness of these events, their effects, and their brutality. The effects are deservedly praised, and it is worth the hype in terms of horror, as there are some very terrifying scenes in the film. Mercedes McCambridge's groggy voice with the heavily scarred make-up and puppet are, to put it bluntly, very creepy, and sometimes, her shouts shook me. The stare was also slightly unnerving. It unnerved me when I was 11, and it hasn't really changed.
A few people told me that the film came off as a little ridiculous when viewed today, as opposed to 1973. Which, I admit, is somewhat true in some scene. They aren't really so much scary, as overly ridiculous or absurd. Some scenes noted for their horror are more silly today. There are still enough scares to creep you out, but not as much as I thought. I also wish it had taken up more of the movie, since if it was prolonged, it could've been much scarier. I think I watched the shorter version (because the longer version had a scene of her spider-walking, which I can't recall seeing), so maybe it was done better in the longer version.
Had I watched this film when I was 11 or 12, it would've scared me out of my wits. Today, I think the effect select scenes had on me when I was that age has been numbed by other horror movies. Still, this very much lives up to the hype of a chillingly effective horror movie, and a good overall film, and should be watched along with other pieces of classic cinema. For me, while I'm not usually into supernatural horror, I might seek out and watch the extended version, just to compare the two versions.
Thank you all for reading this years Masterpiece. If you're new, I did one of these last year, and all reviews are still available. For now, the terror shall retreat from the land of living until this time of year next year. Have a Happy Halloween, ladies and gentlemen.
The film opens in northern Iraq, where Father Merrin (Max von Syndow) finds a strange amulet for the pagan god (and demon) Pazuzu (Mercedes McCambridge), a demon he had encountered years earlier, and after viewing the statue of Pazuzu, he realizes Pazuzu. The narrative shifts to actress Chris MacNeill (Ellen Burtsyn) and her daughter Regan (Linda Blair). While Chris is in Washington, DC, for a film shoot, Regan begins to exhibit strange behavior. These behaviors begin to escalate, including strange events happening around Regan, (like steps in their attic, or objects moving around her) and Chris' director, Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran), getting killed while watching over Regan. After doctors and psychiatrists fail to find an Earthly cause for Regan's problems, one of the doctors suggests an exorcism, and tells Chris to find Father Karras (Jason Miller). While Karras is skeptical, seeing Regan gradually transform into a human representation of the demon convinces him, and he agrees to do the exorcism. However, he needs help, and gets Merrin to come and help him out. Together, they try to compel the demon to leave Regan's body.
I suppose I should start with the first thing that impressed me about this film: the music. It helps build the atmosphere of the film, and accentuates certain events. The opening title screen uses a discordant music score the same way 2001 did to great effect in both cases, to give the audience an unsettling feeling going into a film. This is the definition of a good horror score, one which doesn't distract from, but adds to the fears of the film. The build-up also works, giving each main character personalities, and enough background to really care for them, when events begin to turn south. Foreshadowing is also used to great effect, sometimes very subtly. The cinematography emphasize the strangeness of these events, their effects, and their brutality. The effects are deservedly praised, and it is worth the hype in terms of horror, as there are some very terrifying scenes in the film. Mercedes McCambridge's groggy voice with the heavily scarred make-up and puppet are, to put it bluntly, very creepy, and sometimes, her shouts shook me. The stare was also slightly unnerving. It unnerved me when I was 11, and it hasn't really changed.
A few people told me that the film came off as a little ridiculous when viewed today, as opposed to 1973. Which, I admit, is somewhat true in some scene. They aren't really so much scary, as overly ridiculous or absurd. Some scenes noted for their horror are more silly today. There are still enough scares to creep you out, but not as much as I thought. I also wish it had taken up more of the movie, since if it was prolonged, it could've been much scarier. I think I watched the shorter version (because the longer version had a scene of her spider-walking, which I can't recall seeing), so maybe it was done better in the longer version.
Had I watched this film when I was 11 or 12, it would've scared me out of my wits. Today, I think the effect select scenes had on me when I was that age has been numbed by other horror movies. Still, this very much lives up to the hype of a chillingly effective horror movie, and a good overall film, and should be watched along with other pieces of classic cinema. For me, while I'm not usually into supernatural horror, I might seek out and watch the extended version, just to compare the two versions.
Thank you all for reading this years Masterpiece. If you're new, I did one of these last year, and all reviews are still available. For now, the terror shall retreat from the land of living until this time of year next year. Have a Happy Halloween, ladies and gentlemen.
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