The Exorcist (DVD) > Reviews

Advantages: Powerful, genuinely scary, excellent performances, thought provoking, the ultimate good vs evil story.
Disadvantages: Aging effects, Some overtly disturbing scenes.

The Exorcist. The mere name stirs the mind into a multitude of thoughts, because of it's famous nature. Controversy, fear, mis-understanding, satanism, dark side, bleak, Anti-Catholic. All of these words are linked to this single, powerful piece of film. PLOT AND THEMES The basic movie itself on it's most aesthetic level is very very easy to follow. A priest unearths an ancient evil, which escapes to possess a young girl, whose relative was at ... Read review

Advantages: fantastical quality of filming and acting
Disadvantages: some may feel is dated

...Linda Blair (Regan MacNeil) Written for the screen and Produced by: William Peter Blatty (based on his novel) I would normally write a review on a film by going into the story first. I don’t always like doing this as I feel it can sometimes spoil your viewing. After going into the storyline I would go into my thoughts on the film and the cast. Not this time, a classic like this needs its own approach, so here it is. The Exorcist is ... Read review

Advantages: Best horror flick ever
Disadvantages: Exorcist 2 & 3 sucked

Christmas 1973 the film industry changed forever. Christmas 1973 horror films changed forever. For the first time a film made people fled from cinemas due to nausea and fright. Scarier films may have been made since the Exorcist but the Exorcist has influenced so many horror films it is more than just a scary film. The Exorcist is a timeless classic, a film that will never be forgotten its the daddy of horror films. It all starts off in Iraq with ... Read review

Advantages: tubular bells, plot, acting
Disadvantages: has its critics, not scary for a modern viewer

The Exorcist Various Credits Novel by William Peter Blatty Directed by William Friedkin (Rules of Engagement) Music by Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells/Omadawn) Characters Regan MacNiel - Linda Blair Regan is a 12 year old little girl living with her mother in Washington. She is very kind and friendly with her mum. However, Satan possesses her. The role is played very well for someone so young; it is the lead role, however she ... Read review

Advantages: See Review
Disadvantages: See review

...both negative and positive- as The Exorcist. Originally released in 1973, such was the extreme content of this film that a video certification was not granted in the UK until many years later. Finally, on March 17th 2001 the film was screened on British terrestrial television for the first time since the film's release 28 years previously. Over the years, The Exorcist has established itself as the most influential and most frightening horror film ... Read review

Advantages: read opp
Disadvantages: read opp

...thought I would stick with the horror genre, and review in my opinion the greatest horror film that was ever made. Now there have always been comments on what horror film is the best, and for me this was is simply the best, because it's unique, very dark and chilling and something that was very big when it came out. It revolutionised the way directors and writers handled horror films and it created many paths for other films with the same sort of ... Read review

Advantages: The film is now available uncut and on DVD which will enhance the great audio.
Disadvantages: None

...that I can really appreciate the great sound track by Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells. But it's not only that, this is one of those films that really is a classic made in an untraditional way and full of the realities of the time line on which it was made. The story for this film was originally based on real events surrounding a young lad in Philadelphia, obviously in truth it must have been a real nightmare for the people involved, and is most likely ... Read review

Advantages: Scares the c**p out of you
Disadvantages: Scares the c**p out of you

In my opinion The Exorcist is the best and most disturbing horror film ever made. Released in 1973 at the end of the Vietnam War, this film shocked audiences all over America and sent many of the public running from Cinemas due to the disturbing nature of its content. Written by William Peter Blatty and Directed by William Friedkin, The Exorcist is hailed as the scariest film ever made, it was nominated for 10 Oscars and won 2 for Best Sound and ... Read review

Advantages: Stil grips
Disadvantages: aged badly

...was revolutionary and regarded as the scariest film ever made bar none. But that's a long time ago now. When I first saw it, for a while (as a teenager) I was genuinely scared to go out late at night (but that might have been the drugs). However, I watched it with my family two months ago and it doesn't seem to have aged very well - perhaps it's that the memory and passing years have increased its status in my mind or perhaps we've just become immunised ... Read review

Advantages: Great acting...
Disadvantages: but is it really as scary as everyone makes out?

The Exocist was originally made in 1973 and was subsequently banned in the UK for approximately 20 years. Described by many as 'the scariest movie of all time' and as the greatest movie ever made'- radio 1, we shall see if its what is cracked up to be. I have the DVD ( the year 2000 version), in my in my hands. On the back the synopsis basically describes that 'Director William Friedkin and producer/ screen writer Peter Blatty have revisited the ... Read review

Advantages: Damn spooky for a first time viewer.
Disadvantages: Pales with viewing?

...Merrin is wandering in Iraq; the skies are daunting and the old priest senses something: As he stares into the empty lands, he witnesses two dogs fighting. He casts his eyes to the statue of the demon god Pazuzu. All is not right with the world. Enter now into the cosy family life of the McNeil's - OK, not that cosy, as Mr McNeil is truant, and Mrs is obviously doing her best to rear her only daughter and continue her career as a successful TV ... Read review

Advantages: Great extras
Disadvantages: Film not ageing well

THE FILM A young girl (Regan) has been playing with an Ouja Board, soon after she falls ill and begins to have fits and convulsions. The doctors feel its some sort of mental disorder but can find no physical evidence to back this up. Regans condition gets worse and the doctors suggest that an exorcism might work (on the basis of mental suggest only). Two priests are called in and the exorcism takes place. I first watched this film many years ... Read review