The Exorcist - The DVD Collection (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	All 5 Exorcist in one set
Disadvantages:	none

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I found this on offer at a local store (Music Zone) for ten pound so i snapped it up what awaited me was 9hours and 25 mins of head scratching mind bending tea throwing terror . This film was band for a reason. ok so the Exorcist that we have all seen at the cinema wasn't that scary true but wait till you get your hand on this box set which contians all five thats rite five Exorcist i got a surprise when i unwrapped the packaging and found to my surprise five disks waiting for me .
Plot:so how do i this firstly i will break each dvd into sections so of course we have
DVD 1:
The Prequel Dominion:

THE PLOT: Well as it says this is where it all begins and it dose just that. the film is based in the post world war 2 era where a group of archaeologists are digging in south Africa. Flash back to world war one and we meet the priest Father Merrin who is in a situation that eventually makes him lose his faith go back forward and where back at the dig where father Merrin is supervising the dig we saw in the first opening scene .
They then find that church has been burred so they begin to excavate the church as they do so things start going wrong people start acting odd the tribes start getting restless and to make matters worse the British army turn up to secure the site as its in British territory and as the Priest has been asked by the army to supervise the dig he cant stop them. He now must see the worst of humanity and take on a evil that is immortal and unrelenting the fight begins for the first time.
Plot my opinion
its very confusing but has the same dark terror as the original but as its a modern film its a lot more in your face terror i enjoyed this film but had to re watch to follow the twisting plot as you can see trying to break down the plot is not an easy matter don't let this put you off
it well worth watching and it dose explain how this all begins
Cast
father Merrin Stellan Skarsgard an unknown actor to me
rest of cast is either new or not known
Director
Paul Shrader
who has director'd screen gems like auto focus and screen rote Taxi driver takes the story and twists it to bring you a eye catching dark moody plot that begins slow and builds to a terrorizing climax
Dvd Extras
some not as many as i would have liked but some good ones
Commentary by the Director
Additional Scenes
Stills Gallery

thats the first disc all in all a very good film that helps to tell us where this all begins.Effects wise not many to speak of basic make you jump effects used but the film dose not need much effects just blood and the cast to make this truly scary

DVD 2
The Beginning
THE PLOT: We find father Merrin again at a archaeologist dig run by the British this time in Kenya where a pristine Christian Bizantine church has been unearthed like it was new. as the dig continues the church is opened and a maddens takes over the villagers and soldiers alike Merrin realise that his nemmersis has returned once again father Merrin has to face his demons head on.It begins again

Plot my opinion
is very identical to the first but still keeps its originality through out you may think am i watching the same film but your not this truly is a darker and scarier film than the original Merrin again is played well by the same actor and his experience of the first film shows through you can see genuine terror in those eyes.

Cast
same as above but added to cast are
James D'arcy
Izabella Scorrucpo

Director
Renny Harlin
Who takes a plot and takes you from a plot like the first but adds more to it to make it his own also using some of the original ideas with a modern touch.building again to climax you wont see coming

DVD Extras
again not many and basic ones too but the behind scenes feature is fairly good if like me you love finding out how this was made
Commentary by director
Behind Scenes feature
Trailer

Thats no2 which again starts of slow and builds to a climax that as i have said you don't see coming don't eat while watching this its very bloody and violent as is the first all in all a very well put together horror film
DVD 3
The Exorcist
THE PLOT: A young girl gets posses d by the evil we have been following from disc1 a priest is asked to help but he is not strong enough so he enlist the help of Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgard) to help in an exorcism what follows is chilling tale of faith and loss of faith
This film was originally band by the director but has finally been set free for your viewing pleasure this edition has been digitally re mastered and contains some footage not seen at the cinema now 25 years on the fear returns

The plot my opinion
I love this film it begins again slow and steady but starts to turn very nasty the cast is top notch and the child is superb her pain looks real and when she gets posses d she takes on the role well she is so young but her acting is just amazing the film its self is a fairly basic pot but taken to a point of no return the movie could have been the worst ever if not handle rite but the cast and director just take this story and again weave a web of terror
The Cast
Linda Blair:Child
Ellen Burstyn: mother
Jason Miller :Father Karras
Max Von Sydow
Director
Academy award winner William Friedkin (Best Director 1971) takes us on dark journey through faith and fear

DVD extras Now this one is stuffed full of them this is the best use of extras i have ever seen also the film is introduced by the the director
Fear of god documentary
8 Trailers (nobody expected it,beyond comprehension,Flash image,Exorcist two the heretic,Fallen,interview with a vampire,Beetlejuice,Devils advocate)
6 TV spots (Beyond comprehension,You too can see the Exorcist,Between science and superstition,the movie you've been waiting for,Nobody expected it,Life had been good)
Interviews(The original cut,Stairway to heaven,the final reckoning)
The original ending
separate commentaries By William Friedkin (director) and William Blatty (writer)

Thats 3 which you just have to see it may not be as scary as the others in this set but it still one of the best films i have seen

DVD 4
The Heretic
THE PLOT: Its four years after the original Exorcist we find the child who was originally posses' d and Exorcised in the film we have all grown to fear THE EXORCIST
Now she has started having vivid nightmares we she begins to question has it returned am i going to end up being possessed again with these ideas firmly implanted in the mind of the watching film fan we begin to unravel the mystery and begin again to fight the terror that will not leave can the Vatican help can a hypnotic researcher help who knows this film will scare you to your very soul with visually stunning special effects and a cast of supporting actors that will surprise you

Plot my opinion
Mummy can I come from behind the sofa now wow what a ride this film just dose not let go it takes from the beginning to the end make sure to watch the exorcist first or you never get this film the cast is amazing i meen James Earl Jones wow and Richard Burton as the priest and poor old Linda Blair as the child

Cast
James Earl Jones
Max von Sydow___All supporting actors
Paul Hendrid
Linda Blair :Regan Macneil
Richard Burton: Vatican Investigator
Louise Fletcher: Hypnotic Researcher

Director
John Boorman takes a cast to die for and weaves a web of fear that will leave you spell bound

Thats DVD 4 this one just dose not let up the director takes youfrom south Africa and back and the effects all be it out dated scared the crap out of me do not watch alone

DVD5
The Exorcist 3
THE PLOT: Poilce Lt Kinderman is investigating a spree of mysterious murders and dosent believe in the occult not yet that is from the novel legion come the final chapter in the exorcist the film takes us to an investigation of a murder long thought dead a woman crawls on the ceiling unnoticed snakes appear the evil has returned

The Plot my opinion
The film is a basic cop film with a dark twist which sends shock waves through your spine it takes you on journey of discovery from the view point of the Lt who finds out theres darker forcer out there than he even new. I no i did not put much info in this plot but it would totally spoil it for you so forgive me for this. also watch for bit parts a young Samuel L Jackson appears in this and a Pro Basketball Player Patrick Ewing The plot is basic but it makes it up with the priest returning to help and the cast is again top rate it again takes twist and turns and builds to shocking climax

Cast
George C Scott:Lt Kinderman
Ed Flanders
Jason Miller :Priest
Scott Wilson
Nicol Williamson:Father Morning
Brad Dourif

Director
William Peter Blatty who takes his book and gives it a screen play to die for which takes us from where the original ended to darker seedier side of life that helps to make this a dark eary film from beginning to end
DVD extras
Sadly none i don't understand why but the set its self is well worth getting

And thats all of the set i hope this was some use for you if you see this in a shop get it its well worth it all in all 9 hours and 25 mins of terror enjoy