The Exorcist

Directed by: William Friedkin

Written for the screen and produced by: William Peter Blatty

Based on his novel.

Starring: Linda Blair

Ellen Burstyn

Max von Sydow

Jason Miller

Lee J. Cobb

Runtime: 123 minutes

Release date: December 26, 1973

I can only imagine the horrified looks of theatre goers everywhere when they saw the movie, especially since it was released on Boxing Day. What a change of pace.

I have been dying to review the movie since I first saw it, but I kept delaying it. But, I believe the time is right to finally talk about a perennial classic. What an amazing film! What an achievement in filmmaking! I can only speak praises about the picture.

The film did such an amazing job in building the tension in just the first few minutes alone. It might have taken place in the desert, but there is this feeling of uneasiness that permeates throughout the opening, before we are hit with the predicament, an evil is coming, before cutting to a Georgetown colonial styled house. What I like about the setting is that it is not your typical haunted house. It is relatively new, and not that fancily furbished as well, which is essential to the film's realistic approach. It felt tangible as if it could occur anywhere, which is why when the possession finally happened, we, as an audience, felt violated.

The performances were top notch too. Linda Blair's performance as Regan remains as one of the most haunting piece of acting I have ever had the privilege to see. Though, she did not really shine in the first half, she undoubtedly steals the show once she is possessed. Her mannerism, her body language, changed exponentially.

Ellen Burstyn's portrayal of the doting, loving yet ill tempered mother rings true. You can truly feel her frustration as she is trying to wrap her head around just what causes her daughter to act the she does. Is it puberty? Penchant for attention?

But nevertheless, you can feel her motherly vibe which is why I feel, and apparently the audience, sympathetic to the character.

Jason Miller is born to play Damien Karras. Not only did he look the part, he embodies the part. His eyes welcoming yet gleaming with a dark presence. Confident yet fragile. His acting chops were impressive, bringing an air of sympathy to a character that is dangerously hovering on the whiny category.

Max von Sydow is perfect as Lankaster Merrin. He perfectly exudes the grace, wisdom and mannerisms of an experienced priest. Never for a moment do I feel that he is playing a character, quite the opposite actually.

The film is also beautifully constructed. From Blatty’s great screenplay, to its direction, to its cinematography, to how the film progresses, to its music, there is a sense of effort being put into each frame. The subplots were also evenly distributed, none of it were ever eclipsing the main point of the story.

In conclusion, the film is a smartly written, beautifully filmed, wonderfully acted film that is quite ahead of its time. Even the greatest of exorcism movies, still had to face the predicament of living in the film’s massive shadow. It more than did its job in scaring the audience whilst at the same time deliver a chilling, disturbing, darkly humorous and emotionally potent story.