THE EXORCIST (1973) and its sequels & prequels

[Scott Intellectual Carrot Find all posts View Profile Close Scott]

EXORCIST 3 aside, NINTH CONFIGURATION is the only true sequel. "You're gonna die up there."

I didn't see THE BEGINNING/DOMINION until years later when a coworker pushed them on me. There's things I like in each version but neither really gels. Such odd films.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Best Buy exclusive steelbook UHD coming in October.

[JoeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoeS]

This classic shocker about demonic possession holds up not only as a potent horror film, but one of the great films of the 1970s. (50th Anniversary this year!). William Peter Blatty adapted his own novel and retained not only the graphic terror, but, crucially, the character build up and the moral and spiritual undertones.

Friedkin's film spends the time to focus on the four main characters: Father Merrin (a superb Max Von Sydow playing decades older than he was at the time; credit Dick Smith's make-up, too), Father Karras (an excellent Jason Miller), the cursed thirteen year girl targeted by the devil, Regan (a vulnerable Linda Blair*), and her mother, Chris MacNeil (an intense Ellen Burstyn). The emphasis on the individuals sets up the grim dread that ensues. It's what elevates the film from so many of the ripoffs and wannabees that have been made since (with a new one on the way). Too many took the lesson to be that it was all about bloody crucifixes and projectile vomit and not about the human beings caught up in the living nightmare. Indeed, the scene that most horrified some viewers was the spinal tap and not the possession sequences. The full cast is spot on including Kitty Wynn, Tito Vandis, Jack MacGowran and the great Lee J. Cobb as Det. Kinderman.

The technical aspects are top notch from Owen Roizman's cinematography to Bud Smith's editing (subliminal cuts and all) to Marcel Vercoutere's special effects to the grueling sound mix (theater employees in the lobby supposedly were effected by the soundtrack even without seeing the movie). Mike Oldfield's theme, while not composed for the film, is still chilling.

Friedkin made THE EXORCIST coming off Best Picture and Best Director wins for THE FRENCH CONNECTION. A potent duo. What is Friedkin's Best Film? Consider THE FRENCH CONNECTION a “tie”. Flip a coin - Friedkin wins either way.

* Blair's performance wouldn't have been nearly as impactful without her stunt double Eileen Dietz and , of course, the brilliant voice acting by Mercedes McCambridge.

THE EXORCIST is available for streaming rental and its on DVD, Blu Ray and 4K UHD


P.S. There is also a recut version subtitled THE VERSION YOU'VE NEVER SEEN. It's worth watching once for devoted fans, but, the Theatrical Cut is still definitive

[JLG Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JLG]

Flip a coin - Friedkin wins either way.

first time i saw this i was disappointed. too much Tom Savini at the time. saw it in the theater a few years later and it got me!

Sorcerer is my favorite Friedkin tho

[Anthony A Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Anthony A]

I’m halfway thru the 4k theatrical version and I must say I don’t believe I have ever been so disappointed in a release in my life. Contrary to the reviews that I’ve read online and watched on YouTube, I find this release to be pretty terrible. A lot of the time the colours look far too bright and unnatural! Skin tones can be absolutely atrocious at times. It’s hard for me to believe Friedkin approved this. I much prefer the Blu-ray and will probably never watch this disc again!

The cover art for the steelbook is pretty nice so at least it’ll look nice on the shelf

[agent999 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close agent999]

After the Cruising and the first French Connection Blu Ray I can believe that Friedkin would approve anything, and the results depend on what mood he was in at the time. My copy should be arriving soon, I have mixed emotions similar to my girlfriend's mother driving my new car off the edge of a cliff (© the 1970s).

[agent999 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close agent999]

I’m halfway thru the 4k theatrical version and I must say I don’t believe I have ever been so disappointed in a release in my life. Contrary to the reviews that I’ve read online and watched on YouTube, I find this release to be pretty terrible. A lot of the time the colours look far too bright and unnatural! Skin tones can be absolutely atrocious at times. It’s hard for me to believe Friedkin approved this. I much prefer the Blu-ray and will probably never watch this disc again!

The cover art for the steelbook is pretty nice so at least it’ll look nice on the shelf

I had a quick scan through some scenes. I think it's nicely detailed but yes, the colours are somewhat jacked up. I'd be lying if I said I could remember what it looked like in the cinema when I saw it 30+ years ago, or even on VHS, but I doubt that a film of this period would have had such vivid colours. But overall I certainly like the look more than I did Cruising. Might need to make some tweaks to my settings which always annoys me.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Press release!

The Exorcist: Believer will be scaring its way into homes tomorrow, October 24, 2023!

JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN, DARE TO WATCH AT HOME THE NEWEST CHAPTER IN THE CLASSIC HORROR SAGA FOR THE FIRST TIME

OWN OR RENT ON DIGITAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24 THE ONLY WAY TO WATCH AT HOME WHILE STILL IN THEATERS FROM BLUMHOUSE, MORGAN CREEK AND
UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Universal City, California, October 23, 2023 – As it continues its theatrical run, the chilling new horror film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER, will be available exclusively on digital platforms where you can rent or buy tomorrow, October 24, 2023, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 50 years after the most terrifying horror film shocked the world, THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER is a brand-new chapter in the saga, directly following on the groundbreaking original 1973 film.

Since his wife’s death, Victor (Leslie Odom Jr.) has raised his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) alone. After Angela and her friend (Olivia O’Neill) return from a three-day disappearance with missing memories, they begin displaying frightening behavior. Victor’s best hope is to find the only person who has seen anything like this before: Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), whose haunting experience with her daughter Regan may be the key to combating ultimate evil.

From Blumhouse and director David Gordon Green (Halloween, Prince Avalanche), THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER stars Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton, One Night in Miami), Ann Dowd (Hereditary, Compliance), Jennifer Nettles (Harriet), Norbert Leo Butz (Dan in Real Life, Give or Take), Lidya Jewett (Hidden Figures, Good Girls), and reprising her iconic role as Chris MacNeil, Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist, Requiem for a Dream).
For more information on THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER, please visit:

Website: https://www.theexorcistbeliever.movie/
Trailer: https://uni.pictures/ExorcistBeliever_Trailer
Facebook: @TheExorcistBeliever
X: @TheExorcistBlvr
Instagram: @theexorcistbeliever
#TheExorcistBeliever

Filmmakers:
Cast: Leslie Odom, Jr., Lidya Jewett, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, with Ann Dowd and Ellen Burstyn
Casting By: Terri Taylor CSA, Sarah Domeier Lindo CSA, Ally Conover CSA
Music By: David Wingo, Amman Abbasi
Costume Designer: Lizz Wolf
Editor: Tim Alverson ACE
Production Designer: Brandon Tonner-Connolly
Director Of Photography: Michael Simmonds
Executive Producers: Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, Stephanie Allain, Ryan Turek, Brian Robinson, Christopher Merrill
Produced By: David Robinson p.g.a., James G. Robinson, Jason Blum p.g.a.
Screen Story By: Scott Teems & Danny McBride & David Gordon Green
Screenplay By: Peter Sattler & David Gordon Green
Directed By: David Gordon Green

ABOUT UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE – www.uphe.com) is a unit of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG). UFEG produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television and other distribution platforms, as well as consumer products, interactive gaming and live entertainment. The global division includes Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Brand Development, Fandango, DreamWorks Animation Film and Television and Awesomeness. UFEG is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

[Mark Tolch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark Tolch]

I had a quick scan through some scenes. I think it's nicely detailed but yes, the colours are somewhat jacked up. I'd be lying if I said I could remember what it looked like in the cinema when I saw it 30+ years ago, or even on VHS, but I doubt that a film of this period would have had such vivid colours. But overall I certainly like the look more than I did Cruising. Might need to make some tweaks to my settings which always annoys me.

Rewatched my older blu with both cuts housed in the Warner book packaging they were doing (I think I bought this when Future Shop was still a thing, so over a decade ago). Film looked great (theatrical) and there are definitely no vivid colours on display haha. Great flick.