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| Exorcist: The Version You Haven't Seen Yet, The |
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  (9/10)
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Runtime: 132 |
| Public Rating: 8.76 (21 votes) |
Director: William Friedkin |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Horror |
Year: 1973 |
| Writer(s): William Peter Blatty (from his novel) |
| Reviewed by: Aaron Graham |
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As a fan of the Exorcist films. (Is it just me, or is Exorcist II: The Heretic a perfectly atune guilty pleasure of a horror film? I mean it isn't as much about faith but about true horror. Take away the questions about faith and thrills and add boredom and you get Exorcist III: Legion). The film is a marvel of a cornerstone in horror film history. There have countless imitators (one Warner Bros had stopped was a blaxplotiation piece called Blaxorcist!). The cinematography by Owen Roizman is timeless. I followed the excellant reissue a few years ago of the original 1973 version on DVD with a brand new almost-feature length documentary The Fear Of God and other great goodies. So when I heard that the original would get a director's cut treatment (more a producer's cut as novelist and writer William Peter Blatty finally gets the cut he wants) I became ecstatic. But first I will begin a review of the original film for those very few who need a quick history.
The Exorcist is truely a first of its kind. It is the first time questions about faith, and what you believe in and true horror was grouped together to give chills and to make you ask questions. It is a perfect mix of Rosemary's Baby and Ingmar Bergman films. So who better to cast as the untimely wise Father Merrin than Bergman stalwart Max Von Sydow who many the time questioned death and life itself in Bergman films (most notably The Seventh Seal). He is perfect in his role and this was really his first great American role.
We have sort of a prologue in Iraq where Merrin deals with the devil's doings and stands face to face with a ungodly statue Director Friedkin then takes us to Georgetown where movie screen actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn, in really her prime with Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore up next for her) and her daughter Regan (Linda Blair, her role in this has given her a place in pop and film culture). We are given a few scenes with them living comfortably and we really invest our hearts with these characters. Theres also Jack MacGowran (who sadly died on the set) as Burke Dennings, a film director who Chris is working with, and nanny Sharon Spencer (Kitty Winn) who isn't really given much of anything to do.
Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) is seriously doubting his faith. He lives almost in poverty and can not take better care of his mother. His friend Father Dyer (Reverend William O'Malley) talks to him about this in a memorable barroom scene with The Allman Bros. Band's "Ramblin' Man" in the background. Dyer is somewhat a goodnatured yet cheatful person who we instantly like for some reason. Karras' mother dies and he sinks deeper into questioning his chosen work. His uncle tells hims if he had picked a better job than his mother could have gotten better care.
The goldmine of a part (for me anyway) is Det. Kinderman played by the always magnificent Lee J. Cobb. A lesser actor would have downplayed his character because a stereotypical role as a Detective would have bogged the film down somewhat. Cobb does the opposite, he is full of gusto talking about film with Karras ("You Like To Critique Film" he asks him) and other questions. He truly is a scene stealer, and adds a good toned humor to the film. (look at the scene where he asks Chris for an autograph for his daughter (really its for him) and try not to laugh!).
Strange noises come from the attic. Regan begins acting strange. Chris takes her to various doctors, where they poke needles in her and give her spinal taps. There seems to be nothing wrong with her. She gets worse and worse, marks start to appear on her face, she is cursing uncontrolably, her bed starts to shake forcibly and that is the last straw for Chris. After various psychotherapists, hypnotists, doctors the only answer is the unthinkable--- an exorcism. Karras, through mutual friends, comes into contact with Chris and checks Regan out. He is convinced after some questioning and proceeds to go to the church to ask for permission. They assign the Father Merrin of the prologue and that memorable scene with Merrin walking into the house (also used in the poster) begins.
The Exorcist is long and complicated to describe. The ending is haunting and when they say Regan doesn't remember anything and then she sees the necktie of Father Dyer, you know she remembered what Merrin and Karras had done for her. The two priests leave an indelible mark in your mind. You will find yourself days later remebering Karras and Merrin.
Now the directors cut added eleven minutes and digital sound. The four major scene editions were: One in which Regan and Chris talk about Regan's deteriorating health, the infamous "spiderwalk" that leaves me horrified (it is a different take than in the documentary, it takes place right after the announcing of the death of Burke Dennings), a scene is added after the first attempt of exorcism where Karras and Merrin talk on the stairs. This was a memorable scene and slowed down the terror from the little girl's bedroom
Finally the major edition was the end where Kinderman and Dyer talk about movies. Blatty didn't want the audience to feel that the devil had won but it completely mystifies me how this scene adds anything. I wanted to hear "Tubular Bells'' and see Dyer walk through all the places that the film took place. It just bogs everything down completely.
Also added are some subliminal shots of demons, for what reason I don't know.
The main question is: Do these additions add anything to the picture? No. Is the film recommend? Yes, definitely. It is classic and to see it on the big screen (director's cut or not) is a chance not to be missed!
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