The Exorcist: Director's Cut (2000)

3.5 out of 4

Starring: Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb

Director: William Friedkin

Time: 132 mins

The Exorcist, written by William Peter Blatty, is one of the most calculated and terrifying books of all time. The film adaptation, directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection), is, likewise, one of the most calculated and terrifying, not to mention influential, movies of all time. The Exorcist is frightening not for its ability to make you jump, as more modern horror films tend to do (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, etc.), but for its ability to shock with its cleverly constructed depiction of a descent into hell. One must remember the era upon which the film was unleashed: a time of social upheaval but still relatively innocent and conservative (notwithstanding the hippiness of the late 60s). The Exorcist, with its frequent blasphemy, its desecration and foul use of Catholic symbols, and its special effects (which, though relatively tame now, are still effective), terrified a whole generation of moviegoers who hadn't experienced such an in-your-face, psychological attack before. Now, with this newly-released and enhanced director's cut, The Exorcist is about to shock a whole new generation again.

The only version of The Exorcist I've seen was the one shown on network TV, where all the swearing has been excised. Though I knew the film contained some strong language, I was still surprised to hear some of the lines uttered by the demon-possessed Regan. Watching this director's cut brought home to me how skilful William Peter Blatty's script, of his own book, and Friedkin's direction was. Nothing actually happens for the first half hour, as the story alternates between the characters of actress Chris MacNeil and daughter Regan, and troubled priest Damien Karras. It is this seeming normality that gives the later scenes of horror such a jolt, as the audience has been lulled into a sense of security that quickly dissolves. One could call the opening scenes dull, but I prefer a dull start and exciting finish than frequent action and a weak ending.

The film begins with a small segment set at a dig site in the Middle East. A Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) finds artifacts and a statue depicting the demon Pazuzu. Despairing, he returns to America to prepare himself for the coming battle. Meanwhile, in the Washington D.C suburb of Georgetown, actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) has been working on her latest film with director Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran). Staying with her is her young daughter, Regan (Linda Blair). A priest at the local Catholic church, Damien Karras (Jason Miller), is feeling guilt over his neglect of his elderly mother. When Regan starts exhibiting wild behaviour, Chris sends her to the best doctors. The violent death of Burke near where Chris and Regan are staying arouses the suspicions of local lawman Lieutenant Kinderman (Lee J. Cobb). Regan's condition grows worse by the day, and Chris is forced to go to Father Karras for help. It seems like Regan is exhibiting telltale signs of demonic possession. If modern medicine can't help, can the ancient ritual of exorcism?

Horror films, by their very nature, usually have some ingredient of the fantastic in them. The Exorcist, however, makes the unthinkable all too real. It seems like the events in the film could easily happen. We have a nice, normal neighbourhood, with a nice, normal family. The shock, then, is in seeing a nice, normal, young girl being turned into a screeching, gravelly voiced creature, who hurls dollops of green vomit and utters lines that would make even the soldiers from the film Platoon blush. Friedkin and Blatty don't throw everything at you all at once. Instead, they build the suspense for the inevitable exorcism. This segment is mesmerising and thrilling, especially during the mental and physical battles between Karras and the demon.

There are an extra ten minutes of footage which have been re-inserted into this director's cut. Most famous is probably the notorious spider walk sequence, where Regan is seen scurrying down the stairs on her hands and feet, upside down, stretched out like a spider. This scene is only about five to ten seconds long, but is chilling nonetheless. Other notable changes include some digital graphics placed at certain points, and a remastered digital soundtrack. The soundtrack is an improvement as well as a distraction. It is certainly impressive in its clarity, with the ringing of a phone during the movie bringing gasps of surprise from the audience (thinking: why would a phone ring in the cinema?). The sounds from the surround channels, however, aren't as seamless or as well balanced with the front speakers. They're often too discrete, as in there seems to be an empty spot between the picture and the sides and rear of the cinema rather than what should be an unbroken soundfield. The surrounds were also so loud during one scene I couldn't quite hear what the characters were saying on screen. I applaud the sound remixers for what they've done, but they should have shown some restraint, perhaps. That said, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells theme is as eerie and haunting as ever.

The acting is a highlight in The Exorcist. Linda Blair gives a wonderful performance as the possessed Regan, considering how young she was at that time. Given the controversial subject matter, she's done well to have remained unaffected by it. The standouts, however, are Ellen Burstyn and Jason Miller. Burstyn, who has a Best Actress nomination this year for Requiem For A Dream, conveys all the frustration and pain of a mother at the end of her tether. Her money can buy the best doctors for her daughter, but when they fail, her helplessness is almost palpable. Miller, as the guilt-ridden priest, is also excellent. His battles with the demon and with himself are the catalysts for the heart-in-mouth finale. European actor von Sydow is only in a handful of scenes, but imparts, oddly enough, almost a feeling of comfort to the audience when he arrives near the end. It's as if a saviour has answered the call, and is ready to do battle. Finally, the great Lee J. Cobb also leaves an impression as the softly spoken detective who realises that something is not quite right at the MacNeil household.

Parts of the audience I saw the new director's cut with giggled at the swearing and the green vomit. Later, as we were leaving the cinema, I heard others say that it wasn't that scary. Well, if they were expecting something like the Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday The 13th, Halloween, or Scream series, then The Exorcist is not the film for them. If you like psychological, supernatural horror, of the sort that only films like The Sixth Sense and A Stir Of Echoes have done well in recently, then The Exorcist will have you thinking, and shaking, and maybe even shivering. It is easily one of the all-time great horror films, and almost on a par with Jaws. See it if you dare.

(c) Joe Wong (24 March 2001)