The Exorcist: 25th Anniversary Special Edition

Rating:
Summary: Justification of the external
Review: In retrospect, this has to be considered one of the top 25 American films of the second half of the 20th century. The reason I am citing here in particular is the overt and powerful emphasis on the external. Let's see what that means.

American culture has always had a practical, "can do" orientation--a perspective that has consistently (at least since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, if not before) emphasized the accomplishment of goals through work. That is, there's been a sledgehammer-like insistence, decade after decade, on the Protestant work ethic (also called Judeo-Christian work ethic). The corollary of this emphasis is that any problems that arise do so based on external circumstances. While there have been great American works of art pointing in the opposite direction (Miller's Death of a Salesman is a terrific example), these have not detracted from the still present today work ethic that informs how we live, work, and relate to each other.

The Exorcist is much more than a horror film. It's a potent drama that slams the viewer in the face with just how embedded we are in this Protestant/Judeo-Christian ethic by positing one of the worst problems ever (loss of control over one's actions) solely on the basis of an external influence--i.e., demonic possession.

The reason this film works so incredibly well is that the writer, William Peter Blatty, and the director, William Friedkin, were both smart enough to know that shock for shock's sake and all the grotesque tricks that little Regan pulls as a demon (the spider walk, the 360 degree head turn, etc.) don't add up to a hill of beans unless the demonically possessed little girl is contrasted with her opponents who are themselves riddled with problems. Thus, the source of the extreme problem--a blatantly external influence (demon)--meets other external influences (this time on the side of good) whose own internal lives are in chaos.

What this does, interestingly enough, is to emphasize even more how obvious the American perspective on the external really is. Why? Because in spite of their doubts and fears, these two priests are committed to fighting this external influence, this demon, until, come Hell or high water, they win. And in this film, yes, Hell does come. It's really pretty amazing how strong a drama this is, after more than 30 years, and how weak and pathetic many other copycat films are in comparison.

The Exorcist succeeds both in scaring us because of its relentless insistence on the external vs. the internal, and in providing a cinematic work that does not rely primarily on jolts (though it certainly does have its share of those), but on the emotional depths to which those affected by this extreme of external influence can sink. Regan's mother, played by Ellen Burstyn--who gives a powerhouse performance--is, in fact, the real star of the show, running the gamut of eomtions from exuberance to complete despair.

Max von Sydow and Jason Miller as the priests are also great, and in an uncharacteristic role--i.e., not as a heavy--Lee J. Cobb comes off well, though he doesn't have much to do, as a detective who's baffled by the goings on.

A remarkable piece of work that is still fresh in 2005, The Exorcist is a film to add to any collection of best American cinema in the last 50 years.

Rating:
Summary: crazy movie one of the worst
Review: Horror movies have many purpopes the directer of this film must of thought it is just to gross and disturb you it actually is sopposed to scare entertain excite you and let you have fun i really do not like movies that disturb you. this movie is not a classic at all the specail effects are out dated the whole movie was basicly a cheezy but disturbing movie that is not a horror movie.

Rating:
Summary: a great horror film
Review: The Exorcist has a long-standing legend as one of the best horror films ever made. The movie is one of the best adaptations of a novel that I've seen. The items left out of the movie didn't really add to the story, but were effective in providing suspense and scary mental imagery without the benefit of film effects. If you liked the original exorcist, I would recommend Exorcist: The beginning. Although not quite as scary as the first and uses CGI effects to achieve scares, it is a better attempt at the original than Exorcist II.

Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 Stars
Review: I like this movie a lot. It had some great scenes and a good story line. I reccomend watching this BEFORE reading the book (if you do plan on reading it) because then you can't tell what will come next, and it just comes out a whole lot scarier. And the book goes into more detail so you will still have more to look forward to.
If you are athiest or don't believe in possesion this probably isn't the movie for you. But if you like any kind of monster flick you should like this. It was very unique, I hadn't seen a movie like this before.
Remember though, just because a lot of other people say it is the scariest movie doesn't mean you will think it is. Even still, I would give it a shot. If you do end up liking it you will have found a great horror story, if you don't you will have something to make fun of later.

Rating:
Summary: JAJA
Review: Esta pelicula la unica vez que te asusta o es por eres pequeño o por que cuando terminas por verla muchas veces te termina por dar risa. Es realmente algo aburrida.

Rating:
Summary: Exorcist
Review: The Exorcist succeeds on every level. This film should have swept the Oscars. The acting, and direction was beyond top rate, William Freidkin coaxed masterful performances from all of his actors. It works because we believe in Regan and her actress mom, they are real people like us, as is Father Karras and everyone else involved. We are seeing ourselves on the big screen. What happens to these people is the most terrifying thing that can happen to anyone, especially parents. What do you do when your kid is losing her sanity? You start to question yours as your world slowly falls apart, and no one can help, especially not doctors and head shrinks. But demonic possession? Is it real? Who really knows. But Regan's mother is desperate for any solution. And then the film begins to terrorize, to turn into the darkest nightmares. This film chilled audiences in the 70's to the bone, and I can see why. Freidkin uses subliminal images, and horrifying make up to tell a tale of demonic possession that strikes a raw nerve. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: I DARE YOU TO WATCH THIS MOVIE ALONE !
Review: This is without a doubt, one of the scariest
movies ever made! If this movie doesn't scare
the hell out of you, nothing will! I saw this
movie for the first time, when I was 15 years
old. I'm 43 now, and I wouldn't watch this movie
alone, if you paid me! This movie will stay in
your mind, for many years to come, especially
when you turn the lights off, to go to sleep!