Language: English
Genre: Drama/Horror/Thriller/Book Adaptation
Cast: Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Ellen Burstyn
Direction: William Friedkin
Music: Steve Boeddeker
Reasons to watch: Vintage horror story, shocking visuals, stupendous performances
Reasons not to: Not as bloody or gory as modern day horror films, No out of the blue scenes
Storyline: Based on the 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist is the story of possession of Regan McNeil (Linda Blair), the 12 year old daughter of a visiting actress Chris McNeil (Ellen Burstyn) in Washington, D.C., by the devil himself. Living with her mother in Georgetown in Washington, she begins to exhibit strange symptoms and great violence. When all medical possibilities are exhausted, her mother is referred to a priest Father Karras (Jason Miller) who is also a psychiatrist. He becomes convinced that Regan is possessed and he and another priest, Father Lancester Merrin (Max Von Sydow), experienced in exorcism must drive the spirit from Regan before it kills her.
Climax Handling: The climax is a long drawn, gruesome battle between good and evil, the exorcism brought alive by a mixture of emotions and horror.
Points: Claimed to be one of the scariest horror movies ever, this movie shocked audiences when it was released, way back in 1973
Rating: 9/10
Comment: Horror at its subtle best. Don’t watch it alone!
