| | |
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Documentary, Commentary, Director's Cut
The belief in evil. And the belief that evil can be cast out. From these two strands of faith, author William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin wove a frightening and realistic story of an innocent girl inhabited by a malevolent entity. As a university student in 1949, Blatty heard of the exorcism of a 14-year-pld Maryland boy. Two decades later that incident inspired Blatty's electrifying novel.
Friedkin, whose 1971 The French Connection won him the Best Director Academy Award, garners moving and haunting performances by Linda Blair as the helpless Reegan, Ellen Burstyn as her desperate mother, Jason Miller as doubt-ridden Father Karras and Max von Sydow as the dedicated Jesuit exorcist, Father Merrin.
Winner of Academy Awards (1973) for Best Adapted Screenplay (by Blatty) and Sound, The Exorcist remains one of the most shocking and gripping movies ever made.
Editor's Note
Arguably the scariest motion picture ever made, William Friedkin's THE EXORCIST was unleashed on an unsuspecting American public in 1973. The film quickly became a nationwide sensation, leading to religious boycotts, fainting, and a huge box office return. Oscar nominee Linda Blair beat out hundreds of other child actors to land the role of Regan MacNeil, a 12-year-old who is possessed by the devil. After exhausting all other practical options, Regan's mother, Chris (Ellen Burstyn), acknowledges the supernatural nature of her daughter's condition and recruits Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) to stage an exorcism. Aided by the mysterious Jesuit exorcist Father Merrin (Max von Sydow), Father Damien must confront not only the supernatural phenomena in front of him, but also his own inadequate faith and displaced guilt over his mother's recent death.Friedkin brings William Peter Blatty's Oscar-winning script to shocking life by establishing a realistic, everyday tone before allowing the terror to creep in. The performances of Burstyn and Miller further help to ground the supernatural events. Like THE GODFATHER before it and JAWS shortly after, the breakout success of THE EXORCIST helped to transform Hollywood into the blockbuster behemoth of American culture.
Plot Summary
This is the movie that you can't stand to watch and yet can't turn away from. THE EXORCIST is a horrifying, riveting film based on William Peter Blatty's best-seller (he also wrote the screenplay). In the ultimate transformation plot, a 12-year-old girl (Linda Blair) becomes possessed by the devil. Soon the once-sweet child beomes a murderous, vomit-spewing, bed-twirling hellhound. A dedicated but naive priest attempts to exorcise Satan from Regan's body--and in the process is forced to confront personal demons of his own. The theatrical release led to outrage, fainting, nausea--and huge box-office receipts. The result was two cash-in sequels, the second directed by Blatty.
| Features | Region 1 | | Snap Case | | Dual Side - Single Layer | | Collectors Edition | | Special Edition | | Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85 | | Letterbox - 1.85 | | Audio:
| Dolby Digital 5.1 - English | | Dolby Digital Mono - French | | Additional Release Material:
| Behind the Scenes: "The Fear of God: The Making of THE EXORCIST" | | Alternate Audio Tracks: Sound Effects Tests | | Introduction: William Friedkin - Director | | Trailers:
| 1. Original Theatrical Trailer | | 2. TV Spots/Previews | | Audio Commentary:
| 1. William Friedkin - Director | | 2. William Peter Blatty - Source Writer | | Interactive Features:
| Scene Access | | Interactive Menus | | Text/Photo Galleries:
| Production Notes | | Storyboards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Technical Info
|
Release Information
|  | Studio: Warner |
| Release Date: 9/27/2006 |
| Running Time: 175 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1973 | | Catalog ID: 16176 | | UPC: 00085391617624 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, French Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French | | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Academy Awards (1973) |  | William Peter Blatty, Winner, Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Memorable Quotes| "What an excellent day for an exorcism."----Regan (Linda Blair) to Father Karras (Jason Miller) | | "Why you do this to me, Damie?"----Regan (as Father Karras's mother) to Father Karras |
|
| | Professional Reviews | Entertainment Weekly
"...The first modern, F/X-heavy shriek-o-rama....[Miller and Burstyn] give harrowing, nuanced performances....Strikingly new amid [its era]..." 08/21/1998 pp.129-30USA Today
"...The EXORCIST is still one of the scariest and most adult horror movies ever..." 10/27/2000 p.12E Sight and Sound
"...At once a religious parable, a study of tortured adolescence and a warped satire about a single-parent family, it hasn't dated in the slightest..." 01/01/2002 p.59 |
| |
|
|
| |
__USERID__
http://www.buy.com/prod/exorcist-25th-anniversary-special-edition/q/loc/322/40100125.html
|
|
|
| Customer Reviews | ![]() | | Cinematography |  4.5 | | Plot | 4.5 | | Acting |  5 | | Overall Satisfaction | 5 |
| |
5 of 5 Excellent! THE horror movie standard of movies Sunday, February 20, 2000
Satish from Southfield, Michigan
By far the most disturbing and realistic horror movie of the 20th century. A true classic, both the novel and the movie itself are a genuine standard by which other films are judged and compared to. Was this review helpful?  
5 of 5 One of the scariest films ever made! Wednesday, February 09, 2000
JAM64 from Pasadena, California
I rank this film as one of the top three horror films ever made. It still manages to shock and disturb even in this day and age. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 I'm still terrified!!!!!!! Friday, January 14, 2000
A Viewer from DC
I saw this movie first time when I was 11 years old. I'm 20 now and still scared to death. I even went out to Georgetown in Washington, DC to the place where some of the movie was filmed, and I walked those scary steps just to deal with my fear. I have to admit it's the best horror movie I have ever seen. For those who care to know, this movie was banned in England in 1974 from showing in public theaters due to it's graphic content. People were getting physically sick (throwing up and fainting) watching it. They even took some of the scenes out, cause they were too creepy. But it is an all time classic!!! It has won an Oscar, so it's the best! Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 THE BEST HORROR MOVIE I'VE EVER SAW!!! Saturday, December 11, 1999
Ross from Philippines
Simply shocking story for life!
Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Watch at your own risk... Thursday, November 04, 1999
cloudalone from Hope Mills, NC
I can safely say without a doubt, that this is THE scariest movie of all time. Being aware that the movie is based on actual events and that things like this really happen, I was horrified. Although I love the movie, I can't watch it due to its intensely disturbing tone. If you want to have images stuck in your head for the rest of your life, go ahead and watch this flick. Buy it - if you dare... Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 The funniest movie ever!!! Thursday, October 21, 1999
A Viewer from
This was kind of scary, but it was also very funny i rememeber laughing when seeing it with my father for the first time, i think that it was very well made and it was a scary story but by today's standards its just not that scary anymore. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 I liked this movie Friday, October 01, 1999
Bryan Palamar from Pennsylvania
I thinked that the excorcist is still one of THE best horror movies of all time. In fact when I first saw it I didn't sleep for days. The special affects were aweome. I would reccomend this movie to adults but not children. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Classic Monday, September 20, 1999
Eddie C. from Olivenhain
This is still one of the most disturbing movies I have ever seen. I remember having my eyes half-closed, looking through my hands when I first saw this upon its initial release, and now, 20+ years later, it still makes me want to sleep with the lights on. This is one 'Major Creeps' kind of movie. Love it! Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Scariest of All Time Friday, September 03, 1999
Gil from NJ
Nothing can compare with the original. Dark imagery along with the basis of a true story makes this the reigning flight flight of all time. No one walks away from this undisturbed. With that said, buy it now!! Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 The scariest movie of all time! Friday, August 20, 1999
A Viewer from Los Angeles, CA
I first saw this movie when I was 10 yrs old. I snuck into a movie theater and now I wish I never had.The realism depicted graphically is amazing, and knowing that it comes from a true story is shocking.You don't have to be Catholic to get scared, you jus Was this review helpful?
|
Look For Similar Products By Category
|
