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Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, Kitty Winn ... see more see more... , Lee J Cobb , Jack MacGowran , Ron Faber , Barton Heyman , Vasiliki Maliaros , Mercedes McCambridge , Donna Mitchell , Rev. William O'Malley , Jay Robinson , Wallace Rooney , Robert Symonds , Titos Vandis , Peter Masterson , Rudolf Schündler , Roy Cooper , Robert Gerringer

Novelist William Peter Blatty based his best-seller on the last known Catholic-sanctioned exorcism in the United States. Blatty transformed the little boy in the 1949 incident into a little girl named... read more read more... Regan, played by 14-year-old Linda Blair. Suddenly prone to fits and bizarre behavior, Regan proves quite a handful for her actress-mother, Chris MacNeil (played by Ellen Burstyn, although Blatty reportedly based the character on his next-door neighbor Shirley MacLaine). When Regan gets completely out of hand, Chris calls in young priest Father Karras (Jason Miller), who becomes convinced that the girl is possessed by the Devil and that they must call in an exorcist: namely, Father Merrin (Max von Sydow). His foe proves to be no run-of-the-mill demon, and both the priest and the girl suffer numerous horrors during their struggles. The Exorcist received a theatrical rerelease in 2000, in a special edition that added 11 minutes of footage trimmed from the film's original release and digitally enhanced Chris Newman's Oscar-winning sound work. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: William Friedkin

Release Date: December 26, 1973

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DVD Release Date: December 1, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (24,327)

  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    April 23, 2012
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Somewhere between science and superstition, there is another world. The world of darkness."

    When a girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.

    REVIEW<
    ... read more/b>
    The story is simple enough. Innocent girl possessed by a demon. But what makes "The Exorcist" different from any horror film is that it's not about blood and gore like most slasher films, and there are characters we care about, rather than just a bunch of airheads in which we tend to find ourselves rooting for the villain to slaughter them. Yes, there is plenty of disturbing scenes throughout "The Exorcist", but it's a character-driven film. That's what I really enjoyed about this movie. All the performances are brilliant. Ellen Burstyn perfectly conveys the tension and fear a mother would experience during such a horrific supernatural event. Max Von Sydow (who's only in the movie for about twenty minutes) gives a performance that should've won him an Oscar. He conveys the sense of hope in the film. His words, "The power of Christ compels you!" still rings in my mind.

    Jason Miller expresses the sadness and imperfection that every person experiences, which is particularly unique since his character is a priest. And I can't forget Linda Blair as the little girl who's possessed. Even though Mercedes McCambridge did the voice of the demon (a voice that I will never forget), Blair's facial expressions and actions throughout the film as she transforms from good to evil is nothing short of perfect. And the fact she did this role at such a young age should've also garnered her an Oscar. The other aspect I cannot overlook in this film is the technical feats. I found the works of cinematography, editing, and sound design to be top-notched, even by today's standards. I mean, the filmmakers made a bed float in the air before the invention of CGI! That cannot be beaten. And the whole exorcism sequence, well, I'll just say I could not keep my eyes off of the screen. I've now have come to appreciate William Friedkin as a legendary director for pulling off such a brilliant film. This movie won 2 Oscars back in 1974 for adapted screenplay and sound. Yet again, another superior film has been screwed over by the academy. I try not to put much stock in awards, but "The Exorcist" is a rare jewel that should not have been so sourly overlooked. This may be a horror film, but it's not like any other one. There's plot, characters, symbolism, and important messages of self-sacrifice and the presence and triumph over unimaginable evil. Of all the words I've used to describe this film, there is one that can sum it up. Unforgettable.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    March 24, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Exorcist is classic horror at its finest. One of the defining films of the genre, The Exorcist remains one of the benchmark films in the genre by generating some of the scariest moments ever put before a viewing audience. In my mind, there is no scarier horror film than The E... read morexorcist. Sure there has been the many reasons as to why this film is scary, the spider walk scene, the Exorcism scene and such. One thing though that keeps the horror constant throughout this picture is the atmosphere and tension. William Friedkin is a phenomenal director that delivers an effective and memorable horror experience. This film has definitely stood the test of time. Four decades after its release, The Exorcist still stands among countless imitators as The great film that redefined the genre. The cast is brilliant with powerful performances by Linda Blair as the possessed girl Regan, Ellen Burstyn as Regan mother and Max Von Sydow. All the actors deliver here, and each bring a powerful, memorable performance that elevates The Exorcist to the status that it is today. Many people have claimed that this isn't a scary film or what not. Well, I have to disagree. The Exorcist is a powerful film that delivers memorable scares. Unfortunately with an audience like today, they'll obviously scorn a great film like The Exorcist and say that it's not scary and what not. Well in the end, this is truly a film for cinema elitists and unlike cheap jump scares that induce 10 seconds of terror; this classic has a powerful and genuinely unnerving atmosphere for two hours that cannot and will never be topped. Horror fans still vote this as the best horror film ever made, and it's easy to see why.
  • aquateen2
    February 19, 2012
    aquateen2
    It wasn't terrifying but instead was very engaging and it creeped me and freaked me out a lot. The Exorcist has brilliant acting, special effects for the time and will never fail to give you the ultimate mindf**k. It started out slow (too slow) but there's still a lot to admire t... read morehough in this Kubrick-esque psycho horror. It poses questions without giving answers or a back story and with it's slightly gothic and entirely religious overtones, The Exorcist deserves to be called a classic. It's very eery and has a brilliant conspiracy/true story set up that makes it even creepier.
  • fb7018436
    January 4, 2012
    fb7018436
    This is truly one of the most disturbing and frightening movies ever made, especially for a person of faith.
  • FilmFanatik
    November 1, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    I was fortunate enough to catch The Exorcist: Extended Director's Cut (formerly The Version You've Never Seen) on the big screen and I'm lucky to have the great blu-ray book edition which includes both versions of the film. I've never really seen it as a horror film, per se. It s... read moreeems more like a character study or a thriller than an outright horror film. It's impeccably crafted and pretty much scared the shit out of anyone who saw it upon its first release. My mother won't even watch the film today, despite my pleas of it only being a movie. I'm not sure if it's William Friedkin's best film (I'd lean more toward The French Connection or Sorcerer for that), but it is a masterpiece, and holds up today just as much as did yesterday - regardless of which version you choose. By the way, I like both versions pretty equally if you want to know.
  • blkbomb
    October 31, 2011
    blkbomb
    Regan: Captain Howdy, do you think my mom's pretty? Captain Howdy? Captain Howdy, that isn't very nice! 

    "The Devil Inside"

    I'll admit that after seeing The Exorcist for the first time, I thought it was overrated. A lot of that came from my expectations. I thought it was going ... read moreto be the scariest thing I had ever seen, and that I would be pissing myself while watching. Then I saw it, and I didn't find it at all scary. The first time I watched it I found it more funny than anything else. But going back and re-watching it a few years later, I see that I wasn't watching close enough and that I must have been to stupid to see the brilliance of this film. Upon another viewing, I didn't laugh(except for the crucifix penetration, but come on, who wouldn't laugh). I found it much more disturbing on a second viewing. Still not scary, but extremely disturbing.

    What I failed to realize the first time was just how great the setup is. We see Regan. She is a nice and well behaved 12 year old whose main objective in life, at this point, is to have a horse. She is innocent and sweet. That sets the possession up perfectly. Now we have a demon in Regan's body, yelling obscenities and telling old men to... well, you know. We are emotionally invested in Regan from the start. We watch as a demon tears her apart and we just want it to stop.

    Another thing I missed the first time, was just how well made it is. It isn't a standard, poorly acted and shot horror film. It is superbly shot and acted. I am a young to middle aged Ellen Burstyn fan(as she got older I stopped caring), and I can only thing of one performance from her I liked more; that being her role in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. She gives a powerful performance in a role where she has to capture fright and sorrow at an ultimate level. You don't even have to say anything for Max Von Sydow, except his name. The guy is a fucking legend. I also enjoyed Jason Miller as Karras and Linda Blair is really good as Regan.

    This movie has been labeled as the scariest film of all time and I can see why, even though I don't find it scary. Exorcism films just don't scare me. This is more than just a scary movie though. It is not only one of the most important horror films of all-time, but one of the most important films period. What it did for the horror genre speaks for itself. It is easily one of the most influential films ever made.

    Demon: Your mother's in here, Karras. Would you like to leave a message? I'll see that she gets it. 
  • ironclad1609
    October 31, 2011
    ironclad1609
    One of the scariest movies of its time. Although the film is losing some of its dark magic after several views, it's still a classic, despite of a rather slow introduction of the characters and relatively few scare scenes. But the very unique and eerie atmosphere and Mike Oldfiel... read mored's soundtrack make up for it and several of the scary scenes are unforgettable and iconic parts of pop culture by now.
  • axadntpron
    October 24, 2011
    axadntpron
    Still after all these years, this film is just as powerful as it has always been. Anachronistic in clothing and speech, but timeless in its exploration of demonic possession, crisis of faith, and the pursuit of God. Friedkin takes his time, setting up the mental state of father K... read morearras, the love between Reagan and her mother, and the fruitless attempts of doctors to classify Reagan's "mental illness." When the demon possession really sets in, the build up really pays off and Friedkin takes us on a ride that has us gripping the arm of our chair for the remainder of the film. It is an excellent and superbly crafted film and one that should not be missed by anyone who claims to be a horror fan.
  • fb100000257973100
    October 22, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    A few days ago, I was burning some time in my Latin 1A class by speaking to some kids about horror films they enjoy. The reason that this was brought up was due to me reading William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist. Withing five minutes the entire conversation turned around to what m... read moreade this film scary in the first place. Everyone had different answers ranging from the spider walk to the religious overtones, to even the scientific perspective of the entire film. Now, these are kids that find any film that is more then ten years old boring, and yet they are scared of this little horror film from 1973. With that entire conversation I had that lasted about ten to twenty minutes, it only proven one thing: The Exorcist is the prime example of a film that lives up to it's hype decades after it was released and can still scare and give kids nightmares.
    My first encounter of this film was when I started to hear about this film from television specials about horror films around Halloween. People have always said that this film is beyond terrifying, beyond suspenseful, and is still controversial. Well, I decided to give this film a watch a while back and I was not really scared of the film. Yeah, the pea soup vomit did make me jump, but nothing really nailed me back to my chair. A few years later and after reading the wonderful book by William Peter Blatty, I was mistaken.
    It must have been due to how young I was, but when you are older and you have something of a good knowledge of religion, then this film will scare you due to how well made, crafted, and acted this film is. There has been numerous films that deal with exorcisms, but few are as good as this film.
    But if one was to think about why this film is terrifying, it is mostly due to two factors: this story was based off of an exorcism that happened in the 1940s and the acting of Linda Blair. When I started doing research into the case that inspired this film, it did create a bit more of terror when watching it to know that, while the story was altered, that this actually did happen regardless.
    Now for the acting of Linda Blair. Oh, my God. It is heart breaking to watch this film and to think about all that this poor girl had been through just for this role. I mean, she had to disregard every moral she believed in, had to go through explainable pain for this performance, and do not get me started on how the press and people reacted to her did when this film came out (basically people thought she was pure evil). She went through hell and back for this role and she makes it... mind blowing. Rewatching this film, and this is true to if you have seen the film numerous times, you are still in shock that she did not win the Academy Award for best supporting Actress.
    This is a film unlike any other. That is all one can even say about this film. It is completely in a class all by itself. This film has been parodied, ripped on, destroyed by two prequels and one sequel (Legion was not all that bad), but it is still proven that this film is effective and for many years to come will still scare people.
  • fb100002535597619
    October 9, 2011
    fb100002535597619
    One of my favorite horror films and one of the scariest of all time. The Exorcist features interesting characters and dialogue, disturbing special effects and truly frightening scenarios.

View All The Exorcist Reviews

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Some movies aren't just movies. They're closer to voodoo -- they channel currents larger and more powerful than themselves. Full Review

Jay Cocks
August 24, 2008
Jay Cocks, TIME Magazine

Friedkin and Blatty seem to care nothing for their characters as people, only as victims-props to be abused, hurled about the room, beaten and, in one case, brutally murdered. Full Review

Vincent Canby
March 19, 2008
Vincent Canby, New York Times

The Exorcist is not an unintelligently put-together film, which makes one all the more impatient with it. Full Review

Roger Ebert
September 21, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

If movies are, among other things, opportunities for escapism, then The Exorcist is one of the most powerful ever made. Full Review

Peter Travers
September 21, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

There's something elemental about The Exorcist.

James Berardinelli
September 21, 2007
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

There is nothing dated about The Exorcist, which remains an effective excursion into demonic possession more than a quarter of a century after it was first unveiled to the public. Full Review

Variety Staff
September 21, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

An expert telling of a supernatural horror story. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
September 21, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

This 1973 horror thriller is highly instructive as well as unnerving. Full Review

Eugene Novikov
July 28, 2011
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather

There's something new to be discovered in every viewing of The Exorcist. Full Review

David Keyes
February 28, 2011
David Keyes, Cinemaphile.org

The Exorcist is likely just as disturbing today as it was 25 years ago. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Father Merrin: THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU!
    • Father Damien Karras: THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU!
    • Father Merrin: There is only one.
    • Chris MacNeil: [very sleepily, first thing in the morning] What are you doing here?
    • Regan MacNeil: [very sleepily, first thing in the morning] I can't sleep. My bed was shaking.
    • Father Damien Karras: Where's regan?
    • The Demon: In here...with us...
    • Father Damien Karras: How long are you going to stay in Regan?
    • The Demon: Until she rots in earth.
    • The Demon: What an excellent day for an exorcism.
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The Exorcist Trivia

  • What is the highest grossing R-rated horror film of all time?  Answer »
  • Stanley Kubrick turned down making a sequel to this movie and instead went on to make 'The Shining', what movie sequel did he turn down?  Answer »
  • Which horror movie in the 1970's upset audiences so badly that it was pulled from dozens of theatres after it's release?  Answer »
  • Which movie is this quote from "Keep away. The sow is mine."  Answer »
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