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The Exorcist
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The Exorcist (1973) More at IMDb Pro »

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Overview

User Rating:
Director:
William Friedkin
Writers:
William Peter Blatty (screenplay)
William Peter Blatty (novel)
Release Date:
26 December 1973 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror | Thriller more
Tagline:
Something beyond comprehension is happening to a little girl on this street, in this house. A man has been called for as a last resort to try and save her. That man is The Exorcist. more
Plot:
An adolescent girl is possessed by a mysterious entity and her mom seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 14 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(64 articles)
Better Late Than Never: The French Connection (From The AV Club. 18 September 2008, 9:03 PM, PDT)
Reel Good (From New York Post. 26 July 2008, 9:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Still Shocking After All These Years more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ellen Burstyn ... Chris MacNeil

Max von Sydow ... Father Merrin

Lee J. Cobb ... Lt. Kinderman
Kitty Winn ... Sharon
Jack MacGowran ... Burke Dennings
Jason Miller ... Father Karras

Linda Blair ... Regan
Reverend William O'Malley ... Father Dyer (as Reverend William O'Malley S.J.)
Barton Heyman ... Dr. Klein
Peter Masterson ... Dr. Barringer, Clinic Director (as Pete Masterson)
Rudolf Schündler ... Karl
Gina Petrushka ... Willi
Robert Symonds ... Dr. Taney
Arthur Storch ... Psychiatrist
Reverend Thomas Bermingham ... Tom, President of University (as Reverend Thomas Bermingham S.J.)
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Exorcist 2000 (Australia) (cable TV title)
The Exorcist: The Version You Haven't Seen Yet (USA) (recut version)
The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen (USA) (promotional title)
William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist (USA) (reissue title)
more
Runtime:
122 min | 132 min (director's cut)
Country:
USA
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (1979 re-release) | DTS-ES (director's cut) | Dolby Digital EX (director's cut) | Mono (original release) | SDDS (director's cut)
Certification:
Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1998) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:R (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:(Banned) | UK:(Banned) (original rating) | Italy:VM14 (director's cut) | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Brazil:14 | Singapore:(Banned) (original rating) | Singapore:R(A) (re-rating) (cut) | Canada:14A (re-rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:18 (original rating) | Canada:R (video rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (2000 re-release) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) (2000 re-release) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (2000 re-release) | Canada:R (Manitoba) (also 2000 version) | Chile:14 (re-rating) (2000) | Chile:18 (original rating) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 (director's cut) | France:-16 (original rating) | Germany:16 (bw) (2001 re-release) | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:18 | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:18 | Italy:VM14 (re-release) | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 (director's cut) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 (2000) | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 (video rating) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (re-rating) (1990) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:18 (bw)
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 16% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The green pea soup used for the vomit scene was Anderson's specifically. The crew tried Campbell's but didn't like the "effect". more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the 2000 re-release, when Father Merrin asks Chris McNeil what Regan's middle name is, she is wearing a fur coat. When the priests enter Regan's room and Father Karras closes the door in her face, Mrs. McNeil is no longer wearing the coat. more
Quotes:
Pazuzu: You killed your mother! You left her alone to die! Bastard!
Father Damien Karras: Shut up!
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Witches of Eastwick (1992) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Ramblin' Man more

FAQ

What is the 'spider walk' scene?
What were the noises in the attic?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
more
28 out of 48 people found the following comment useful:-
Still Shocking After All These Years, 3 April 2006
9/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

Few movies shocked people like this one when it came out. Almost 35 years later, it will still shock you if you've never seen it. It's definitely recommended, but beware of some very gross scenes, brutal language and a sordid and genuinely frightening story.

The special effects still hold up. They don't look dated and they are just as creepy. The story starts a bit slowly, but once in kicks in, it's tough to put this DVD on pause. This is still an intense, repulsive and scary movie filled with memorable scenes as a demon takes control over a young girl's body.

Two things bothered me in the film that probably don't upset most people: way too much usage of the Lord's name in vain - almost all by the girl's mother, played by Ellen Burstyn. The second - and I am not Catholic - is the pitiful portrayal of yet-another Hollwood weak priest. This priest is smokes, drinks, swears, steals, etc.. etc, and is a pitiful excuse for a cleric: just the kind filmmakers love to portray. One priest - get this - says his idea of heaven is to be a nightclub performer for eternity and have everyone like him. Obviously, people who makes films have NO clue about "religion." Not a single clue. But, this was '70: the most irreverent film-making period in our history, so it's no surprise.

However - to its credit - the film does an excellent job of convincing even the most ardent atheist that demons do exist, that there really is a devil, and that he is not to be taken lightly. It's no joke, and the shock value of this film might have gotten some people to start thinking there is something to all this "spiritual stuff."

Whatever your theology, or lack of it, this movie is one you will never forget. It is beyond anything seen before it or since. I recommend the DVD that advertises this as "The Exorist: The version you've never seen." That's the best and most complete version of this terrifying film.

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Message Boards

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Question about Pazuzu A-Mac3
35TH ANNIVERSARY DVD!!! WHERE IS IT?!?! gnomekid
Regan Mona Lisa A-Mac3
Scariest scenes! watermelonyippee
Could a movie like this been made today? sky_tyler
The most disturbing film of all time! liam-shaw
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