The first horror film to be nominated for the "Best Picture" Academy Award, The Exorcist (1973) is a masterpiece of film making and storytelling. A strong foundation was provided by William Peter Blatty's screenplay based upon his novel of the same name. The writing is pitch-perfect. Director William Friedkin did an amazing job in orchestrating the events and dealing with the wide age range in actors (including veterans Max von Sydow and Lee J. Cobb, Ellen Burstyn and newcomer Linda Blair). The Exorcist has had a lasting influence, with it's many classic moments and scenes still being quoted and parodied 40 years later. With disturbing images and unsettling evocations, it is, quite simply, the most terrifying film ever made.
The troubling events begin when Archaeologist priest Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow) unearths some disturbing artifacts in Northern Iraq...
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| The Exorcist. 1973 |
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Georgetown, actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is living with her young daughter, Regan (Linda Blair)...
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| The Exorcist. 1973 |
When Regan begins acting strange, Chris takes her in to be examined. Repeat visits and negative results show nothing unusual, and Chris is getting frustrated. She knows something is terribly wrong with her daughter...
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| The Exorcist. 1973 |
because Regan's behavior is getting increasingly disturbing...
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| The Exorcist. 1973 |
and terrifyingly scary...
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| The Exorcist. 1973 |
Leading Chris to the realization that her daughter is possessed by The Devil...
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| The Exorcist. 1973 |
She arranges for an Exorcism to be performed by none other than Father Merrin, assisted by local troubled priest Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller). They must work hard to cast The Devil out...
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| The Exorcist. 1973 |
and save Regan before it is too late...
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| The Exorcist. 1973 |
