The Exorcist [Director's Cut] [DVD] [1973]

If the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist, the greatest trick The Exorcist ever pulled was convincing audiences he just might. Can any film that's risen in its wake say the same? It never ceases to amaze me that some thirty-seven years after its original theatrical release, horror filmmakers are still desperately chasing director William Friedkin and writer William Peter Blatty's legacy, each one failing to deliver a more startling depiction of evil incarnate. Many have tried. To their credit, a small but frightening handful have even brushed greatness. But while these scant few have chipped away at The Exorcist in one regard or another -- be it storytelling, special effects, atmosphere, shock value or any one of the elusive elements that transform a horror film into a horror classic -- it's tough to name a single standout from the last four decades that bests Friedkin and Blatty's macabre masterpiece on every front. Owen Roizman's deceptively simple, utterly haunting cinematography. Steve Boeddeker's unnerving score. The film's unexpected yet flawless casting. Jason Miller's raw but restrained performance. Sweet, little Linda Blair's mangled, unholy face. Ellen Burstyn's unhinged terror. Blatty's searing screenplay. Pazuzu and its ungodly mindgames. Friedkin's sharp eye and steady hand at the helm. Ten Academy Award nominations... make no mistake, The Exorcist may just be a perfect genre storm.

Any Horror Fan Must have this in their collection! I could barely watch it as a 14yr old kid and I can barely watch it as a 35 year old (stunningly handsome of course) old man! There is a decent handful of movies that wander that top 10 Horror movies of all time. And this is one of them. The reason is quite simple. Everyone, wether your black or white, Christian or Buddhist, Old or young, everyone believes in some "form" of religion. And some form of Evil. No matter what your beliefs are, I think one of the best things about The Exorcist is that its relate-able. Evil overcomes us all at some point or another. Some peoples heads spin and others sneak a smoke. Same difference. LOVE IT! And the additional stuff was well done.

This review is about the quality of the blu-ray film is still very gripping and I sure if you are buying this you do not need another review on the film. There are two versions here the original release and the extended version, Firstly it appears the original version does not suffer from drops in picture quality like the extended version, each extra scene you can clearly see a drop in quality however parts in both versions when the contrast is low look like you are watching the film through a snow storm. More care appears to be taken with the sound and the DTS sound is good in both version. So is it worth it yes if you have not got it but do not expect a massive leap in quality. the extras are good mostly the same a s th DVD with the BBC excellent documentary the fear of God. The rating for the transfer not the film which is a 5 star film

It's hard to imagine anyone who knows nothing about this movie, and would require a review to determine if he should watch it. That said, let me say that this is one of those MUST SEE movies, if you consider yourself a fan of horror, thrillers. It's simple yet brilliant, the special effects are primitive compared with the CG masterpieces possible today, BUT you won't find anything that roots you to the couch, eyes unmoving from the screen the way this one does. The little girl changes from a, well, little girl, to a horrifying image of a demon, you can practically feel the chill in the air and the dank smell of the room. Anyone with a modicum of imagination will be scared and it's a fabulously enjoyable scare. MUST SEE.

I've seen The Exorcist many times via a number of different mediums, but this viewing experience was by far the best yet! The Blu-ray quality was amazing...I'm sure I must have said so aloud at least ten times while watching, but I just couldn't believe how great it looked. The first time I saw this film I was still in single digits and had waited for my folks to fall asleep, having been instructed NOT to watch it. Well, I did anyway and it was worth the nightmares! If you love this film as much as I do, you owe it to yourself to pick up this version. Great movie, excellent presentation, a nice little book and an affordable price make this one a must. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

Finally on Blu-ray. Picture and sound is amazing. This is a 2 disc set that includes both the 1973 version of the film and the 2000 directors cut. There are loads of extras for hours of enjoyment. Many out takes. The interviews with the cast and crew is very informative, Jane Fonda was one of several actresses that the studio was thinking of for the part of Chris MacNeil, Regans mother. Jane was not interested. And Jack Nicholson and Paul Newman both wanted to play the role of Father Damien Karras . But the director did not want a "big" name star in the role This is a must have film for your collection.

The Exorcist is my favorite movie of all time, so not giving it the best rating for any reason is not easy for me to do. The movie itself is still excellent, so my only dissatisfaction is with the overall quality of the Blu-ray version. I could not wait to own the Blu-ray version and would have bought it no matter what, but the quality is not up to par as compared to contemporary DVD releases. There is a slight graininess to everything which, I assume, is due to the sharpening of the film during the Blu-ray process. But I cannot say don't buy it. The movie is fantastic, and the Blu-ray version is still worth owning regardless of the flaw. I stand firm on recommending it!

I saw William Blatty’s “The Exorcist” (1973) when it was newly released and I must say that it still carries a punch. It must be one of the creepiest movies ever made. I love the subtle nuances, often missed by those watching it for the first time, e.g., Regan’s walking backwards down a flight of stairs or the subliminal split-second images of demonic statues. But regarding the alleged subliminal images Blatty himself says that, if you can see it, it’s not subliminal. And I love the throaty, Satanic voice of Mercedes McCambridge.