The Exorcist

                                                              

 

          "The power of christ compels you...the power of christ compels you......"

 

We begin in the Mcneill family home, with Mr Mcneill adamant that she has rats in her loft. Her maintenance man assures her that there isn't, yet the noises persist. Also resident are her young daughter Regan, and Sharon, the nanny. Its not long before Regan's behaviour deteriorates and takes on a somewhat bizarre path. she tells her mum that her bed has been shaking and seems to spend hours talking to an imaginary friend, Captain Howdy. Her behaviour continues and she is admitted for tests, and prescribed Ritolin. Her mother even sees her daughters bed shaking but continues to subject her daughter for more tests, to which the doctors put her behaviour down to some form of disturbance of the brain.

Having exhausted all medical tests they turn to psychology, which results in the psychologist being attacked by Regan after making attempts to speak to Captain Howdy, who they now believe is resident inside Regan. After calling on all the available experts they finally conclude that Regan is experiencing some form of possession...and the outside chance of a cure....exorcism.  Whilst this has been happening Mrs Mcneill's boyfriend has met his maker, and an investigating cop (Kindermann) looks into the circumstances and discusses things with a priest (Carras) who will later assist in the exorcism.

Father Carras meets Regan and decides that the church must be consulted, who in turn demand a full investigation. Carras is not altogether convinced that Regan is possessed (although I fail to see how that was possible) but still informs the church that it meets the required conditions needed for exorcisms. Seeing Carras to be too inexperienced the church enlists Father Merrin, a much more experienced priest, to carry out the exorcism. It is therefore left to Merrin and Carras to confront the evil inside of Regan, yet this is a spirit that will lie, deceive and do anything in its power to inhabit the body it possesses. This film is without doubt one of the all time great horror films, and is certainly one that needs to be watched with the lights off and the surround sound on!!!

                                        

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Directed by William Friedkin
Produced by William Peter Blatty
Written by William Peter Blatty
Starring Ellen Burstyn
Max von Sydow
Jason Miller
Lee J. Cobb
Kitty Winn
Linda Blair
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) December 26, 1973 (USA)
Running time 122 Min Theatrical Cut
132 Min
Director's Cut
Language English / Arabic
Budget $12,000,000 (estimated)

 

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