Regan's condition worsens, and her body becomes covered with sores. Homicide detective William Kinderman questions Karras, confiding that Dennings' body was found with its head turned backwards. Dennings is found dead at the foot of an outdoor staircase beneath Regan's window. One night, Chris finds the house empty except for a sleeping Regan. During a house call, Regan spasms violently and a demon possesses her body the possessed Regan exhibits abnormal strength. She is subjected to several medical tests which fail to find anything physiologically wrong with her. Karras dreams of his mother, a Saint Joseph medallion and-briefly-a demonic face. Dyer consoles Karras, and Karras expresses guilt at not having been with his mother when she died. After Chris puts Regan to bed, her bed shakes violently. Regan appears and urinates on the carpet. Karras' friend Father Dyer explains Karras' role as counselor, mentioning that his mother died recently. In a local church, a statue of Mary is found desecrated.Ĭhris hosts a party. Chris hears noises in the attic, and Regan tells her of an imaginary friend named "Captain Howdy". He confides to a colleague that he feels unfit in his role as counselor to other priests, citing a crisis of faith. Georgetown-based priest Damien Karras visits his mother in New York. A temporary resident, Chris lives in a well-appointed house with servants and her daughter Regan. In Georgetown, actress Chris MacNeil works on a film directed by her friend Burke Dennings. As Merrin prepares to leave Iraq, he encounters a large statue of Pazuzu and observes two dogs fighting in the desert. In northern Iraq, Catholic priest Lankester Merrin participates in an archaeological dig which unearths a medallion of Saint Joseph and an artifact representing Pazuzu, an ancient demon. 4.2.4 The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology.4.2.1 Special edition 25th anniversary VHS and DVD release.
In 2010, the Library of Congress selected the film to be preserved in its National Film Registry, citing it as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." English film critic Mark Kermode named it his "favorite film of all time". The Exorcist has had a significant influence on popular culture and has received critical acclaim, with several publications regarding it as one of the greatest horror films ever made. It was the highest-grossing R-rated horror film (unadjusted for inflation) until the 2017 release of It. The cultural conversation around the film, which also encompassed its treatment of Catholicism, helped it become the first horror film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, one of ten Academy Awards for which it was nominated, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. Several cities attempted to ban it outright or prevent children from attending. Many children were allowed to see the film, leading to charges that the MPAA ratings board had accommodated Warner Bros by giving the film an R-rating instead of the X-rating they thought it deserved, in order to ensure its commercial success. Heart attacks and a miscarriage were reported a psychiatric journal published a paper on "cinematic neurosis" triggered by the film. Some viewers suffered adverse physical reactions, fainting or vomiting to scenes in which the protagonist undergoes a realistic cerebral angiography and later violently masturbates with a crucifix. Despite initial mixed critical reviews, audiences flocked to it, waiting in long lines during winter weather and many doing so more than once.
The Exorcist was released in 24 theaters in the United States and Canada in late December 1973. Ultimately production took twice as long as scheduled and cost more than twice the initial budget. A fire destroyed the majority of the set, and Blair and Burstyn suffered long-term injuries in on-set accidents. Principal photography was also difficult. After turning down, or being turned down by, major stars of the era, they cast Burstyn, a relative unknown, as well as unknowns Blair and Miller (author of a hit play with no film acting experience) the casting choices were vigorously opposed by studio executives at Warner Bros. It is the first installment in The Exorcist film series, and follows the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother's attempt to rescue her through an exorcism conducted by a pair of Catholic priests.ĭespite the book's bestseller status, Blatty, who produced, and Friedkin, his choice for director, had difficulty casting the film. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran (in his final film role), Jason Miller and Linda Blair. The film stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. The Exorcist is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and written for the screen by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 novel of the same name.