In the history of horror films, The Exorcist holds a high place of honor. Sometimes shocking in its imagery, The Exorcist benefits from a steady pace and from cast and crew taking everything seriously.
The Exorcist has three story threads that eventually meet. We have Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) in an Iraqi archeological dig, where he discovers a grotesque statue which looks demonic to him. In posh Georgetown, successful actress Chris McNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is working on her newest film. She is renting a home where she and her daughter Regan (Linda Blair) are staying during the production. Also in Georgetown, another priest, Father Karras (Jason Miller) is torn by his personal crisis of faith, aggravated by the poor health and eventual death of his beloved mother. Despite being both a Catholic priest and a trained psychiatrist, Karras cannot find comfort either in the mind or soul.
Regan, who has been contacting via Ouija board an entity she calls "Captain Howdy", soon starts displaying strange behavior. Things get worse when Chris' director and potential love interest Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran) is found dead outside Chris' rented home. Detective Kinderman (Lee J. Cobb) seeks out Father Karras for help due to the circumstances of Dennings' death. Dennings was found dead at the bottom of the stairs outside Chris' rented home, but his head was turned backwards. To Karras' shock, Kinderman tells him that he suspects Regan pushed Dennings out of her window and that it might involve supernatural evil.
Chris, for her part, is horrified at what she sees with her daughter. Regan at one point commits a violent act on herself with a crucifix, is able to throw things at others without moving and even turn her head a full 360 degrees. Chris goes to Father Karras too, begging for help via an exorcism, convinced that Regan is possessed by the devil. Karras goes to the McNeil home and confirms the possession. An exorcism is granted, but it will be the more experienced Father Merrin who will lead the exorcism. Who will win out in the battle for Regan's soul? Who will live and who will die?
The Exorcist, despite being best known for the actual exorcism itself, does not have the unnamed demon dominate the film. For as much mocked and parodied the "The power of Christ compels you" line has become, we do not get to the actual exorcism until almost an hour and half into a two-hour movie. Even other elements for which The Exorcist is known, such as the use of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, are either sparingly used or take time to show up. Tubular Bells, which is so strongly connected to The Exorcist that many think of it as The Exorcist theme, does not show up until fifteen minutes into the film.
Director William Friedkin and screenwriter William Peter Blatty (adapting his own novel) build up the tension in The Exorcist, taking the time to give us bits and pieces with which to eventually shock the viewer. Father Merrin appears in the opening, but he is absent for most of the film. We as the audience have an idea that he will return, but the film does not rush us. The Exorcist also takes its time in establishing Father Karras' situation, making his dreams of his mother and the devil's use of her against him chilling. Much time is taken by Regan's deteriorating condition, but that lets the viewer see how the situation is growing more perilous.
The Exorcist is enhanced by great performances all around. Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair and Jason Miller were all Oscar-nominated for their performances, and each earned that recognition. Burstyn had a tricky role in that at least early on, she played an actress. The film starts her section with her on set, preparing and performing a scene. It takes a great deal of skill to play an actress because you have to play two roles, but Burstyn did so almost effortlessly. She also had great skill in showing Chris' growing fear for her daughter.
Miller looked haunted and tormented as the haunted and tormented Karras. This was a man of both science and faith but who could not reconcile those to himself. The Exorcist is as much about his own metaphorical exorcism as it is about Regan's literal exorcism.
Blair handled the scenes of her possession very well. While Mercedes McCambridge supplied the voice of the demon, she was not initially credited. It was a dumb move, for I do not think filmgoers would have been shocked that Blair did not have the gravelly, husky tones that McCambridge, herself an Oscar winner, had. It was excellent voiceover work.
While his role is probably the smallest, Lee J. Cobb was firm and surprisingly quiet as Kinderman, the rational detective brought through logic to a supernatural conclusion.
The Exorcist is filled with imagery both arresting (such as Merrin's arrival to the McNeil home) and horrifying. I confess that the first time I saw The Exorcist, I found a lot of it funny except for the crucifix part, which I do admit was creepy and disturbing. Seeing it now, particularly at the film's climax, I can see why people freaked out while watching it. The quick flashes of the demonic face popping out had the effect of making scenes frightening.
The Exorcist is an effective film, able to frighten viewers while also having us care about the characters and their various plights. Beautifully filmed, with excellent performances and an effective mood, The Exorcist will have you in its power.
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