Watch The Exorcist - Extended Director's Cut
- R
- 2000
- 2 hr 13 min
-
8.1 (464,385)
The Exorcist - Extended Director's Cut is a 1973 horror film directed by William Friedkin. The movie stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, and Linda Blair. The film begins with a prologue set in northern Iraq, where Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow), an aging Catholic priest, is on an archeological dig. He discovers an amulet depicting a demon, Pazuzu, which fills him with dread.
The story then shifts to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where we meet Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), a famous actress who is filming a movie there with her daughter, Regan (Linda Blair). Regan starts to exhibit strange behavior, such as swearing, playing with a Ouija board, and levitating. Despite various medical specialists being brought in, Regan's symptoms cannot be explained or cured.
Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller), a priest and psychiatrist, is called in to help assess Regan's condition. Karras is skeptical of possession and believes that Regan's behavior is due to psychological rather than supernatural causes. But when he witnesses Regan speaking in Latin and exhibiting superhuman strength, he begins to doubt his own beliefs.
Together with Father Merrin, Karras performs an exorcism on Regan to drive out the demon possessing her. The exorcism is a grueling and terrifying process, and the priests themselves are tested by the demon's powers. As the exorcism continues, the demon reveals more and more about Karras's own guilt and trauma.
The film's themes include faith and doubt, the nature of evil, and the limits of science and reason. The performances of the cast are all outstanding, particularly Linda Blair as Regan, who was just 13 years old at the time of filming.
The Exorcist was hugely controversial upon its release and caused a sensation. Some viewers reported feeling physically ill or faint while watching the film, and it was banned in several countries. The film's special effects, including Regan's famous 360-degree head twist, were groundbreaking for their time.
The Extended Director's Cut includes several additional scenes that were not in the original theatrical release. These scenes add depth and context to the story, but do not significantly alter the film's overall impact.
In conclusion, The Exorcist - Extended Director's Cut is a classic horror film that has stood the test of time. Its themes and imagery continue to resonate with audiences today, and its influence can be seen in countless subsequent horror movies. Despite its reputation as a frightening and disturbing film, at its heart, The Exorcist is a story of faith and redemption, and of the power of love to conquer evil.
The Exorcist - Extended Director's Cut is a 2000 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 13 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.1 and a MetaScore of 81.