Half-film, half-cultural-phenomenon, The Exorcist smashed global box office records with its release in 1973. The movie forced studios to rethink the way films were distributed and left a resounding impact that spans generations.
The Exorcist tells the story of Reagan (Linda Blair), a young girl who becomes possessed by a demon, who may have been released by a travelling priest (Max von Sydow) in Iraq.
The film chronicles how Reagan’s mother (Ellen Burstyn)—a movie star struggling to deal with her daughter’s possession—first turns to the medical system and then to the church to save her daughter.
Running parallel to the family melodrama storyline is that of priest Damien (Jason Miller), who performs the exorcism. The movie documents his struggle with the death of his mother and his loss of faith while navigating a steamy will-they/won’t-they relationship with another male priest.
The film culminates in the demon’s exorcism from Reagan’s body, along with more Christian imagery than you can shake a Bible at.
Some of The Exorcist’s effects have not aged well and may seem cheesy to a modern moviegoer. Nevertheless, the film’s effects are not as important as its atmosphere—The Exorcist is chilling in its first two acts, before exploding into a crescendo of brutality.
The Exorcist is best known for its portrayal of on-screen violence and sexuality. The film is a tour-de-force, drawing on human fears so shocking that audiences experienced violent physical reactions in theatres at the time. The medical community was forced to respond to emergencies triggered by some practices shown in the film.
At the time, The Exorcist generated controversy for its head-on depictions of language, satanism and teenage sexuality. Critics, conservative public figures, and religious leaders argued the film should have received an X-rating, which would have restricted the audience to those 17 and older. Many of these critics claimed the censorship board had been unfairly swayed by Warner Brothers’ bribes.
Sensibilities have changed over time, in part due to this film. However, The Exorcist remains unsettling today with all its gory, edgy Roman Catholic imagery. It is still shocking to watch a young girl masturbate with a cross on-screen.
Hype and controversy around the film created an industry earthquake that is still felt today.
When it debuted in 1973, The Exorcist travelled on a roadshow release, meaning it was originally played in only 24 theatres in Canada and the U.S.
Rumours of its shock factor and controversy boosted the popularity of the film, drawing audiences to travel from afar to see it. Lines in front of theatres were long and people waited outside for hours despite the winter weather.
Today, fall horror movie releases remain an integral part of cinema schedules. This practice can be attributed to the success of The Exorcist and other staples of 70s and 80s horror (Alien, Halloween, The Thing, and A Nightmare on Elm Street amongst others).
The Exorcist’s entertainment value is often obscured by the overwhelming debate over its place as a landmark in the history of censorship. The film features great acting from Ellen Burstyn, but the movie is so often at the centre of academic books and essays that it becomes easy to forget what a masterpiece it is.
Unlike other films with similarly auspicious places in film history, The Exorcist is not dry to watch. Some of it has not aged well—the gore and prosthetics look out of place. Overall, however, it is a fantastic classic horror film and a must-watch for any lover of the genre.
The Exorcist will be showing at the Mayfair Theatre on Tuesday as part of its Halloween Month lineup.
Featured graphic by Farhan Tasin.
