Festival favourite and legendary actor Max von Sydow plays the exorcist in William Friedkin's acclaimed horror classic, in which a young girl (Linda Blair) becomes possessed by a demon.
Upon its release, The Exorcist shocked audiences with its bold use of religion and graphic scenes, and the debate that followed helped the horror genre gain more respect.
The Exorcist is a powerful portrait of how the hearth of the home is invaded by the occult and the unknown. The exorcism of the possessed Regan reflects a societal crisis, in which Christian symbolism represents a divided approach to tradition. The conflict is given visual emphasis through contrasting light and dark, recalling German expressionism and Gothic horror themes.
There are many infamous stories of how audiences fled the cinema, either in horror or nausea. After several sequels and imitations, hopefully the film won't provoke the same reaction; either way, The Exorcist remains one of the great masterpieces of horror.
| Movies | The Exorcist |
|---|---|
| Actors | Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Jason Miller, Linda Blair |
| Cinematographer | Owen Roizman |
| Director | William Friedkin |
| Genre | Horror |
| Subtitles | Swedish |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Music | Jack Nitzsche |
| Original title | The Exorcist |
| Length | 122 |
| Sales Company | Warner Bros. |
| Script | William Peter Blatty |
