THE EXORCIST With
Ellen
Burstyn,
Max
Von
Sydow,
Linda
Blair,
Jason
Miller In
1973
a
film
was
released
that
shocked
the
whole
world
(except
South
Africa
-
being
one
of
the
backward
countries
believing
it
might
destroy
its
perfect
population's
morals).
Not
a
horror
film,
gorefest
or
mere
exercise
in
blasphemy,
The
Exorcist
was
and
still
is
a
masterpiece.
Part
drama,
part
struggle
of
faith
and
all
mesmerizing,
writer
William
Peter
Blatty
and
director
Friedkin
take
us
on
a
mind-blowing
trip
of
possession
in
the
modern
world.
Yes,
everyone
knows
about
the
queues
around
the
block
at
theatres
as
well
as
churches
and
the
green
projectile
vomiting
and
crude
words
of
blasphemy
coming
from
the
possessed
little
girl's
oral
cavity
(still
hectic).
But,
as
a
whole
it
is
a
touching
(and
disturbing)
drama
of
a
mother's
inability
to
protect
her
child
from
a
force
beyond
her.
After
scientific
explanation
fails,
she
has
to
turn
to
the
clergy
to
perform
an
exorcism,
herself
not
at
all
religious.
Brilliantly
made,
superbly
acted
and
almost
immaculately
executed,
after
30
years
it
still
packs
a
punch
and
a
half
or
two.
Some
will
still
go
away
from
it
feeling
severely
pummeled.
This
director's
cut
is
not
a
mere
re-release
excuse
-
and
even
if
it
was,
it
doesn't
matter,
since
not
many
of
us
(in
SA)
had
the
privilege
of
seeing
this
classic
on
the
glorious
big
screen
-
besides
being
too
young
(or
unborn)
on
top
of
its
banned
status.
The
additional
scenes
and
sequences
do
not
necessarily
enhance
or
detract
from
the
film
as
its
original
genius
is
still
well
in
tact.
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