VOL. XV, NO. 7
FEBRUARY 8, 1974
'The Exorcist'
Possesses Unique Devilish Force
Possesses Unique Devilish Force
By CHRIS LADNER
"The Exorcist" is easily the most talked about movie of the year, if not the past several years. A short time ago I went to the Gateway Theatre in Chicago with some friends to satisfy my curiosity about the movie.
All anyone can say is, "Oh, wow!"
From the moment you sit down in your cramped little chair until the moment the last scene is completed, the film attacks your senses. Like the ads say, " 'The Exorcist' is the most unique entertainment you will ever see." The movie is based upon William Peter Blatty's phenomenal bestseller of the same name, but any resemblance to the scenes I imagined in the book and the scenes I witnessed at the movie ends there.
For two hours you are held in terror. The part of Regan is played with horrifying excellence by Linda Blair, in her movie debut. Ms. Blair is so convincing, you begin to wonder if she is acting or if she is really possessed. Her mother, played by Ellen Burston, and the Exorcist, an elderly Jesuit priest played by Max Von Sydow, are equally adept in the supporting roles.
For all of those who have not seen the movie but have read the book, the scenes in which Regan is possessed are twice as terrifying with all the special effects used.
"The Exorcist" is easily the most talked about movie of the year, if not the past several years. A short time ago I went to the Gateway Theatre in Chicago with some friends to satisfy my curiosity about the movie.
All anyone can say is, "Oh, wow!"
From the moment you sit down in your cramped little chair until the moment the last scene is completed, the film attacks your senses. Like the ads say, " 'The Exorcist' is the most unique entertainment you will ever see." The movie is based upon William Peter Blatty's phenomenal bestseller of the same name, but any resemblance to the scenes I imagined in the book and the scenes I witnessed at the movie ends there.
For two hours you are held in terror. The part of Regan is played with horrifying excellence by Linda Blair, in her movie debut. Ms. Blair is so convincing, you begin to wonder if she is acting or if she is really possessed. Her mother, played by Ellen Burston, and the Exorcist, an elderly Jesuit priest played by Max Von Sydow, are equally adept in the supporting roles.
For all of those who have not seen the movie but have read the book, the scenes in which Regan is possessed are twice as terrifying with all the special effects used.
My only criticism of the movie is that there is not much emphasis placed on plot. The film is just one shock after another, but the scenes are done so well that they make up for this detriment.
"The Exorcist" is definitely not for the young, the squeamish, or the impressionable. The two theaters which are showing it have wisely changed the "R" rating it deserves into one which prohibits those 12 and under from attending.
"The Exorcist" may very well be the most terrifying film ever released. It tops Hitchcock's classic "Psycho" in shock value. The reason is because it is so believable and that it is based loosely on a TRUE story. The thought of that, when you are watching a young girl go through the worst experience you can think of, seems to occur to you more and more throughout the movie.
If you think that you are the type who can watch a young girl scream the foulest obscenities, throw convulsions, violently abuse herself with a crucifix, spew forth green bile, spit, growl, levitate, and finally cause the deaths of two priests, and not be affected, well then, go and enjoy yourself. If not, you'd better stay home and tell yourself, "That's a fake story. It could never happen to me. could it?"
"The Exorcist" is definitely not for the young, the squeamish, or the impressionable. The two theaters which are showing it have wisely changed the "R" rating it deserves into one which prohibits those 12 and under from attending.
"The Exorcist" may very well be the most terrifying film ever released. It tops Hitchcock's classic "Psycho" in shock value. The reason is because it is so believable and that it is based loosely on a TRUE story. The thought of that, when you are watching a young girl go through the worst experience you can think of, seems to occur to you more and more throughout the movie.
If you think that you are the type who can watch a young girl scream the foulest obscenities, throw convulsions, violently abuse herself with a crucifix, spew forth green bile, spit, growl, levitate, and finally cause the deaths of two priests, and not be affected, well then, go and enjoy yourself. If not, you'd better stay home and tell yourself, "That's a fake story. It could never happen to me. could it?"
