The Movie
My wife has been commenting lately on the wave of horror films which have at their core a child put in peril. Deep down, she knew the reason why this has become a modern trend, because a helpless youngster in the grip of supernatural evil is especially affecting. But 37 years ago the concept helped frighten audiences like they never had been before, and probably not since.
The Exorcist takes its time, beginning innocently enough with the life of a single mom whose sweet daughter, Regan, begins to develop the symptoms of a simple behavioral disorder. Soon however, no medical or psychological expert can explain Regan's increasingly bizarre transformation. The events, the dialogue, the images are still profoundly disturbing, more so because they are set against an extremely well-acted drama.
When all else fails, a mother's desperation leads her to beg a local priest, himself at a crossroads, to perform an exorcism to drive away the spirit possessing the girl. It's a remarkably rare, complicated process, and the resulting third act is one of the most horrific "battles" ever filmed.
The original theatrical cut of the movie is joined here by 2000's much-publicized Extended Director's Cut, formerly known as "The Version You've Never Seen." It restores about ten minutes of dropped scenes including several quieter character moments which help to increase the tension and/or expand upon the nature of good and evil. This version is now apparently preferred by director William Friedkin, so much so that it is Disc One in this set.
The Picture
The Exorcist's Blu-ray debut was reportedly remastered from the original camera negative and the color has been re-timed by cinematographer Owen Roizman. There are varying levels of video noise, with dark scenes particularly affected. The 1.78:1 image also exhibits modest film grain and occasional twitch. Sadly, the blacks are often mushy, flat and lifeless. A shot here or there, as in the bright deserts of Iraq, can be quite lovely, but many others, well, not. For better or worse, I found that both versions look largely the same as one another.
The Sound
Although both discs are given new DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtracks, I found the audio on the Extended Director's Cut to be a bit slicker, fuller, more aggressive. This is a very "modern" mix, perhaps a choice by the director to further his intentions of making the movie as realistic as possible in order to increase its dramatic impact. Rears are quite active, with discrete voices at the big archaeological dig, picks and shovels all over. There's a stark, familiar quality to the vintage medical equipment; a wonderful, lucid depth to the music; and deft directionality between the speakers. Bass is ample throughout.
The Extras
Friedkin adds audio commentary to his Extended cut, while tied to the Theatrical cut are a different audio commentary by Friedkin and one by author William Peter Blatty, Blatty's interspersed with sound effects tests. Also on Disc Two (Theatrical) are Sketches & Storyboards (a two-minute slideshow), an Interview Gallery with William Friedkin & William Peter Blatty in three parts (nine minutes total), the original ending (two minutes) and the hour-and-17-minute Exorcist documentary, "The Fear of God." All of these video extras are in SD.
Back on Disc One (Extended) we are treated to three new featurettes. "Raising Hell: Filming The Exorcist" is the most in-depth, half an hour of fresh interviews and never-before-seen on-set and behind-the-scenes footage. "The Exorcist Locations: Then and Now" (eight-and-a-half minutes) takes us back to Georgetown, and the ten-minute "Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist" explores the changes. All of these are in HD.
Between the two platters we are proffered an extensive array of trailers, TV commercials and radio spots. And it's all packaged inside another of Warner's fancy, nifty "Digi-Book" hardcovers.
Final Thoughts
The video is somewhat disappointing but the audio quality--particularly on the Extended Director's Cut--excels, for an ultimately enjoyable Blu-ray experience of The Exorcist, truly one of the scariest movies ever made, even by today's jaded standards.
Product Details
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