Judgement Night

FILM REVIEW by TADHG CURTIN

A girl who may or may not be possessed by a demon leads those around her to question their faith and belief systems in William Friedkin’s seminal horror masterpiece The Exorcist (1973).

A lot of my friends are starting to have children now. You can see how it changes them. Suddenly they are responsible for the protection of another human being. All of them are great parents, but it is frightening to think if your child was in distress and needed help. If you tried everything that science and medicine has to offer and you were left with no other options, what would you do? Well, that’s the premise of one of the big ones, not just of the 70s, but of all timeThe Exorcist

Based on a book by William Peter Blatty, the story follows the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s attempt to rescue her through an exorcism by two Catholic priests. The making of The Exorcist has developed a mythical status as the years have went on; Stories of the production being cursed (apparently several members of the crew passed away during the movie’s production), as well as Friedkin’s seemingly mad method of directing his actors. It certainly only adds to the reputation of the movie. But

what stood out for me on my recent rewatch is how heavy the atmosphere is, to the point that it nearly becomes oppressive. Most horror movies tend to mix humour with horror, the idea is to release tension. Here it’s relentless. It treats its subject with the utmost seriousness. Its documentary style depicts, in the director’s own words; “a little girl in Georgetown, in an upstairs bedroom, who’s possessed by a demon.”

Blatty, who also wrote the screenplay, teamed up with director William Friedkin to deliver a movie for the ages. Apparently the story was inspired by a real life exorcism that occurred in 1949. A great cast was assembled. Ellen Burstyn is terrific as a mother at her wits end. Playing the most infamous child role in cinema is newcomer Linda Blair. She’s amazing in such a heavy role. Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller, and Lee J Cobb round out a magnificent cast. The legendary voice of the demon was done by veteran actress, Mercedes McCambridge. Friedkin wanted a voice that was neither male nor female. Mercedes’ androgynous voice certainly fit the bill, albeit with the aid of whiskey, cigarettes, and raw eggs. Legions of horror fans salute your effort, Ms McCambridge!

It’s hard to convey what a phenomenon The Exorcist was when released. It is truly iconic. It’s not hyperbolic to state that most peoples knowledge of exorcism comes from this movie. What ultimately makes the movie work was the pairing of its two creators; Blatty was a man of faith, Friedkin erred more agnostic. This is the movies greatest achievement; whether you are someone of faith or if you are an atheist, for the running time of this movie, you believe its premise 100%. Its photography, special effects, the avant garde sound design, the iconic score. Monumental!

50 years on, and its power has not diminished one bit. Its sequels and reboots pale in comparison. Come for the ghoulish premise, stay for a transcendental experience. The power of this great work compels you.

Available on DVD, Blu Ray and to stream on YouTube.