Giving The Devil His Due
Newcastle Herald
Friday March 23, 2001
Review
The Exorcist: Director's Cut (R) Director: William Friedkin Stars: Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Jason Miller. Rating: ????
IF you think The Exorcist no longer has what it takes to possess an audience, think again.
Sure, the hairstyles, fashion and cars seem dated but the horror, fear and crucifixes are timeless.
The Director's Cut, with 11 minutes extra footage (mainly medical procedures) plus enhanced sound, confirms why William Friedkin's 1973 cult classic is the godfather of its genre.
The plot revolves around the supernatural, with characters fighting personal and impersonating demons, but quality acting keeps it grounded.
Even though I knew how it finished, the film had me shifting in my seat. In fact, I almost leapt out of my old Catholic school socks when an usher brushed past me.
The head-spinning antics of Linda Blair's projectile vomiter have been parodied so often that I found myself giggling. But I still subconsciously blessed myself when obscenities spewed from the devil via her 12-year-old mouth, despite four-letter words now being an accepted, even expected, part of the film vernacular.
? Chad Watson
© 2001 Newcastle Herald