Considered by many the greatest horror film ever made, this masterful cinematic nightmare of demonic possession returns to the big screen in celebration of its 50th anniversary, an in tribute to its late director, William Friedkin. As a favourite of film critic Mark Kermode, who painted his ‘Art On The Tile’ for our fundraiser back in 2019 with a tribute to the iconic film cover, it feels only fitting to be screening this anniversary edition.
The life of the MacNeil family is torn apart when 12-year-old daughter Regan (Linda Blair) begins to act disturbingly erratic and violent. Distraught as her beloved child becomes the subject of a harrowing supernatural possession, matriarch Chris (Ellen Burstyn) turns to the help of two priests to help rid her of her demonic spell. The young, faith-tested Father Karras (Jason Miller) and elderly archaeologist Father Lankester Merrin (Max Von Sydow) prepare for an exorcism to vanquish the unholy evil.
A timeless – often deemed cursed – horror masterpiece, the late, great William Freidkin’s seminal adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist remains every bit as chilling now as its first release in 1973; a vision of supernatural terror soundtracked by Mike Oldfield’s spine-chilling Tubular Bells. Revisit this game-changing, enduringly controversial genre classic this Halloween season – presented in its extended ‘Version You’ve Never Seen’ director’s cut.
Starring:
Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Lee J. Cobb, William O' Malley
Directed By:
William Friedkin
Running time:
122 mins