The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist
Directed By	William Friedkin
Produced By	William Peter Blatty
Written By	William Peter Blatty
Starring	Linda Blair Ellen Burstyn Max von Sydow Lee J. Cobb Kitty Winn Jack MacGowran Jason Miller Mercedes McCambridge
Music By	Jack Nitzsche
Cinematography	Owen Roizman
Editing By	Norman Gay Jordan Leondopoulos Evan A. Lottman Bud S. Smith
Distributed By	Warner Bros.
Release Date	June 19, 1973
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$12 million
Gross	$441,071,011
Followed by	Exorcist II: The Heretic

The Exorcist is a 1973 horror film and an adaptation of the novel by William Peter Blatty of the same name. The Exorcist is considered a cult classic, ranked as the scariest movie of all time. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and inspired two sequels and two alternate prequels.

Plot

Young Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) becomes possessed by a demon named Pazuzu after playing with an Oujia board found in their basement. After she suddenly started showing signs of psychotic behaviour Regans mother takes her to several doctors to have many tests, some proving painful. After showing no signs of mental disturbances in the brain the doctors recommend having an exorcism performed. At this point the Demon realises their plan and turned up its level of violence. An experienced exorcist (called Merrin) and an assistant priest (named Karras) came and tried to deal with the Demon, now in complete control of the girl. The exorcism turns into a completely terrifying failure for both priests, who struggle against the many powers of the evil spirit. The Demon psychologically tortures both priests and it actually causes Karras to back out of the exorcism. Merrin attempts to exorcise the Demon by himself, but he dies from a heart attack due to the demon´s power. When Karras returns, he attempts to revive the priest, but when he fails to revive him, the possessed girl just giggles. This enrages Karras, who then hits the Demon many times in the face and challenges it to enter his own body. Pazuzu takes the bait and takes near full control of the priest and attempts to kill Regan, but Karras gains control again and remains in control enough to leap from the window and down a flight of stairs, mortally wounding himself and driving Pazuzu out of his body and back to Hell. Whilst the dying priest is accompanied with his friend giving him his last rites, a local police chief who doesn't believe in Demon possession, begins revealing his theory of the situation and that Regan is a murderer. But no one seems to agree with him. With the demon banished, Regan and her family move from the house and try to forget about their awful past. The priest´s friend says goodbye to them, looks at the scene a last time and moves away, too.

Appearances

Individuals

• Pazuzu
• Regan MacNeil
• Chris MacNeil
• Damien Karras
• Lankester Merrin
• William Kinderman
• Joseph Dyer
• Sharon Spencer
• Burke Dennings