Review of The Exorcist

A new digitally spruced up version of the classic film, `The Exorcist', has been released to theaters. The soundtrack now has subtle and loud and scary sound effects. The visuals contain various subliminal Devilish faces flashed quickly at certain points and 11 minutes of material deleted from the final cut, but included in similar form on the currently available DVD release in a superb documentary. Otherwise, the tale still packs quite a wallop. Its impact is certainly greater on the big theater screen. The key to the film's class is the perfect performance of Max Von Sydow in the title roll. The iconic scene where he arrives at the home of the possessed Regan still sends chills up the spine. The gross out scenes are still there (pea soup, head twirling and rattling bed). In addition there is the cut cult scene of Regan scrambling spider-like down the stairs drooling blood. And, on it goes. If you've never seen it in a theater it is worthwhile. If you like a good scare and don't mind the gore, it's not as disgusting as some of the more recent slice and dice epics. Be sure to rent the DVD to hear William Friedkin (director) and William Peter Blatty (writer, also novel) heatedly discussing the deleted scenes which have been added to this version. The new ending slightly blunts the coldness of the original, but the optimism of the new millennium gives the added scene a definite resonance.