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In 1985 the Video Recordings Act was brought into power by the BBFC,
which meant that any film that was released theatrically between 1st January
1970 and 31st December 1974 either had to be classified or removed from
video shelves by the 1st March 1988. Many films perished due to the introduction
of this act, films that have since gained cult status, films such as the
notorious Driller Killer, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Straw Dogs.
The most successful and perhaps controversial of the films outlawed disappeared
in 1986, a film that had an outstanding presence in theatres in 1974 that
it changed the face of modern cinema all together. The Exorcist was
originally released by Warner Home Video in 1981, which angered a worrying
number of Britain’s population and in the latter a reason for it’s deletion.
One of the many questions that I’m most frequently asked
is whether or not The Exorcist was cut on it’s original release? And for
all of those who were wondering...no it wasn’t. It was passed uncut with
an ‘X’ certificate, and it was this version that was later released on
video. Ever since the film’s removal from video it has been almost unheard
of in Britain; regular theatre spots nationwide were the only way to see
the movie which was still being picketed by religious groups.
Twenty five years later, the movie has once again caught
the public’s attention and in my opinion it was down to the persistence
of one man, Radio One film critic Mark Kermode. Kermode began his
search for answers ten years ago whilst he was still under the long term
affect of the trailer which he had seen at the age of 11, he began with
interviewing members of the cast, writing a vast number of articles for
magazines such as Video Watchdog, continuously mentioning the movie whilst
reviewing films for Radio 1, writing two BFI books about the film and finally
writing and hosting a BBC documentary to celebrate 25 years of The Exorcist.
All of these events lead to the movie having a theatrical re-release last
Halloween and the possibility of the BBFC granting the movie a video classification
after 13 years. The Americans also celebrated the 25th anniversary
of The Exorcist, by releasing a video box-set and a brand new DVD with
a whole host of special features which include the brilliant BBC documentary
The Fear Of God: 25 Years Of The Exorcist, 8 theatrical trailers, 6 TV
spots, Audio track featuring commentary by director William Friedkin and
producer William Peter Blatty and special sound effects tests, Story boards
and production sketches, Additional interviews and the legendary original
ending.
The Exorcist 25th Anniversary DVD was released in America
on the 27th November 1998 and was the US answer to our theatrical re-release
as it was supplied with a new stereo soundtrack, colour corrected and digitally
remastered for maximum quality.
The film begins with the introduction of the ageing exorcist
Father Lankaster Merrin (Max Von Sydow) at the site of an archaeological
dig in Northern Iraq, where he uncovers an evil of ancient proportions.
This sequence is often slammed for being too long and irrelevant to the
overall plot, but I find it to be a ten minute teaser that prefigures the
horrors to come. After a swift cross fade to Georgetown, Washington D.C.
we are introduced to the central character, actress and single mother Chris
MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn). Her daughter Regan (Linda Blair) seems to
be a happy, good natured child until after the use of an ouija board and
we become witnesses to a rapid change in behaviour that would shock the
most hard hearted of people. She is examined by every medical specialist
imaginable with no apparent results to why her behaviour has become so
sinister. While this is taking place a young Jesuit, Father Damien
Karras (Jason Miller) is coping with his mother’s death as well as the
disappearance of his own faith in God. During Regan’s illness, the director
of Chris’s latest movie mysteriously falls from the concrete steps outside
the MacNeil house, after being alone with Regan. On the case is the
flamboyant Detective William F. Kinderman (Lee J. Cobb) who believes that
the deceased was killed and then pushed from Regan’s bedroom window, but
there was no-one in the room except Regan so how can this be?
After a beautifully paced build up the terror begins...
Regan spouts obscenties with an inhumain voice, attacks the doctor who
tries to help her, masturbates with a crucifix, attacks and makes sexual
advances toward her mother and rotates her head 180-degrees. As soon
as the concept of possession is brought up, Chris contacts Father Karras
in hope of arranging an exorcism up (an archaic ritual in which a priest
attempts to drive out an invading spirit). Due to his medical background
as a psychiatrsit, Karras is a non-believer in demonic possession
but he agrees to investigate Regan’s illness. During his first visit of
Regan (now a welt covered demon who introduces herslef as the Devil), she
mocks him about his mother and pukes a disgusting green bile into the face
of the careworn priest.
More investigations take place. Karras records Regan speaking
Latin, a language which she has never known or studied, and scream an unearthly
language which turns out to be english backwards. Karras makes his final
decision immediatly after seeing the words ‘HELP ME’ appear on Regan’s
skin.
Summond by the cardinals of Georgetown University, Father
Merrin arrives at the MacNeil house (one of the most famous images in modern
cinema, standing illuminated by the omniscient mist from Regan’s bedroom
window) as a last resort to save the little girl. From here on, the
exorcism sequence (one of the most electrifying scenes in cinema history)
exposes some of the most shocking images I’ve ever seen in a movie.
Begining with Regan spitting accuratly into the face of Merrin, then the
most memorable line in the film which although can’t be printed here, was
Regan screaming that Karras's dead mother was performing on male souls
in hell. With levitating beds, spinning heads, Regan levitating herself
and the death of Father Merrin, the conclusion of The Exorcist sees Damien
Karras clutching his hands around the neck of Regan and screaming for the
demon to enter his body, and it does so and in a last gasp to prevent the
demon from killing the girl, he jumps out of Regan’s window, hitting the
concrete steps outside and dying in a pool of blood (thus destroying the
demon, which Blatty likes to hear).
I’ve seen The Exorcist so many times now and I must say that
I can never get bored with it. It’s such a glorious film which has the
undying power to change meaning upon every viewing of the film. With
moving performances by Jason Miller and Ellen Burstyn, a flawless screenplay
written by author of the best-selling novel, William Peter Blatty, amazing
special effects that retain a siginificant power to unsettle audiences
world-wide and of course the methodical pace and cinematic realism conclude
the ingridients that make The Exorcist one of the greatest movies ever
made.
Also on the DVD is the 75 minute documentary The Fear Of
God: 25 Years Of The Exorcist. This BBC produced feature which was the
idea of Mark Kermode in November ‘97 is without a doubt a treat to watch.
Showing interviews with cast & crew ranging from William Friedkin through
to Linda Blair and airing legendary outtakes such as make-up tests, special
effects tests and the missing scenes that were eventually cut from the
final version of the film. Among these scenes is the legendary ‘spider-walk’
sequence, in which the demonic Regan crawls backwards, down the stairs,
on all fours...
The documentary featured on the DVD is an extended version
of what was shown on BBC 2 in June. The TV version of the programme did
in fact show segments that were not included in the DVD version, for example
an interview with Mercedes McCambridge and an interview with former president
of the BBFC James Ferman (an insight to why the film was banned).
Probably the highlight of the special features is the gallery
of trailers which date back to the movie’s initial release back in 1973.
Overall this has to be the best DVD released yet, and I really can’t
see any other DVD title being as complete as this one; but what is the
BBFC’s current position on the recent submission of The Exorcist for a
video classification? I’ve been in contact with them over the past
month and this is a well documented version of a recent conversation:-
Q. What is the Board’s current position on possibility of a video release for The Exorcist?
A. The Board's current position on the video of THE EXORCIST is stated
in full on our Web Site under
"Commentary". The Board has been
asked to review its decision but there is no fixed date by which such
a decision will be reached and we are unable
to comment on the possible outcome of this application. Any
fresh decision will be announced in due
course.
Q. How long has the Commentary section been on your web-page?
A. The Commentary section is a fairly recent addition to the Web
Site but the information provided on THE
EXORCIST is based upon our standard reply
to written enquiries. This has certainly been in use since before
the recent reissue of the film.
Q. Why could you not just release The Exorcist on PAL DVD? This would
allow parents to secure the film with
parental locks.
A. With regard to DVD, the Board is required by law to apply exactly
the same standards when assessing work on
this format as it would when assessing
a video cassette. Parental locks may be of some use in preventing
access to young children, but older
children are often more conversant with technology than their parents!
Q. Have your views changed at all since the successful reissue of the film last Halloween?
A. The Board will not be in a position to comment on whether its
views have changed until a decision is reached on
the current application.
Q. Do you think that The Exorcist still retains a power to shock
teenagers? Because when I saw it recently I
thought people had mistaken it for a comedy?
A. Whether the film still retains its power to affect teenagers is
one of the areas that will have to be looked at in
detail. The Board is currently setting
up an Advisory Panel on Children's Viewing which might have some
bearing on this question.
To conclude I am sure that any decision reached on THE EXORCIST will be widely reported in the Press as well as on our Web Site.
So there we are... Until a decision is made why don’t you visit my
web-page at :- http://lavender.fortunecity.com/jarman/560. Or e-mail your
questions to me at :- snaggledude@hotmail.com.
I shall keep all fans posted on The Exorcist when there is more
news on a possible release.
