The Exorcist Thread. All 5 Films.

[Joey9775]

Throwing out love for the tv show. Especially its Force Awakens season 1 take on the franchise.

[UniSol GR77]

Originally Posted by Lianzantoro

No, it was considered an Equinox rip-off.

I've watched Equinox many times, and there's nothing substantial about it which reminds of The Evil Dead. The cabin is shown for few seconds, from the outside. There are several giant monsters, no possessed people. The only possessed woman at the end doesn't look like the Deadites at all.

[Alister_M]

Originally Posted by Himmel

I've had the pleasure of experiencing The Exorcist (the version you've never seen) in theaters back in 2000.

The Exorcist, The Exorcist 3 are the better of the franchise.

I distinctly recall jumping about 3 feet in the air when the phone rang, seemingly right behind my head. Still the most effective use of directional surround that I've ever heard.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by OrlandoEastwood

All right, for the life of me, I still haven't seen The Exorcist 3. Does anyone know how good it is compared to the other 4 films?

There's Exorcist...and ignore the rest. If you really need your possession fix from some other film, then I recommend The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

[DR Herbert West]

1. The Exorcist
2. The Exorcist III
3. Exorcist II
4. Dominion
5. Exorcist: The Beginning

[BluCollector13]

As weird as "The Heretic" is, it at least gets points for not being a retread of the original, even though the ideas Boorman tackles seem more suited for "Altered States"-era Ken Russell. Also, the Ennio Morricone score is one of his underappreciated masterpieces.

1. "The Exorcist"
2. "The Exorcist III"
3. "Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist"
4. "Exorcist II: The Heretic"
5. "Exorcist: The Beginning"

[Himmel]

The Exorcist 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Release of Original Novel

.Before William Friedkin’s The Exorcist there was William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist, a novel published just two short years before Friedkin’s film adaptation terrified the world. In celebration of the legendary original horror novel’s 50th anniversary, Suntup Editions has announced a fine press limited edition of The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty.

The edition features illustrations by Marc Potts, as well as a new exclusive introduction by William Friedkin, director of the 1973 motion picture adaptation. The edition is highly limited with a very low print run, and is now available for pre-order over on Suntup’s website.

On September 27, 2011, The Exorcist was re-released as a 40th Anniversary Edition in hardcover, paperback and audiobook featuring new and revised material. Of this edition, which is the very same one now available from Suntup, Blatty wrote:

“This will have a touch of new material in it as part of an all-around polish of the dialogue and prose. First time around I never had the time (meaning the funds) to do a second draft, and this, finally, is it. With forty years to think about it, a few little changes were inevitable — plus one new character in a totally new, very spooky scene. This is the version I would like to be remembered for.” [×]

[Bullitt]

I've never seen any of the sequels,I always heard the second was pants.
I just figured there was always something better to watch than going through the followups.......maybe someday but I don't think I'm missing much.

[dallywhitty]

That 50th anniversary hardback does look lovely, but I can see it's already out of print! I remember finding my dad's copy of the novel when I was a kid. When he realised I was reading it, he promptly took it off me and returned it to the attic! It wasn't long before I actually saw the film, though, so by that point, he didn't have a leg to stand on and granted me permission to read the book.

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

1. The Exorcist
2. The Exorcist III
3. Exorcist II
4. Dominion
5. Exorcist: The Beginning

This.

[BluBonnet]

The whole franchise needs to be exorcised.

[Jay H.]

Love the third movie, respect the first movie, never had interest in any of the other movies or the TV show.

I still have the paperback novels of The Exorcist and Legion. There is a banner across the cover of The Exorcist which reads: "See the movie - it's the most electrifying thing that will ever happen to you! Over 7,000,000 copies in print."

[Zivouhr]

On the topic of Exorcist, I watched the Turkish shot for shot remake, "Seytan" of 1974. The quality of the film was degraded, but it's a really interesting watch to see how close they got. On tubi tv at the moment in the US. Subtitles in foreign language.

As far as the new Exorcist film, I'll see that in theaters. That first trailer looked like a good build up horror along the lines of the original classic.

[wonderer99]

The first is a classic, no doubt there.

It wasn't a good film but I do give credit to Exorcist 2 for not simply retreading the first. It would have been so very easy to just have Regan possessed again or to do the same with another kid. They swung hard in a different direction so I find it hard not to applaud that.

The third is pretty good but a bit hammy for me. I thought Dominion was better than its given credit for and I don't think the new films will be any good.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

1. The Exorcist
2. The Exorcist III
3. Exorcist II
4. Dominion
5. Exorcist: The Beginning

That's bang on for me too, I actually like all 5 films in one way or another.

[stvn1974]

I liked the theatrical cut of the orginal. It isn't scary but it works great as a drama. Part II is one of the worst films I have ever seen. Part III is a classic and really creepy and there were parts that really scared me the first time around. I haven't bothered with the other films and won't be watching the new trilogy. The first season of the TV show was great. For some reason I never saw the second season.

[Zivouhr]

I really like that they're using the demon contact lense pupils with the yellow irises in the demon possessed in the new film, just like Regan wore in the original. When you are hearing a deep voice demon speaking and it's just a norrmal looking person, it seems a bit silly, but when they have demon eyes at least, and some scarring or ghastly make up like Regan in full demon mode, it's more congruent with the character's voice. And it looks like more effort was put into the demon form.

I know some feel no horror make up is better, but I'm not one of them. I had nightmares as a kid seeing demon Regan on TV over the years because of that ghastly make up. Incredible make up for 1973 IMO.

[fred25_Ca]

Man, I see people in here saying they've never seen any of the sequels and probably never will. The Exorcist 3 isn't just a good sequel, it's one of the great horror movies, period. Blatty nailed the atmosphere of the original and even tops the scares, imo. It has the single greatest jumpscare in movie history, a terrific cast (George C. Scott, Brad friggin Dourif!?) and one of the great horror movie soundtrack. Blatty was so goddamn talented it's a shame he barely directed any movie. He was the Exorcist, without him there'd be nothing.
Don't skip on The Exorcist 3, it's one of the horror greats!

[Robbie The Robot]

Originally Posted by wonderer99

The first is a classic, no doubt there.

It wasn't a good film but I do give credit to Exorcist 2 for not simply retreading the first. It would have been so very easy to just have Regan possessed again or to do the same with another kid. They swung hard in a different direction so I find it hard not to applaud that.

The third is pretty good but a bit hammy for me. I thought Dominion was better than its given credit for and I don't think the new films will be any good.

Totally agree. I appreciate what Exorcist 2 tried (and failed) to do. At least it was different. No 3 is a good, very well filmed moody drama but Dourif’s hyperbolic hammy acting gives me a headache at the end. I know I am alone on my opinion of Dourif but he is just one of those actors that delivers the same performance in most of his movies (Two Towers is the same stuff as Exorcist 3) It Brad being Brad. It is a very well made movie but the story just does not hold together. The jump scare is fun but it’s really not that wild and it seems to be the only thing the movie can hang its hat on. I saw it on its original run and was very disappointed with it. Besides it rubbish’s Karrasa’s sacrifice at the end of The Exorcist. Totally negates the characters arc.

I cant remember which one was what, but I found the prequal with the disabled kid to be more effective than the one with the nurse. Both though were I think worse than No2 but the stuff with the hyenas was creepy.

If you watch Zardoz which is the movie Boorman made before Exorcist 2 you can see the vibe he was aiming for. Both movies have a similar tone and it wasn’t until I had seen Zardoz that I began to appreciate Exorcist 2 a bit more for what he tried to achieve.

I am curious about what I have seen in the trailer for the new one. The only thing silly so far is the quick shacky fits the girls are having. Such typical boring schtick of modern horror movies.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

1. The Exorcist
2. The Exorcist III
3. Exorcist II
4. Dominion
5. Exorcist: The Beginning

Yeah, that's about my ranking, too.

It's also important to note that Schrader's version was never really finished proper.

He'd intended more special effects and such in post production. He'd also intended an original score. It's very raw as is. But, I'm glad the studio decided to finally let him finish cutting it and released it, anyway. It's clear he was trying to make a serious film about faith, rather than just a bang up screamer/jump, action horror film. The Renny version shows what the studio wanted. It can be fun, but it's still not what Paul Schrader was going for.

[Zivouhr]

Rewatched Exorcist Dominion, which is a prequel film but not very exciting at all. That is really a drama with some hints of the possession topic, but most definitely not a possession movie until maybe the end, focused on Father Merrin and his struggles in life before his meeting with Regan in the first Exorcist.

The most interesting part is when in the beginning, Merrin is forced to choose 10. That was a tough situation and it gave the hero character a grueling choice, though we really didn't get to know those characters so that reduces some of the impact.

The special effects were distracting too. Like the evil face that appears over the bald kid's face. Not subtle at all and unnecessary. It wasn't scary the way it's presented. More of "Hey, look at this effect now".

I don't think I need to watch it again after 3 viewings total now, the first one in theaters back then. Just not exciting or scary for an Exorcist film.