Exorcist II: The Heretic (Arrow Video)

[rip63]

Great news. I have the original Warner Bros release, but never got around to going for the SF upgrade because of their generally absurd prices.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by i-kari

I couldn’t care less for a 4K, but the question is is this worth upgrading from the Shout release?

Well, there's some room for improvement. Their newer scan than the Warner BD should have looked better in all areas doesn't resolve grain (and thus any extra detail) great. I suspect a better encode of the Shout master will help. https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x...1&l=0&i=0&go=1

[Anthony Thorne]

I thought this announcement was a pleasant surprise, will grab it the month it comes out.

[RossyG]

I’d love to read the Making Of book, but it goes for silly money. Shame it couldn’t be reprinted for this release.

I’m really looking forward to this, though, and it’ll be my first viewing of the original version. My only quibble (other than it not being 4K) is that I wish the reverse sleeve were the slipcover. I love that image. As a boy of about 14 I had a book about horror films - none of which I’d seen, but that would soon change - and that was in it.

I’d never encountered the word heretic before and assumed it was pronounced to rhyme with emetic. In fact, I still think of this film as being called Exorcist 2: the Huh-RETT-ic.

[Anthony Thorne]

Originally Posted by RossyG

I’d love to read the Making Of book, but it goes for silly money. Shame it couldn’t be reprinted for this release.

It's on free hourly loan at Archive dot org right here.

https://archive.org/details/makingof...0pall/mode/2up

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by RossyG

I’m really looking forward to this, though, and it’ll be my first viewing of the original version. My only quibble (other than it not being 4K) is that I wish the reverse sleeve were the slipcover. I love that image. As a boy of about 14 I had a book about horror films - none of which I’d seen, but that would soon change - and that was in it.

When did you first see the movie? The original version has been widely available since the late 1980s, and it was only in 2018 that Shout finally released the recut version for the first time since the Japanese laserdisc (though it did play on TV a bit in the 90s).

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by BNex99

When did you first see the movie? The original version has been widely available since the late 1980s, and it was only in 2018 that Shout finally released the recut version for the first time since the Japanese laserdisc (though it did play on TV a bit in the 90s).

Think there's confusion over what is the original version, the longer Boorman preferred 118 min cut has been the standard version for years, but the altered shorter version was the Theatrical Cut.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Think there's confusion over what is the original version, the longer Boorman preferred 118 min cut has been the standard version for years, but the altered shorter version was the Theatrical Cut.

Internationally, yes. But the full 118-minute version apparently did play in US theaters for at least a couple of days.

According to some contemporary news articles (I don't have specific links, but I found them on newspapers.com), by the end of the first weekend, theaters were instructed to physically cut the epilogue out of the print they were showing. A short time later, they received a new final reel with a smoother audio transition into the credits.

Boorman then spent the next couple of weeks heavily re-editing the film into a 103-minute version, which was first released in Japan about a month later. That's the one that went out to most other countries.

I don't know if the 103-minute cut ever played in US theaters, but the first VHS/Beta release in the US was the "quick-fix" 2nd version, identical to the original except for the deleted ending...

Exorcist II The Heretic WCI HOME VIDEO 1980 VHS Closing - YouTube

The 1983 VHS release was the 103-minute cut with this ending:

Exorcist II the heretic 1977/1983 VHS alternative ending ReUpLoad - YouTube

[DomH75]

Originally Posted by BNex99

Internationally, yes. But the full 118-minute version apparently did play in US theaters for at least a couple of days.

According to some contemporary news articles (I don't have specific links, but I found them on newspapers.com), by the end of the first weekend, theaters were instructed to physically cut the epilogue out of the print they were showing. A short time later, they received a new final reel with a smoother audio transition into the credits.

Boorman then spent the next couple of weeks heavily re-editing the film into a 103-minute version, which was first released in Japan about a month later. That's the one that went out to most other countries.

I don't know if the 103-minute cut ever played in US theaters, but the first VHS/Beta release in the US was the "quick-fix" 2nd version, identical to the original except for the deleted ending...

The 1983 VHS release was the 103-minute cut with this ending:

As I recall, Boorman revoiced the entire film in ADR too. There are many differences in lines of dialogue and delivery throughout the two versions.

I saw the shorter cut on VHS here in the UK many years ago and didn't see the longer version until I picked up a DVD boxset of the then-trilogy. Somewhere between the two versions, there's a compromise version that works best. It'll never be great, but I'm still very fond of the film...

I'll look at both versions, but almost certainly the longer cut will remain my 'go-to' version...

[DaylightsEnd]

WB really annoys me with this crap. It keeps happening. Eight YEARS into the uhd format, WB still can’t be arsed to release the grand bulk of their stellar back catalog on 4k, or generate new 4k scans, and won’t license out the 4k rights and/or provide a 4K scan to boutiques. So we get yet another blu ray. Coma, Last Man Standing, Exorcist II, etc. That would’ve been swell and all in 2014, but they can piss off in 2024. I hate that slumlord WB almost disdainfully treats most of its back catalog films as an undesirable liability rather than an asset.

[oddbox83]

It's probably more that there isn't a 4K scan and Warner don't want to bother for this movie, as opposed to them purposefully preventing anyone from a 4K. The Shout scan was 2K. Presumably Warner won't let any indie near the OCN.

[DaylightsEnd]

Exactly. They’re squatting on a gold mine, the bulk of which will not see its highest and best use. Gobs of pure classics in their catalog sit parked on decade-old blu rays often from dated transfers and have likely dead-ended there. It’s a crying shame. The Warner Archives should be renamed the Warner Mausoleum. Wake me when films like Omega Man and Logan’s Run start seeing the light of day in uhd.

[SpacemanDoug]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

Exactly. They’re squatting on a gold mine, the bulk of which will not see its highest and best use. Gobs of pure classics in their catalog sit parked on decade-old blu rays often from dated transfers and have likely dead-ended there. It’s a crying shame. The Warner Archives should be renamed the Warner Mausoleum. Wake me when films like Omega Man and Logan’s Run start seeing the light of day in uhd.

As much sh-t as Paramount gets, at least they do regard their back catalog

[pferreira]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

Exactly. They’re squatting on a gold mine, the bulk of which will not see its highest and best use. Gobs of pure classics in their catalog sit parked on decade-old blu rays often from dated transfers and have likely dead-ended there. It’s a crying shame.

I remember they prepared a new scan of Superman but held it back and used the old scan instead for the 4K boxset. I mean why???

Originally Posted by surfinhank

Still, it's hard to believe that a major studio film would destroy a negative for one of their own films, no matter how bad or poorly received.

Yeah I find that difficult to believe.

I know this is off-topic but since we're talking about lost media when Piko Interactive decided to restore 90's animated series The Stone Protectors it turns out the BBC Archive was the only archive to have all the episodes. It appears they've been junked elsewhere. A very unusual outcome but a welcome one.

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by pferreira

I remember they...held it back and used the old scan instead.... I mean why???

I'm not sure precisely why in that particular case, but the words "cheap" and "sleazy" do come to mind, just in general, of course

[pferreira]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

I'm not sure precisely why in that particular case, but the words "cheap" and "sleazy" do come to mind, just in general, of course

It's just odd you would spend the resources remastering something and put out an older, inferior scan.

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I'd probably be more interested in The Avengers (1998) getting restored to it's original cut before they took fright and cut it into it's current nonsensical form. It's never going to be a great movie, but if the plot made sense that would help.

My one would be the full version of Sphere. There was a number of unexplained things in the movie and I'm sure a lot was cut out. 4K Sphere with original cut and with loads of extras would be cool.

[Paul4films]

Would have been nice if Exorcist II was a least a 4K scam of the original camera negative even on standard Blu-ray would have brought NEW life to this film... However let's see how this Arrow release fairs hopefully it's a strong source?

[SpacemanDoug]

Originally Posted by Paul4films

Would have been nice if Exorcist II was a least a 4K scam of the original camera negative even on standard Blu-ray would have brought NEW life to this film... However let's see how this Arrow release fairs hopefully it's a strong source?

it'll likely be the same scans that Shout released a few years ago

[DomH75]

From what I understand, the original materials of Exorcist II have gone the same way as the additional materials for Exorcist III. There is no negative. Remember, this is often called 'the worst sequel of all time'! Ashamed, the various Warner owners ensured the materials were buried away and they are currently lost to time.

All Warner/Shout/Arrow have is the materials used in Shout's release, which, IIRC is from prints. And it's likely a 4K would produce little of benefit that a Blu-ray wouldn't.

So I'm glad to have anything at all. I love Exorcist II. The original Exorcist film is one of my favourite films of all time. I recognise that Exorcist II is a terrible sequel to the original, misunderstanding the entire point of the film, but, taken on its own merits as a deranged science-fiction/fantasy film, it's full of intriguing ideas and visuals that would resurface in later Boorman films such as Excalibur.

I'm delighted we're getting a two-disc release. A 4K of Exorcist III coming out in the UK from Arrow was inevitable sooner or later. This was completely unexpected. Consequently, I bought Exorcist III 4K, Exorcist II, J-Horror Rising and Trick'r'Treat 4K in one big shopping cart. Probably the most I've spent on discs since I imported the complete Dark Shadows coffin set over a decade ago!!

Exorcist II deserves some sort of reappraisal. It's flawed as heck and there are some terrible jump cuts, but there are some great, eerie moments. I'm delighted to be able to put a Blu-ray version on my shelf.

And yes, a commentary by Mark Kermode and Kim Newman would be awesome on this film!!

[Bumblefeet]

Originally Posted by DomH75

From what I understand, the original materials of Exorcist II have gone the same way as the additional materials for Exorcist III. There is no negative. Remember, this is often called 'the worst sequel of all time'! Ashamed, the various Warner owners ensured the materials were buried away and they are currently lost to time.

All Warner/Shout/Arrow have is the materials used in Shout's release, which, IIRC is from prints. And it's likely a 4K would produce little of benefit that a Blu-ray wouldn't.

What is the source of that info? Because stating it is called the worst sequel of all time and the various Warner owners ensured the material were buried away, I'm sorry but it kinda sounds like hearsay rather than fact.

In your follow up message I read words like
I'm pretty sure
I doubt
possibly
likely

So you are based in the UK, and have read an article from which you derive all of this speculation?