Search - The Exorcist [25th Anniversary Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1973 DVD Release: 12/01/1998 Format: DVD - Soft-Matted WSE for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 3 hrs 17 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Horror, Supernatural Horror, Religious Drama See Also: The Exorcist, The Exorcist [25th Anniversary Box], The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen, The Exorcist [Signed Limited Edition Box], The Exorcist, The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen

Novelist William Peter Blatty based his best-seller on the last known Catholic-sanctioned exorcism in the United States. Blatty transformed the little boy in the 1949 incident into a little girl named Regan, played by 14-year-old Linda Blair. Suddenly prone to fits and bizarre behavior, Regan proves quite a handful for her actress-mother, Chris MacNeil (played by Ellen Burstyn, although Blatty reportedly based the character on his next-door neighbor Shirley MacLaine). When Regan gets completely out of hand, Chris calls in young priest Father Karras (Jason Miller), who becomes convinced that the girl is possessed by the Devil and that they must call in an exorcist: namely, Father Merrin (Max von Sydow). His foe proves to be no run-of-the-mill demon, and both the priest and the girl suffer numerous horrors during their struggles. The Exorcist received a theatrical rerelease in 2000, in a special edition that added 11 minutes of footage trimmed from the film's original release and digitally enhanced Chris Newman's Oscar-winning sound work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ellen Burstyn - Chris MacNeil
Linda Blair - Regan MacNeil
Max von Sydow - Father Merrin
Jason Miller - Father Damien Karras
Kitty Winn - Sharon

The Warner Bros. special edition 25th anniversary DVD of The Exorcist will most likely scare up new fans of this landmark 1973 film about the possession of a little girl by satan. The movie stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, and Linda Blair, who created a national sensation with her portrayal of the possessed child. The film is presented in a widescreen version with Dolby 5.1 Surround sound that effectively accentuates the sudden bumps and bangs of this supernatural thriller. Viewers will have a devil of a time choosing between a bevy of special features on the disc, including a BBC documentary on the making of the movie that also includes some historical perspective on the actual incident on which The Exorcist is based, an audio commentary featuring writer William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin, special sound effects tests, storyboards, production sketches, and more. Most interesting is the inclusion of the famous "spider walk" scene, which shows Blair scurrying around on all four like an arachnid, and Friedkin's explanation of why it was cut from the final print. ~ Russell Roberts, All Movie Guide