Review of The Exorcist

Still considered one of the scariest films of all time, The Exorcist is the stuff of legend. So much so that people almost tend to forget what is really at its core.

Based on the novel of the same name, The Exorcist was adapted by its creator and thus ensured that the bulk of it's purpose remained intact. This is not some mere horror tale, no, this is the story three divergent paths: the disbeliever, the doubtful, and the faithful and how they each deal with the embodiment of evil.

Of these three character types I've always related the most to Damien Karras, the doubtful priest, who would resort to logic in the face of the inexplicable, who would be hobbled by the trials and tribulations of life instead of finding them a means to reaffirm his faith, and who would deep down seek to find a meaning to the remnants of his faith. Likewise, I've always found the great and resolute heart of Father Merrrin, the faithful priest, to be a source of great inspiration. He is unwavering when confronted with the darkness, he is steadfast in his beliefs, and he is at peace with dying at its hands for he knows it holds no sway over his fate.

Though some of the remarkable depth of these characters is trimmed by default of the demands of adapting a book to screen, I've always been astounded how much of them remains onscreen courtesy of subtext or the actor's ability to endow their actions and reactions with meaning. Merrin presence is that of a titan of unshakeable faith every second he's on screen, Karras' frailty drips off him in every scene, and the lost and wandering soul of Regan's mother is desperate and lost in a world she does not understand.

To top it all off the film is beautifully shot by the legendary William Friedkin. Some of my most beloved shots in movie history dwell within it (Merrin facing the statue of Pazuzu in Iraq, Merrin arriving at the McNeil home, etc). The score is exceptional, iconic, and haunting. The atmosphere creeps up on you and has you tense until the final moments. And that ending....that ending is as resonating as it always was. Love it.