Why The Exorcist Is Still So Iconic 50 Years On

It’s been nearly 50 years since the first Exorcist film graced the silver screen. William Fredkin’s horror masterpiece still to this day, is regarded as not just one of the best horror films of all time, but in fact, one of the best films of all time. Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, The Exorcist follows a single mother and actress Chris Macneil (played by Ellen Burstyn) and her daughter Regan (played by Linda Blair), as they move to Washington DC temporarily, when suddenly Regan becomes possessed, Chris seeks the help of two priests Father Merrin (played by max Von Sydow) and Father Karras (played by Jason Miller), as they come face-to-face with the evil and attempt to free Regan from its grasp.

It’s a well told story and thanks to the success of The Exorcist back in 1973, we are still seeing its impact on cinema, with exorcism themed films still gracing our big and small screens to this day. The Exorcist however transcends the horror genre. Whilst establishing many tropes we know to this day, the famous exorcism scenes, the possession elements, and the list goes on, The Exorcist manages to create captivating drama through its central plot and characters. The film is more than the horror we see, and that’s part of the reason it's still so terrifying. To celebrate its 50th year anniversary, 4K Ultra HD release, I will be breaking down just why the film is so iconic nearly 50 years after its initial release. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!

“I think the point is to make us despair” – The story –

The main selling point at the time the exorcist was released, was the fact it was dealing with something so horrific, so obscene and so real. We hadn’t seen horror done at this level before and that was a huge reason why the film was a huge success. But what has helped it stand the test of time is the way its story evolves. The film is really a character study, showcasing both sides of this horrific event. We get insight into our priests Merrin and Karras, understanding their conflicts with the possession and the emotional and physical toll the experience is having on them both. We also see the impacts of the possession on Chris and Regan. They are so far from home and the foreign nature of their location, the vulnerable state of their living situation makes them prime targets for a demon to possess. It's unsettling and grounded, making you feel uneasy about the whole situation. As the atmosphere builds throughout the film, the horror and dread start to consume the audience, which is a big part of why the film resonates today.

“You probably know as much about procession than most priests” – The characters and performances –

As briefly touched upon, another reason why The Exorcist still works so well is its incredible characters. For me, it’s the dynamic between the two priests. Father Merrin and Father Karras are two characters that are drained throughout the film. From an emotional standpoint, by the films close, their desperation is palpable. The reason these two standout as well is the fantastic performances from the late greats Max Von Sydow and Jason Miller. These two iconic performances are a huge reason why the film works. Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair as Chris and Regan are brilliant as well. It's easy for the audience to put themselves in the shoes of either one of these characters, they work as audience surrogates but also as compelling characters in their own right. Linda Blair’s terrified performance as Regan, eclipsed with her portrayal of a young possessed girl is truly remarkable, remaining one of my favourite child performances of all time. Whether you agree with director William Friedkin’s methods on set, there is no denying that the outcome was nothing short of perfection.

“What an excellent day for an exorcism” – the setting and the atmosphere –

The stark setting of Washington Dc is another reason why the films hold up so well. Whilst incredible makeup effects are used for Regan and of course the ageing of Father Merrin (which is spectacular, Max Von Sydow looked exactly like he did in this film), the on-set locations, including the iconic Prospect Street steps and of course the house itself, create a confined and unsettling location, without CG enhancements. The on-set locations create an atmosphere that is automatically unsettling. This is then amplified by the incredible music by Mike Oldfield and Jack Nitzsche. Mike Oldfield’s ‘Tubular Bells’ remains to be one of the best and most eerie pieces of music ever recorded and put to film. It will forever be the theme of The Exorcist. When combining these elements, you are left with a film that eats away at you, to your very core, leaving you feeling unsettled and scared, which is what a horror film is meant to do!

I could speak about the impact of ‘The Exorcist’ for days. It is one of those films that is simply perfect. It has no flaws. We have a director at the top of his game, getting performances from his talented actors that very few directors would be able to do. It’s a testament to his abilities as a filmmaker but also the concept of Lightning in a bottle. The coming together of all these people for the one project at this point in time, resulted in the masterpiece we know as ‘The Exorcist’.

Be sure to secure your copy on beautiful 4K UHD today, just in time for Halloween. With the spooky season upon us, be sure to show all things horror, right here at Sanity. 

Long live physical media!

Buy The Exorcist here

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here