Recommendations of the Editorial team
Among fans and critics, in Rankings And in forums. TIt is discussed somewhere about which scene from “the exorcist” is probably the creepiest. The moment when Linda Blair’s head turns 180 degrees? The struggle between two dogs in the desert sand of Iraq, in the flirting of the sun? The overlays of the face of Captain Howdy? Or the legendary, once cut out, once again inserted for an extended version, “Spiderwalk Scene”, in which the turned blair runs down a staircase …
What reads like a discussion among nerds is a fundamental question. Because, as many cinema windows either “Star Wars” or “2001: A Space Odyssey” as the biggest science fiction film, William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, who ran into cinemas in 1973, is the greatest horror film together with “Psycho” (1960), “Halloween” (1978) and “Shining” (1980).
The sound makes you insane
Without a question, the “ex -zist” has one of the most irritating sound tracks in cinema history. Every sound effect was exaggerated. The gasp while sleeping. A moving carriage. Dog bark. Or creaking attics. They sound as oppressive here as the actual fantastic sounds. For example, that of the tortured souls in a real hell.
Many myths circle around the film’s theatrical release. False births are rumored by spectators. Abortions. In any case, many conversations that concerned parents suddenly wanted to have with their children. The story of the twelve -year -old Regan (Linda Blair), which is obsessed by a devil and can even go on her mother when she is tied up in bed, fit the zeitgeist. Teenagers became more complicated. It was the post-hippie era. Self -folding started earlier. Children increasingly used different language codes than their parents.
So the demonic, tongue -talking regan was simply a girl who no longer understood her mother (Ellen Burstyn). The scene in which she masturbates bloody with a crucifix blew up everything expected. Another main character of the film, the priest Karras (Jason Miller), is struggling with the accusation of not being there for his sick mother until his death. So the lack of communication becomes one of the central themes of the film.
Friedkins Triumph
“The Exorcist” became a phenomenal success – before Steven Spielberg let go of his “White Hai” in 1975, it was even the most key to the cash. There were Oscar nominations in all directions, also for the then 13-year-old Linda Blair as the “best supporting actress”. The film was able to collect two Oscars, for the “best sound” and the “best adapted script”, according to a novel by William Peter Blatty.
However, for director William Friedkin, previously acted with the gangster film “French Connection” as a prince of the “New Hollywood”, the last big prank should remain. The choleric director, who also stuck his actors with sudden slaps to the slap, went to the New York killer history “Cruising” (1980) with “The Sorcerers” in 1976, protests from homosexual associations.
And last but not least, Linda Blairs was unlucky. Like almost all children’s stars, there was no great future for them in Hollywood. John Boorman’s “Exorcist” continuation “The HERETIC” (1977), strangely assembled from fantasy elements and with original scenes (!) From the first part, could no longer save Richard Burton and composer Ennio Morricone. Blair then relegated to the exploitation cinema, for example in the women-in prison film “Chained Heat”.
BLAIR also failed to disenchant her famous old role in the “Exorcist” Persiflage “Repossessed” (1990). Because it works.