The Exorcist (1973)
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A mother and two priests must confront a demonic presence inhabiting her young daughter.
The story
In Georgetown, Washington, D.C., actress Chris MacNeil and her 12-year-old daughter Regan rent a large house. After Regan begins playing with a spirit board, she claims to be in contact with an entity called 'Captain Howdy.' As Regan's health rapidly declines and her behavior becomes increasingly violent and abnormal, medical tests fail to find a physical cause. Following the mysterious death of a friend, Chris seeks out Father Damien Karras, a priest and psychiatrist. The film follows the escalating tension as the situation becomes clear that Regan is undergoing a demonic possession, necessitating a desperate and dangerous attempt to save the girl through a formal exorcism.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In northern Iraq, Father Merrin discovers a talisman of a winged being. In Georgetown, Chris MacNeil and her daughter Regan move into a house where Regan begins playing with a spirit board and encounters 'Captain Howdy.' Regan's health deteriorates, and she exhibits violent, supernatural behavior. After a friend is found dead nearby, Chris seeks help from Father Damien Karras. Karras, struggling with a crisis of faith, joins Father Joseph Dyer to investigate. After a series of terrifying incidents, including Regan speaking in tongues and appearing to be possessed by the Devil, Karras and Merrin perform an exorcism. During the ritual, the demon manifests as Karras's mother. Merrin dies of a heart attack during the process. Karras, in a final act of sacrifice, demands the demon take him instead of Regan. The demon takes him, and Karras dies after jumping from a window. Regan is freed, and the film ends with the family leaving the house while Karras's body is attended to by Father Dyer.
- First release year
- 1973
- Runtime (minutes)
- 122
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- William Friedkin
- Writers
- William Peter Blatty · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Ellen Burstyn · Chris MacNeil; Max von Sydow · Father Karras; Jason Miller · Father Merrin; Linda Blair · Regan MacNeil
- Genres
- supernatural horror
- Themes
- faith; possession
- Tone and mood
- scary; tense
- Setting
- Georgetown, Washington, D.C. and northern Iraq.
- Premise and plot tags
- supernatural; horror; religious
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty
- Franchise connections
- The Exorcist
- Reception
- Reviews were mixed, but the film became a cultural phenomenon, influencing pop culture and being included on lists of the greatest films ever made.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · nominated; Academy Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · won; Academy Award · Best Sound · won; Golden Globe · Best Motion Picture – Drama · won
- Production trivia
- It was the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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