Hey folks, Harry here... Back in March of 2000, Warner Brothers test marketed this new version of THE EXORCIST that William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty worked up and ya know folks... It did well enough that it looks like this weekend it is going to be opening all across the country in a bazillion theaters. This is a MAJOR rerelease. And I have to say, having seen URBAN LEGENDS: FINAL CUT.... YOU MUST SEE THIS NEW EXORCIST INSTEAD! See this... or ALMOST FAMOUS... or even better... both this weekend. I mean, since over the course of ALMOST FAMOUS... William could quite possibly of seen THE EXORCIST in its original release... that kinda works as a double feature. Both stories that occur to young teenagers. One possessed by Satan and the other by Rock-n-Roll... what's the difference? hehehehe.... Here are a couple of reviews sent in by readers that have seen the new edit... and here's a link to my original review Click Here To Read That! Enjoy...
Harry,
Slicing Swan here.
I just got back from seeing the new version of The Exorcist and just like you said before it is quite a treat.
It was an advance screening obviously and there were a bunch of punk teenagers there who think the scariest thing in the world is Scream. As we went into the theatre everyone except the hardcore fans seemed to think this was just going to be some teen horror film again.
Everyone in the audience soon shut up once Reagan told her mother to "Suck Me" and continued to slap her across the room.
The new soundtrack is amazing, it makes the film so much more eerie, it was wonderful to hear it like this in a THX Certified theatre.
The new footage was all amazing also, especially the spider walk sequence, this got a real good jolt from the audience,
I was loving it. I was very afraid that the new ending would be terrible, but once again you were right, it was not bad at all, I am not sure if I like it better this way, but it might grow on me. In terms of the new CG stuff, I think I caught everything, the few tiny things that they added in seemed to make the audience I was with real uneasy, it was wonderful.
I loved this new version of the film, it was wonderful, but what I was most interested in was the audience's reaction to it and thankfully it seemed to scare them shitless.
I hope all of the teens go see it who think that Urban Legends and I Know What You Did Last Summer are horror films. Let them go see this new version of The Exorcist and see what true horror is all about, maybe this will spark some better horror films at the theatre, well at least I can hope.
I beg you, all you who are reading this go see this movie, it is wonderful, and go see it in a good theatre cause otherwise you will be missing out on part of the wonderful experience that The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen is.
Slicing Swan - Peaces to everyone
Alright, and up next is a review from Darth Voice.... you should realize that it contains a near perfect spoiler guide to the additional scenes within the film. Read only if you want to know about these scenes... beyond that he says it is "FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC"... enjoy...
Hey Harry! Just got back from a showing of The Exorcist in Philadelphia, and let me tell you...FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC...or should I say FAN-FRIEDKIN-TASTIC?
Firstly, this is a film everyone and their mother should see on the big screen. The print is incredible as is the sound. When the demon shouts "Merrin," and when the phone rings in Karras' room, it still can scare the crap out of you.
If you really don't want to know what's new, please avoid the rest of this article as there are minor spoilers -
There is a brand new opening shot of the MacNeil home and a light going off, along with a shot of a Virgin Mary statue prior to the credits.
A little extension in the party scene.
An entirely new scene in the doctor's office when Regan gets a physical and the doctor tells her mother "it's nerves."
The absolute best part has to be the entire "spider-walk" scene! Prior to this, there are at least three subliminal demons hidden in the home (one in the cabinet after the lights go back on, one on the door right as Chris opens it, and an outline of one in the wall). But...when she walks down the stairs as a spider and blood comes from her mouth right before it goes black...every audience should be cheering!
A new scene with Karras listening to another recording Regan made, while looking at his own reflection.
The exorcism has several added moments making it somewhat longer, including a great interaction between Merrin and Mrs. MacNeil.
The ending is different with Father Dyer giving back the medal to Mrs. MacNeil and a brief scene with him and Kinderman.
All in all, they do a fantastic job! There is some added music to several scenes, most noticeably with Karras and Kinderman. This really is like watching a new movie...and it truly is "the version you've never seen."
Darth Voice
