BBM at the movies - Exorcist review

     The Exorcist        Bush - 7
             Score - 7

   1973
   122 mins
   Dir. William Friedkin
   Stars - Ellen Burstyn      - Chris MacNeil
             Linda Blair          - Regan MacNeil
             Lee J. Cobb        - Lieutenant Kinderman
             Max Von Sydow - Father Merrin
             Jason Miller        - Father Damien Karras

    Believe it or not The Exorcist was shown for the first time on UK television last night (17th March 2001) the long wait being due to the pathetic and dated censoring system that still exists here, so I thought that I should revise my earlier review of the film from about five months ago.
     My opinion of the film is still pretty much the same and I haven't changed my rating of it this time around. My expectations of The Exorcist were probably too high the first time I watched it because of the all the hype and controversy that has become part of the whole exorcist "thing" and I guess this is why it left me disappointed when I had finally seen it.
     It isn't just a laughable horror movie as some people seem to think, it is actually a very well made movie, the special effects are good considering they didn't have all the technology available today to use, the sound effects, the direction and the acting are all excellent and the story has more to it than just the obvious horror element.
     If you're looking to be scared by the Exorcist you will no doubt be disappointed (unless you buy into all that religious crap) because to be honest it isn't scary, and as for all the stories about people being sick in the cinema they are either a load of garbage or these people are the biggest pussies ever.
     The Exorcist should definitely be watched if only to see what all the fuss was about and to judge for yourself how good it actually is, just don't let high expectations spoil it.

p.s. The novel is well worth a read.