{"id":41061,"date":"2023-09-16T01:38:29","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T05:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=41061"},"modified":"2023-09-16T01:40:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T05:40:10","slug":"the-exorcist-1973-50th-anniversary-edition-4k-uhd-digital-hd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/16\/the-exorcist-1973-50th-anniversary-edition-4k-uhd-digital-hd\/","title":{"rendered":"The Exorcist (1973): 50th Anniversary Edition [4K UHD\/Digital HD]"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>William Friedkin\u2019s unfortunate passing in 2023 sadly came during the celebration of one of his all time greatest cinematic masterpieces. This year \u201cThe Exorcist\u201d celebrated its 50th<\/sup> anniversary and its legacy has continued thriving. It\u2019s heralded as a horror and cinematic masterpiece by some, it\u2019s despised by religious circles, and it\u2019s yet to be duplicated in impact and influence. This year the studios have pulled out all the stops with licensing merchandise, re-releasing the film in to theaters and of course the 50th<\/sup> anniversary edition of the film on 4K UHD.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Chris MacNeil, a visiting actress in Washington, D.C., notices dramatic and dangerous changes in the behavior and physical make-up of her 12-year-old daughter Regan, after her play session with a mysterious Ouija board. Meanwhile, Karris, a jaded young priest at nearby Georgetown University begins to doubt his faith while dealing with his mother’s terminal sickness. On the other side of the world, Lancaster Merrin, a frail, elderly priest recognizes the necessity for a show-down with an old demonic enemy and ventures to Washington to help Regan.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As with all of the current editions the 50th<\/sup> Anniversary Edition comes with both cuts of \u201cThe Exorcist.\u201d With Friedkin\u2019s film you really can\u2019t go wrong; Disc 1 of this edition includes the Theatrical cut which clocks in at a little over two hours with the original cut which prompted Friedkin to cut what he deemed unnecessary scenes that were chopped for time making the film feel tighter. I love the original cut just as much as it\u2019s the one I grew up on. It\u2019s still a striking and haunting horror picture about the literal war of good and evil set off by a very petty albeit powerful demon. Friedkin also ends his film on the very spooky final scene of the steep steps that became the death scene for Father Karris and his last sacrifice for the soul of Regan MacNeill.<\/p>\n

The first disc includes a two minute introduction by the late, great William Friedkin. There is also a pair of audio commentaries including one by William Friedkin, and a second one by writer William Peter Blatty, who also lends his insight as the author of the novel upon which the film is based. Disc Two includes the Extended Director\u2019s Cut which has, in many circles, become the preferred version of \u201cThe Exorcist.\u201d It\u2019s almost like the uncut, extended editions of the \u201cLord of the Rings\u201d movies. You can love the original version or the exhaustive Tolkien movies, and with Friedkin\u2019s film, you can still enjoy the original version or the Uncut Extended Edition which clocks in at ten extra minutes.<\/p>\n

Despite Friedkin\u2019s original hesitation, the Uncut Edition is still fantastic in its own right, and it\u2019s the version I personally prefer. The ten extra minutes adds so much more to the narrative, injects a lot more terror in to the unraveling of Regan from victim to hideous monster, and it includes a pretty somber final scene. Friedkin chooses to shift the focus away from the stair scene and include a more focused shot of the Regan\u2019s window from her now abandoned home. It works in any level and still feels like evil is still lurking about, even if we\u2019re fairly certain Father Karras destroyed Pazuzu\u2019s momentum.<\/p>\n

To re-iterate, I love both versions, but the second cut just feels more cohesive in the end. The feature on the second cut includes an audio commentary by William Friedkin, which is different than his commentary from the original Theatrical cut.<\/p>\n