Films about demonic possession always get my attention. Ever since I saw The Evil Dead back in the 80s, I went through a stage where I hired every gory demon video I could find. The whole idea of such creatures was way scarier to me than ghosts rattling chains, or madmen with a knife and mask sneaking through the burbs 12 years to the day of their first slaying. Perhaps its just one of those things that you grow up with an eye for  their hideousness fascinated me.

Of the three films in this DVD box set  The Exorcist (1973), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) and Exorcist III: Legion (1990)  the original is definitely the best.

The Exorcist

127 minutes

CAST: Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn.

Set in modern day America, a teenage girl, Regan MacNeil (Blair) becomes possessed by an ancient demon, and her mother, Chris (Burstyn) has to battle the medical profession and the clergy in ORDER to obtain an exorcism for her. The struggle is life and death for everyone involved. Two Jesuit priests take up the challenge; the aging and unwell Father Lancaster Merrin (Von Sydow) and young psychiatric counsellor Father Karras (Miller). A local police detective, William Kinderman (Cobb) is also drawn into the situation when investigating an unexplained, and rather macabre, death in the vicinity of the MacNeil home.

This is a great ride, and a classic must have for any serious horror buff. Thirty years after it was made, it is still a powerful film experience. When I first saw it, I really was shocked by the effect it had on me  its not at all blood n guts, its creepy and intense. There is a claustrophobic edge to this film, due to the rather contained environment - Regans nondescript, typically girly bedroom becomes the ultimate battleground between good and evil. An innovative hand guides this film. If you want the more modern horror experience of stopwatch accuracy in the delivery of gruesome incidents (i.e. a grisly death every 17.8 minutes), forget this film. I do believe this landmark piece paved the way for a new generation of horror filmmakers, relying on story and atmosphere, not cynically timed gore. The visuals are powerful, the storyline is focused and somehow believable! The only (minor) annoyance I encountered was the occasional woodenness of Ellen Burstyn when, in her distress, she lashes out at those around her. I wonder if her acting coach ever told her that she had a problem with anger?! Directed by William Friedkin, and based on William Peter Blattys novel, Blatty wrote the screenplay and also produced the film. This DVD is the directors cut, so it features 11 minutes of extra footage (comprised mostly of medical scenarios that unfold in the first hour). Theres one brief, freaky and totally memorable added scene that Im not gonna blow, other than that it involves Regan and a staircase. Also watch for brief flashes of the demon that are scattered throughout the film. Its a cool touch. Garnering Academy Awards for sound and writing, and Golden Globes for best director, best picture (drama), best screenplay (Blatty) and best supporting actor (Blair), this is definitely one for the collection.

Exorcist II: The Heretic

112 minutes

CAST: Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow, Kitty Winn, Richard Burton, Louise Fletcher, Paul Henreid, James Earl Jones.

Four years after her demonic ordeal, Regan (Blair) is in therapy with Dr Gene Tuskin (Fletcher) in an attempt to explore the psychological impact of her largely unremembered trauma, and get on with her life. In an obsessive effort to continue the spiritual work of the late exorcist Father Merrin (Von Sydow), Father Phillip Lamont (Burton) tracks down Regan in the hope that she can shed light on Merrins last moments and also find out more about the identity of the demon that possessed her. Dr. Tuskin and Lamont quickly lock horns over access rights to Regans mind. Who will win out? How much does Regan really remember of her ordeal? Does the demon still have control of Regans soul?

Oh dear! This sequel is bad; produced and directed by John Boorman, its a real hodgepodge of convoluted but no doubt trendy 70s mysticism and psychobabble. Gee - what a surprise that it bombed at the box office  not! I can just imagine how disappointed audiences would have been with this film. Richard Burton and Louise Fletchers acting talents were seriously wasted here. Ellen Burstyn was smart/lucky not to involve herself. I thought it was cute how they got around Burstyns absence  her actress character, Chris MacNeil, was away on location throughout her daughters entire spiritual ordeal! If what I have outlined in the synopsis above seems coherent and even remotely interesting, then I have done a better job than this film did to interest its audience. Sounds ok, but the film is a dogs dinner (possibly UNFAIR to dogs…). We do find out the identity of the demon in this sequel; THAT I liked. Regardless, the whole locust theme was handled really clumsily and with no clear thought of what, if anything, it would add to the already engorged plot. There were lots of crappy scenes throughout; too many to overlook. The saddest thing is that they tried really hard, and still fell short of the mark.

Exorcist III: Legion

105 minutes

CAST: Jason Miller, George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Brad Dourif

Set in 1990, 15 years after the grisly events that unfolded at the MacNeil residence in Georgetown, Washington D.C., we pick up where the original leaves off. The film explores the ongoing relationship between Jesuit priest, Father Dyer (Ed Flanders), detective Kinderman (George C. Scott), and a psychotic killer (Dourif) who is currently institutionalised, yet strangely connected to a series of recent, satanically inspired murders. Over time, we become aware that this Gemini Killer, as he likes to be known, also knows a great deal about the events that took place in the MacNeil household in 1975. Its all up to detective Kinderman to follow the trail of destruction and bring down the perpetrator.

This was much better than I expected, and definitely has that modern psycho-thriller edge. The vibe of The Heretic and Legion couldnt be more different. Legion isnt sensational, but compared to the garbage that is The Heretic, its positively inspired! There was far more tension in this film than its 1977 predecessor, although it does spend loads of time trying to be clever  the plot is basically a whodunnit, with a supernatural twist. We are regularly fed morsels of information for us to use in solving the central mystery. There was quality acting all-round, especially from the versatile Brad Dourif, who some viewers may remember as Billy Bibbitt from the sensational One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest. Incidentally, Louise Fletcher, sadly wasted in Exorcist II (above) also starred in Cuckoos Nest two years previously, and deservedly won an Academy Award in 1976 for Best Supporting Actress. Wonder why she chose to do a piece of crap like Exorcist II? Maybe she just wanted to meet Richard Burton? You never know! Which in turn begs the question  Why did Burton want to do such a piece of crap? Maybe he wanted to meet Louise Fletcher? Anyway, I digress.

I was surprised at how much later this film was made  1990. I had avoided seeing this film on the basis of Exorcist II so Im glad that I can finally say I have seen it, and that its not too bad! Given that this final film was written and directed by Exorcist creator William Peter Blatty, two scenarios come to mind. He likely decided that he needed a little extra for the Blatty retirement fund, but I imagine he was also determined to make the sequel HIS wayI dont blame him! Who would want such an original idea to be shat on forever by the incompetently conceived and executed 1977 sequel, The Heretic? He had to have the final say, to redeem The Exorcists reputation, if nothing else!

THE EXTRAS

The Exorcist

Less extras than I would have expected. Excepting the commentary, its rather ho-hum. Scene selection, theatrical trailers x 2, TV spots x 4, Radio spots x 2, audio commentary by director William Friedkin and awards list. Lots of European subtitle options  English, Italian, Icelandic, Finnish, Bulgarian, Romanian, Arabic, English & Italian for the Hearing Impaired.

I listened to the first ten minutes of the audio commentary and got a few useful tidbits of information, so I imagine that listening to the whole commentary would be chockfull of trivia, and would essentially perform the same function as a documentary, I guess.

Exorcist II: The Heretic

A tad more than basic. Scene selection, cast and crew listing, teaser trailer, theatrical trailer, and an alternate opening sequence. The alternate opening spans 2 minutes, and basically recaps the outcome of the original story, leading into the scene that actually opens the film. Maybe the studio figured that only folks who had seen the original would see this sequel, so the recap opening was pointless. It wouldve done nothing to enhance the film.

Subtitle options (English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Romanian, Bulgarian, Dutch)

Exorcist III: Legion

The basic effort, although the subtitle choices are pretty significant. Scene selection, theatrical trailer, subtitle options (English, German, Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Turkish, Hungarian, Croatian, Icelandic, French, Italian, English and German for the Hearing Impaired).

CONCLUSION

‘The Exorcist DVD trilogy goes from the sublime to the ridiculous. The Exorcist (1973) is a classic horror film; original and genuinely scary  definitely ahead of its time. The horror imagery is confronting, with a strong storyline. This directors cut version offers 11 minutes of additional scenes. The two follow-ups are very different, each focusing on the aftermath of a young girls demonic possession. Exorcist II (1977) is a strange  and crappy - hybrid of 70s psycho-gadgetry and ancient mysticism, totally devoid of the level of suspense offered in the original. Exorcist III (1990) treads the middle ground; it was far better than I expected, and offers a stylish, psycho-thriller take on satanic murder. If you already own The Exorcist on DVD, I would think twice before running out to buy this trilogy pack. As far as the sequels go - rent before you buy, cos its a real mixed bag!