The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen (DVD, 2000)

I have seen my fair share of horror movies, and growing up well after the theater release of the Exorcist, I only heard stories of how it terrified audiences were after seeing it. Recently, having never seen the movie, I decided to read the book (which, by the way, was also great) After enjoying the book as much as I did, I decided to buy and finally watch the movie. (Found a great deal on eBay)
I have to say, with expectations high, it did not disappoint. Being 20 years old and completely desensitized to almost everything, I didn't really find it scary at all. It was a little creepy at times (the subliminal images) but it was mostly just entertaining.
I thought the acting was great, especially Jason Miller and Ellen Burstyn, the special effects were good (even better for being the 70s), and the story was compelling. I am a Catholic so I guess the whole demonic possession should be an extra creep-out factor for me. But even a few Non-religious friends I watched it with were fully entertained and pleasantly surprised.
I do, however, wish it had been a little longer. My only complaint is that some scenes were so brief, they felt really rushed. Like there was a time constraint or something. I know it was a little over 2 hours, but an extra 15 to 20 minutes to setup more background on the characters would have been a big plus.
The Exorcist is often called the best 'horror' movie of all time and I have to say, I agree. It is definitely my favorite scary movie, and I thought so the second it ended. Unlike any movie made this decade, it does not rely on a ridiculous amount of gore--just a solid story and characters one can relate to.

This is one of those classic films where EVERYTHING works: the writing, the directing, the acting, etc. The extras on the DVD are extensive and fascinating (you can tell both William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty cared about every second of this film).
Most great horror films will have you turning on lights and peeking around corners, but THE EXORCIST will make you afraid to close your eyes.

A must for the collector if you can get the box set all 4 movies are woth it this is the set i put together..

1. The Exorcist (the version you've never seen).
2. The Exorcist II: The Heretic
3. The Exorcist III
4. The Exorcist: The Beginning
5. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
DVD's 4 and 5 come in a 2 DVD set case

These are all great movies if you like the Exorcist you should have all of these....
(Mrs puman)

I might be dating myself, but who wasn't scared out of their wits when this movie first came out in 1973? I think I slept with the lights on for a month.

I decided to get a DVD copy, as I am finally nearing the end of replacing all the VHS format movies in my collection. This edition, "the version you've never seen," is great as far as the original content goes. The sound has been enhanced to Dolby 5.1, which is fantastic, and of course they added 11 minutes they found on the cutting room floor. They should have left these minutes out, as they were edited out FOR A REASON...THEY STINK! Why try to re-work a classic?

The overall edition is great though, and worth the money. Just don't expect any new surprises!

I bought this film because I had seen it and remembered how it grew more interesting as it progressed. I thought it had an interesting story behind it as well and there is some truth to it as well.

This is based on a true story and shows displays of what you see by mediums (knowledge of the dead) when the spirits inside the girl begin taunting the priest about their knowledge of his mother yet cannot give her exact name.

This film had a lot of realism behind it; the description of the young Priest's education and his disbelief of demonic spirits, still believing the girl's problem was psychological up until performing the exorcism. It is as though the Priest is so well educated, that he will not open himself up to the possibility that such things go on even though the girl's Mother is convinced her daughter is possessed. Yet she cannot convince the hard headed Priest.

Another part I found interesting was when after the Doctors were able to exclude the possibility of physical problems, they had set her up with the Psychiatrist and he performed hypnosis on her to talk to the person inside.

The ending was moving too but after the intense ordeal I would think just the moemory of it would be too much for a person to live with.

This movie is definitely not for everyone. It has everything you could want in a movie but at times can be hard to take. Because the story is so true to life, the producers did not hold back on vulgarity. The realism of this film is very convincing; you could get the real sense that the person within the young girl is of another realm. Nowhere else could you get find this level of obscenity and blasphmous behavior.

I think it also sends a strong message which is to stay away from what may seems harmless such as Ouija boards, talking boards, communication with the dead, etc.

watched this with my 13 year old, she thought it was a good movie, but not that scary. then we watched the original Amityville Horror and she could hardly even watch that. I have to agree Amityville is way better at making the hair stand on the back of your neck, but the final excorcism scenes in the excorsist are still pretty awesome. also noticed a few things I hadn't seen in prior viewings, where demon faces flash on the screen in certain sceens. those few seconds scared me more than any other spots. things that jump out at you are always a sure way to scare people. all modern horror movies seen to use this technique to death(pardon the pun).