The Exorcist (1973) ✦ Full-Length Watchalong Reaction
Added 2025-10-07 19:00:08 +0000 UTCThe first of the scary movies this month! Although this one wasn't really scary for me, but it was very unsettling, creepy, heartbreaking, and it made me tense up a lot (so much so that I actively had to shake out my upper body a couple of times).
I can't help but wonder what the general reception was like back in 1973 when this released, especially with the level of visual and auditory vulgarity that was present here.
This is a quieter reaction from me, so at least the people who like to think I talk too much will be happy. 😉
I hope you enjoy this! I'm looking forward to your comments. 😊 [Direct link here.]
✦ KL
Comments
This and Back to the Future stand out to me as movies where the "old man" makeup of the era is almost completely ignored by modern audiences who just expect them to look old. KL has also encountered Max Von Sydow in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and (uncredited) as the voice of Vigo the Carpathian, the evil painting from Ghostbusters II.
Tyler Foster
2025-10-08 03:53:29 +0000 UTCExorcist 3 is a bit underrated. With one hell of a jump scare. Lol
Chris Thom
2025-10-08 00:52:41 +0000 UTCFr Merrin is the three eyed raven in Game of Thrones. The actot Max von Syndow (Who recentl passed away) was actually in his 40s when he made exorcist. He's in old man make up.
jimmy2k4o .
2025-10-07 22:29:24 +0000 UTCI had been going to recommend you watch the Theatrical Cut, which most people seem to prefer. At some point, Friedkin made an alternate cut, titled "The Version You've Never Seen" (and sometimes "Extended Director's Cut"). I don't know if I've ever watched the extended version, but my understanding is that he did more than add scenes, he more fully altered dialogue and things in certain scenes, and those changes were somewhat controversial. Luckily, you watched the TC anyway -- The Version You've Never Seen is about 10 minutes longer. In addition to the discussion below about the somewhat bonkers Exorcist II, both Exorcist III and the prequel that followed have pretty famous alternate versions. Exorcist III's director's cut was a Holy Grail for many horror fans, and although the footage does not survive in high quality, it finally premiered in 2016, entitled The Exorcist III: Legion, with the extensive deleted footage sourced from a tape. The prequel was an even bigger debacle. Writer/director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) was hired based on a script by Caleb Carr. When Schrader turned in the finished project, Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist, Morgan Creek's executives were so unhappy that after some attempts to edit it, they fired Schrader and hired Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Long Kiss Goodnight), who came in and made an entirely different movie with the same leading man, called The Exorcist: The Beginning. After The Beginning was unsuccessful in theaters, Warner eventually released Dominion as well. There are many projects with a wild development journey, where you can read about alternate takes on a project that were never made, but the Exorcist prequel is a rare case of being able to see two completely different films meant to fulfill the same purpose, made almost back-to-back.
Tyler Foster
2025-10-07 22:03:27 +0000 UTC
