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The Exorcist
1973 122 min United States of America R 18+
★8.4
Horror, Drama
Director: William Friedkin
🎭 Based on
«The Exorcist»
byWilliam Peter Blatty
Trailers
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Description
When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Budget:
$12M
US Gross:
$233.01M
Worldwide:
$441.31M
Starring
Ellen Burstyn
Actor
Max von Sydow
Actor
Linda Blair
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1975
— Golden Scroll – Best Makeup
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Sound
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Production Design
BAFTA 1975
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Cinematography
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Picture (Drama)
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Director
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Screenplay
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Actress (Drama)
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Female Debut
Saturn Awards 1975
— Golden Scroll – Best Horror Film
Saturn Awards 1975
— Golden Scroll – Best Special Effects
Saturn Awards 1975
— Golden Scroll – Best Screenplay
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Actress
Key opinion
The Exorcist is widely regarded as a foundational masterpiece of horror that excels through its psychological depth, grounded atmosphere, and exceptional technical craftsmanship. While many viewers praise its enduring ability to evoke dread and existential unease, opinions are divided on its impact, with some modern audiences finding the slow-burn pacing and lack of contemporary jump scares underwhelming.
| Acting | The performances, particularly from Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn, provide a raw, emotional core that grounds the film's supernatural elements in human tragedy. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography and sound design, including the use of silence and iconic musical cues, effectively cultivate a persistent sense of dread and unease. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay successfully elevates the film from a standard horror movie into a sophisticated philosophical drama regarding faith and the persistence of evil. | |
| Direction | William Friedkin’s direction maintains a high level of craftsmanship, balancing realistic tension with iconic moments of horror that hold up decades later. | |
| Pacing | The film’s deliberate, slow-burn approach is praised by some for building atmospheric dread, while others find the pacing sluggish and lacking in modern excitement. | |
| Emotion | While many viewers report lingering terror and emotional impact, others find that the film's notoriety as the 'scariest movie ever' leads to disappointment when experienced through a modern lens. |