Video Release Comparison: The Exorcist (1973) Exorcism on 6 Prior Video Releases - LaserDisc to 4K

The 1997 DVD of The Exorcist, the premiere of the film on that then-new format, was the last time the original opening logo and color timing were presented for the film on video. The 1998 25th anniversary DVD release introduced all-new color timing for the exorcism, further modified in 2000 for the “Version You’ve Never Seen” theatrical reissue (now referred to as the “Extended Director’s Cut”). This drastically altered timing, similar to what was performed on the critically-lambasted first 2008 Blu-ray release of William Friedkin’s The French Connection (1971), involves blurring the color layer and over saturating it as shown here: • Color Timing The Frenc... The result on every release of The Exorcist since 1998 is a soft bluish mess, nothing like how the film was presented for its first 25 years. Even releases of the “original theatrical version” have this revised palette.
The 2001 “Version You’ve Never Seen” and successive DVD releases are not included as they follow the same revised color grade introduced in 1998 and are represented by the Blu-ray and 4K releases.

[@dougr.8653]

I can’t stand the colour timing from the new 4K releases. It’s incredible how film studios love ruining great flicks with the most bland teal filter.

[@ChuckPenn3]

It’s been messed up since 1998. Everyone who has seen the film for the past 25 years has seen it altered unless they were watching an old release. :-(

[@MyersRe-Cuts78]

i wish we could just have an HD release with original color grading.

[@ChuckPenn3]

I hear you - and without the additional gimmickry

[@Polymorphia1965]

@@ChuckPenn3 Amen!

[@Eva01-jy2qu7pu9r]

Remember everyone. Keep your older DVD's on hand. Just because its 4K doesn't mean it will be better

[@Esotereclectic]

"The Shining" is another that has been ruined recently by the 4K remaster, especially the color-timing during the chase in the snow-covered maze, where the actors' faces have been tweeked to appear more flesh-colored instead of the bluish and colder-looking color that Kubrick himself applied to make it look more effective.

[@gafaajacques]

Some takes are completely out of focus in 4K compared to Blu-ray, why is that?

[@Polymorphia1965]

As someone who first saw the film in theaters in the 70s, it's obvious that the 1997 DVD is the most authentic. So glad I have this disc! I went to a 50th anniversary screening of the 2023 4K release and it was pathetically bad. Between the weird color (re)grading and the pointless added audio drones during the exorcism itself they absolutely ruined it. After defending his original cut of the film for years, it's inconceivable to me why Friedkin started going back and changing and adding things. It's really sad that this messed up version is likely the only version future generations will ever see. Shame on Warner Bros. for not releasing a 4K UHD disc of the authentic original theatrical version (with the original Warner logo and color grading) for the 50th anniversary.

[@modernpeasants7]

1997 for the win.

[@josephfrye7342]

too bad it does not have any spider walk or something like that. Except the 2000 version.

[@Polymorphia1965]

@@josephfrye7342 Personally, I never cared for the additions made to the 2000 rerelease. And I never understood why they filmed the spider walk the way that they did in the first place. They should have portrayed it as it happened in the novel, which was way creepier.

[@MaxwellBradshaw]

This is awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[@rickifriki]

Great video man.

[@peterliddell7395]

Thanks for uploading, it would be interesting to see the 1998 wide-screen laserdisc too

[@ChuckPenn3]

It uses the same transfer as the 1998 DVD so why bother?

[@peterliddell7395]

@@ChuckPenn3 It is nice to see the progression of laserdisc transfers.
Thanks

[@crow9553]

Proud owner of the 1997 DVD. Would not watch The Exorcist any other way.

[@Polymorphia1965]

Agreed!

[@mnaryobimo8755]

Is there by any chance The Exorcist 1997 DVDRip circulating online?

[@gafaajacques]

I wish there is

[@Polymorphia1965]

You can still find used copies of the disc online for a fairly reasonable price.

[@gafaajacques]

@@Polymorphia1965 I bought one once, the cover was 1997 edition but inside the 25th anniversary edition. Besides no one wants to ship to Brazil :/

[@benhaynes4409]

Its like deciding which instagram filter to use

[@ToThePointCT]

older the better with this movie

[@g.sferrazza10-13]

Great I need a laser disk setup

[@ChuckPenn3]

No, but I would try to find the 1997 DVD release before the entire exorcism color timing was revised and filtered on every release after that.