I love the way Davy breaks down a film. He's informed and not pretentious. He's passionate without being irritating. Monster's Den is consistently my favourite SoT show. The panel is astutely selected, each party complimenting the other.. Thank you for your generous company, gentlemen.
Those quick shots of that devil face still get to me. I showed the film to my girls when they were late teenagers and they didn't say anything while watching it. They were impressed. It's still a classic.
I watched it with my daughter when she was 14. She's the only person to have ever made me laugh while watching the movie by making candid observations.... The first was the scene where the young priest is interviewing Regan as the demon...my daughter asked out loud "Why doesn't he just shoot her?" I didn't see that coming... The second comment was the scene as the young priest walks in the room to find Regan untied from her bed, and Father Marin dead...in a tone of sarcasm she said "well that's wonderful...." This is what happens when two atheists watch The Exorcist....it's a classic.
The first time I saw "The Exorcist" I was seven. My older brother and I were being babysat at apparently the most irresponsible babysitter ever's house. She put it on for us and her two kids, and gradually through the night they all fell asleep, so I was sat there scared out of my mind watching it alone in the dark. Still the scariest night of my life. Top ten all-time movie for me. "Bug," "Killer Joe" and "Cruising" are all batshit insane movies.
The Exorcist is an absolute classic, just watched the French Connection last night for the first time, also amazing, just got a copy of To Live and Die in LA today, and waiting for my copy of Sorcerer to arrive, really excited to watch those. R.I.P. William Friedkin
One thing I loved about uk video shops back in the late 70s,they always had the banned stuff behind the counter.. But loved the pacing and unpredictabilty of the film, that immersion which keeps you hooked from start to finish.
"The Exorcist" is definitely a horror classic, and one of my favorite films in any genre, period, but there is another Friedkin-directed film, 2006's "Bug," that I love *almost* as much. "Bug" is not a work of supernatural horror, but it is deeply, seriously, disturbing psychological horror. I've only seen it twice, years ago, but it still haunts my memories.
Loved the episode! One Friedkin gem I must call out is Cruising! A controversial classic. They discussed it on Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary's podcast with Eli Roth and called it an American giallo which I thought was an interesting take.
Love the Den. You all give a positive review...but none just repeat the others. From Pete seeing it so recently on the big screen to Chris' mother to Davy's critical evaluation and Dan's memories from the time this is why the Den is the best. Please, please, please never add anyone or remove anyone, this is the CREW.
Lol. Kinda like Chris, my mom went out and saw it, came home and felt a cold draft coming from under the door i was sleeping in. I was just a baby at the time
I saw the Exorcist in 1973 at age 22 at the Grand Theater in Oakland, CA, one of those old, ornate showcase theaters from Hollywood's Golden Era--only one main floor with plush red seats and a balcony (it was later divided into a four-screen theater). Mr. Gallagher echoes exactly the thoughts I had when this MD episode started. The times were already majorly fucked up, there was a lot of post-60s paranoia, and religious faith was being challenged by the culture. I also strongly believe that my Christian upbringing, and Catholic school education from the elementary grades on, lent a layer of dread and terror to this film that might not have been so profound had I not been thoroughly schooled in the hopeless horror of Satan. All time best for me.
In high school a bunch of us snuck off to see The Exorcist while on a two day trip to the Illinois State basketball championships. Scared the crap out of me. Never had a big desire to see it again as the images are burned in my mind. French Connection is very close, but Sorcerer is my favorite Friedkin film.
When I first saw this at a slumber party in 1997, I said "this is the first and last time I will ever watch this", because I was so frightened. I have watched it every year near Halloween since then. Now, I think of it as a sad family drama. That's why it's so scary, and still holds up.
Saw it at the drive-in years later when it was re-released as a double feature with 'The Eyes of Laura Mars'. Have to admit that night didn't fall asleep till the sun came up. The sound seemed more diabolical coming through the little drive-in speaker.😬
The Exorcist was a masterpiece. I too saw the original theatrical release. Have only watched it one time since. But you should watch “The Exorcism of Emily Rose.” Another good film; but not quite as good as The Exorcist. Linda Blair was amazing. I read the book years earlier than the film as a kid. Freaky!
Friedkin was one of the most knowledgeable and interesting movie directors and really knew his stuff. Check out any of the interviews or his film commentaries on TH-cam. His take on Hitchcock's classic Vertigo is a great place to start. RIP Bill Friedkin.
I was 8 when it hit the theaters. First time I watched the original (unedited for TV) was probably on cable. We had cable before a VCR. I was about 16. Yes, definitely freaked me out the first time. But., still thought it was one of the best movies I ever saw. I think it stands up through the tests of time, without a doubt. Besides watching it a # of times, I've read the book at least 3 times too. They stayed true to the book, for the most part. It explained things too which slipped by me in the movie. 1 example is, when kinderman picked up the clay turtle Regan made, it was to scraped off a little of the clay with his thumbnail. When he got to the car and grabbed that envelope, he scraped the clay out from beneath his nail and put it in the envelope. He did that so they could compare the clay to the clay used on the desecration in the church. Another thing, when she does the spider walk, she chases Sharon around, licking her heals. *Edit: After Chris mentioned the TV version, I remembered watching that first. I was about 15 for that. The only thing they cut out for that was the swear words and the crucifix scene, pretty much.
Great show guys :) Friedkin is often overlooked but he should be mentioned along with any of the 70’s “movie brat” directors (Scorsese, Spielberg, Altman, Ashby, etc) - I’m not a big horror buff but this movie is definitely a top tier entry: The opening archaeological scene where Father Merrin is facing off with the evil artifact in the desert is one of the greatest visual representations of good vs evil ever put down on film….
I'm 62... I've seen The Exorcist two or three times. I don't remember the first time... I think I psychologically obscured it from my mind. I remember sitting down to watch it again when I was 40-ish and I was reluctant to watch. I've never seen the 'crab-walk' version because I'm just plain too afraid to. Again, I'm 62 yrs. old. Like Pete said, it's just too real and feels too much like you're actually living it. Also, I'm one who believes in the reality of such things taking place in the universe, and on Earth. Very honorable mention for The Sorcerer; a slow burn, but gets so intense it's almost unbearable... much like The Exorcist. Also... Jade... a very good movie and superb car chase... as good or better than the French Connection car chase. And I don't even like car chases... not sure how he was able to make them so well. I think I'll watch The Hunted again this coming weekend... I remember it being really good and I like Benicio Del Toro a lot. I think I'll re-watch To Live and Die in L.A. and Killer Joe too. Great movies!
I also wasn't that impressed when I saw it when I was young. But then as an adult it always blows me away. I think you need to be far enough removed from Regan's age to understand how innocent you were then, and therefore how innocent she is. That's when the horror of it can hit you.
Topic idea--horror performances that SHOULD have been nominated for Oscars. Tons of horror actors, directors, designers, writers, etc. have been snubbed from noms for those kinds of awards over the years. Which snubs are the biggest?
As someone from the UK, a few clarifications. You couldn’t watch the film in the UK on VHS but you was allowed to watch it legally at the cinema, because the director of the BBFC James Ferman thought you can control who watches it at the cinema unlike VHS where kids could easily access the movie. It was always shown late at night at cinemas, & I remember seeing it in the early 90s at the cinema after years of watching it on crappy bootleg & my eyes was absorbing every part of the scene that was projected on to the screen. The cinematography is stunning. With regards to the film being banned on VHS, as soon as James Ferman retired in ‘98 who was the director at the BBFC who would cut or banned films at a click of a finger. As soon as he retired, within a couple of months of the new director taking charge of the BBFC. The Exorcist, Straw Dogs, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Death Wish, the uncut version of Enter the Dragon were automatically released. The Exorcist holds a special place in my heart because when I watched it on bootleg, it felt forbidden, it felt realistic, your mind interpreted what you thought you saw when the 99th generation copy lost its tracking, & you had to re-track the VHS tape to try & get a decent picture. Kids today!!! Will never know the struggle of bootleg tapes!
How times change, I remember buying a copy of Straw Dogs from the US and within a few months it became available here, now it's gone full circle where anyone can by A Serbian film online has censorship become too relaxed now?
@@andrewcarr5923 It relaxed a lot since Ferman retired. It’s just the distributors that are the problem with asking the BBFC for a lower rating by cutting a bit of violence even though the BBFC offered them an uncut 18. Yet those cuts are carried over to the blu ray releases with the same 15 or 12 certificate. Sony & Warner are crafty & release the cut film on blu ray but release the uncut version on 4K.
Well put, Fermans sign off would haunt every film certification and was so selective about his censorship (his problem with Enter the Dragon was the nunchuks), a tiresome man who thought he knew best. But catching The Exorcist at a midnight show is something I remember well.
The distributor has to pay the BBFC to certify their film for the cinema, then when it comes out on VHS. The distributor has to pay the BBFC again for the film to be certified. Sometimes it gets a higher or lower rating. Back in the 80s & 90s the film was cut again for home video.
I was born in 73' and I saw The Exorcist in 93' at a midnight showing at a small cinema connected to the Empire theatre in Sunderland, suffice to say I never slept that night, of course I've seen it many times since in various versions but I can honestly say it still carries a strong psychological impact for me, as for the sequels there garbage other than Exorcist three which is equally chilling especially the surgical shears scene.
Imagine reading the script where it says 'The power of Christ compels you' maybe a dozen times in a row. You're bound to think 'There's no way that we can do this with a straight face' but Friedkin, Von Sydow and Miller make this work really really well. This is a horror film that transcends the genre in a similar way that The French Connection is much more than a cop movie. Friedkin was a true great..
I felt I should comment on one subject you guys brought up. You were talking about how nowadays there's a lot of merchandising related to the film. I happen to be friends with Michael Blatty, the son of William Peter Blatty, who obviously wrote the novel and screenplay and produced the film. I once asked him about the merchandising, and he said they, WPB's family, really have no say over it and don't make money off of it. Apparently, a few years before he passed, WPB had sold off some of the film/character rights. So, that aspect of it, the family has no say nor a say in any film sequels/reboots either.
Been watching a few Friedkin movies since his passing. Sorcerer (masterpiece), The French Connection (good, but not as incredible as some people say for me) and Killer Joe (absolute blast). When it comes to The Exorcist, it's probably my second favorite horror movie after An American Werewolf in London. I just get chills every time I watch it. The atmosphere is just so evil (like Davy said) and cold. Perfection.
Great analysis. Wanted to re-watch The Exorcist before commenting. With regards to Tubular Bells it is so memorable to the movie as there are only 2-3 scenes with any score involved so it really stands out. My favorite scene is when Father Dryer (a real priest) gives last rites to Father Karras. Completes the character arc that Jamie was talking about as Father Karras had his faith restored. The one negative with the movie is that it is choppy at points. I also agree that the Director's cut was annoying with all the faces. I remember watching the original on VHS back in high school and my friends and I were like "did you see that, see what, the face" and going back and pausing and being shocked and scared. Less was definitely more. I am watching Exorcist II now as I don't believe that I ever saw it. Exorcist III was good and has the one top scary scene. I also liked the TV show (2016). I thought it was a nice companion to the original movie. However, not looking forward to the new movies.
The French Connection is my favourite film of all time, if there could ever be one. It's a suspense classic. Both films are superb but FC would be my choice between the two, if it came down to it.
One funny filmography thingy : as he did some of the most memorable car chase sequences in The French Co or To Live & Die In L.A., he also did succeed making an anti-car chase sequence interesting in Jade, where David Caruso is stuck by obstacles - traffic etc. P.S. : Sorcerer is a masterpiece 🧐
i do remember it being on TV but don't think i ever watched whole thing. even on regular TV, it was one of those movies my parents still wouldn't let us watch. i probably first saw it unedited on HBO. i liked it, but it was a little ponderous for a young teen. I do remember it having some very scary scenes though. i also remember renting it with my girfriend my sr. yr. in high school. Laying on a blanket in front of the TV, and i'm pretty sure we weren't even to the scariest bits yet, and i look over and my girlfriend has her face buried in the pillow, sobbing with fright. needless to say, we had to turn it off. it has become my favorite "horror" movie of all-time (maybe "scary" movie is a better description?) but it definitely isn't just a drama.
Love the exorcist. Can you guys do more rank shows? How about ranking the lord of the rings and Star Wars. I love your guys show thank you for all the content.
I like the exorcist but William friedkin had a lot of other movies that were great too.and are very underrated. Jamie lazlo I don't know how you can say The French connection isn't good. that's an academy award winning film. Gene Hackman won the academy award for best actor. William friedkin won the academy award for best picture he was only like 27 years. old I think you should put the French connection on a rainy day sit down and really watch it and you'll see you how great it is. To live and die in LA is also great.
Not sure what Davy is referring to but I purchased an official VHS copy of The Exorcist on WB home video around '82 or so in The Uk. I don't remember it being banned or only bootleg versions being available back then. It was easily available. The WB videotape was excellent quality. Back then, to buy an official copy wasn't cheap. Around £40 which was a lot in those days. I never remember The Exorcist not being available back then. Even in cinemas, the film was still having runs. Late 70's it was released as a double bill with Exorcist 2. So I never found it considered a video nasty. I think it was most controversial when it was first released back in the early '70's.
Late response - you had a pre-certification copy, which I went into on our video nasties ep. In fact, my first sentence here, I said "it originally came out before certifications in the UK..." - which is what you had. If you could see that video now, the cover wouldn't have said 18 on the cover. The BBFC wouldn't certify the film when the Recordings Act came in, and copies of The Exorcist were withdrawn and destroyed in 84-86 or so. The next time it was on video legally was 1999.
I saw Sorcerer a few years ago and all this foreign dialog in the early part of the movie was untranslated, even going to the settings didn't offer me anything. Did I just have a poor release of it? Or is that the way it is? I got it through Netflix.
Killer Joe was great and I’m surprised you guys just breezed past The Guardian. That is a truly great and severely underrated horror film. I know supposedly a lot of the script and plot was made up on the fly but in watching the movie I never felt like it came across as this jumbled mess. It actually had a very basic and easy to understand plot (which I love) and damn was it creepy. I highly recommend revisiting that film!
Just watched last night the 50th anniversary sequel to this story. What a sh*t fest. I wasn't deterred by the negative reviews, in the end I had to see it for myself. Not even Ellen Burstyn's appearance saved this nightmare, regardless of the undignified treatment her character received (and don't get me started on Linda Blair's less than one minute cameo). A true insult to the legacy of one of the greatest films of the seventies and top 5 horror picture of all time, not to mention to the memory of a truly great director.
Not everyone gets scared by it. My father wasn't ever fazed by that film but he served in Vietnam during the first Tet Offensive so let's be honest, after something like THAT, a hollywood film isn't going to rattle his cage. What is your favorite horror film that scared you?
@@moonytheloony6516 I don't have an absolute favorite, but one that got to me was "The Blair Witch Project". I know everyone loves to hate it now, but at the time there weren't a ton of found-footage films. The fact that you don't see what happens makes it scarier to me. I'm often more scared by what I can't see than what I can see on film.
Davy's summation of this movie is A+
Thanks Rick, very kind!
Enjoy folks! Let us know your experience with The Exorcist and any other Friedkin faves!
Incredible analysis Davy.
Excellent analysis indeed. Off topic, am I the only one who couldn't get past the Hollywood teeth in Killer Joe?
Another cracking show Davy 👏
@@Rmesick-hm6yq Thank you!
Too kind@@nigelelliott4901 - I was OK with it. You cast stars..you get that.
RIP William Friedkin (1935-2023). May your creative work carry on for generations to come!
I love the way Davy breaks down a film. He's informed and not pretentious. He's passionate without being irritating. Monster's Den is consistently my favourite SoT show. The panel is astutely selected, each party complimenting the other.. Thank you for your generous company, gentlemen.
Too kind, thank you!
Exorcist
French Connection
Cruising
Sorcerer
Live and die in LA.
Rip Mr. Friedkin
Those quick shots of that devil face still get to me. I showed the film to my girls when they were late teenagers and they didn't say anything while watching it. They were impressed. It's still a classic.
I watched it with my daughter when she was 14. She's the only person to have ever made me laugh while watching the movie by making candid observations....
The first was the scene where the young priest is interviewing Regan as the demon...my daughter asked out loud "Why doesn't he just shoot her?"
I didn't see that coming...
The second comment was the scene as the young priest walks in the room to find Regan untied from her bed, and Father Marin dead...in a tone of sarcasm she said "well that's wonderful...."
This is what happens when two atheists watch The Exorcist....it's a classic.
The first time I saw "The Exorcist" I was seven. My older brother and I were being babysat at apparently the most irresponsible babysitter ever's house. She put it on for us and her two kids, and gradually through the night they all fell asleep, so I was sat there scared out of my mind watching it alone in the dark. Still the scariest night of my life. Top ten all-time movie for me.
"Bug," "Killer Joe" and "Cruising" are all batshit insane movies.
Davy, yes, I think this is one of the things people miss about the movie is that in the end, it is about hope and good triumphs over evil.
Thanks very much as always!
Thanks to Davey for a really thorough overview with depth and insights! ❤ 100% agree! The French Connection is an iconic piece of cinema, too.
Too kind, thank you!
The Exorcist is an absolute classic, just watched the French Connection last night for the first time, also amazing, just got a copy of To Live and Die in LA today, and waiting for my copy of Sorcerer to arrive, really excited to watch those. R.I.P. William Friedkin
Best movie ever. The more and more I watch it the better it gets. It’s also a film my father and I share and always watch together. Love it
Don't forget Cruising!
I think it's healthy for some of us to forget about cruising...jk
I think my favorite Friedkin film was ‘The French Connection’ (1971)
R.I.P. William Friedkin
One thing I loved about uk video shops back in the late 70s,they always had the banned stuff behind the counter..
But loved the pacing and unpredictabilty of the film, that immersion which keeps you hooked from start to finish.
TCM had a Friedkin tribute last night. No Exorcist, BUT, they showed Boys in the Band. One of the most quotable movies ever.
"The Exorcist" is definitely a horror classic, and one of my favorite films in any genre, period, but there is another Friedkin-directed film, 2006's "Bug," that I love *almost* as much. "Bug" is not a work of supernatural horror, but it is deeply, seriously, disturbing psychological horror. I've only seen it twice, years ago, but it still haunts my memories.
Loved the episode! One Friedkin gem I must call out is Cruising! A controversial classic. They discussed it on Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary's podcast with Eli Roth and called it an American giallo which I thought was an interesting take.
I think it has giallo influences in the aesthetics but not so much the script. Cheers!
One of the Scariest Movies of All Time
Yes, still is such a masterpiece.
Sorry Jamie The French Connection is a classic!
Great discussion. I saw it in the theaters when I was a kid. Scared me shitless.
Cheers!
Love the Den. You all give a positive review...but none just repeat the others. From Pete seeing it so recently on the big screen to Chris' mother to Davy's critical evaluation and Dan's memories from the time this is why the Den is the best.
Please, please, please never add anyone or remove anyone, this is the CREW.
Lol. Kinda like Chris, my mom went out and saw it, came home and felt a cold draft coming from under the door i was sleeping in. I was just a baby at the time
Probably my favorite film of all-time and absolutely a horror classic. A masterpiece.
I saw the Exorcist in 1973 at age 22 at the Grand Theater in Oakland, CA, one of those old, ornate showcase theaters from Hollywood's Golden Era--only one main floor with plush red seats and a balcony (it was later divided into a four-screen theater). Mr. Gallagher echoes exactly the thoughts I had when this MD episode started. The times were already majorly fucked up, there was a lot of post-60s paranoia, and religious faith was being challenged by the culture. I also strongly believe that my Christian upbringing, and Catholic school education from the elementary grades on, lent a layer of dread and terror to this film that might not have been so profound had I not been thoroughly schooled in the hopeless horror of Satan. All time best for me.
Thanks for the kind words!
Killer Joe is a major late-career gem, in my opinion. It is so singularly nasty, colorful, and gallows-humor hilarious, and brilliantly acted.
Totally agree, you could say Joe is a horror figure like Robert Mitchum in Night of the Hunter.
Totally, just watched it about a month ago and it's a blast!
I still remember watching it with my great aunt when I was 5, but my next 13 years in and out of state hospitals were a little less memorable.
In high school a bunch of us snuck off to see The Exorcist while on a two day trip to the Illinois State basketball championships. Scared the crap out of me. Never had a big desire to see it again as the images are burned in my mind. French Connection is very close, but Sorcerer is my favorite Friedkin film.
"Can you help an old altar boy, Father?"
My father’s two younger sisters. Took my Grandmother to see this in the theater. Fifty years ago.
Nice shirt Chris!
Just got some tickets to see it at a local theatre this October along with Carrie
When I first saw this at a slumber party in 1997, I said "this is the first and last time I will ever watch this", because I was so frightened. I have watched it every year near Halloween since then. Now, I think of it as a sad family drama. That's why it's so scary, and still holds up.
Saw it at the drive-in years later when it was re-released as a double feature with 'The Eyes of Laura Mars'. Have to admit that night didn't fall asleep till the sun came up. The sound seemed more diabolical coming through the little drive-in speaker.😬
The Exorcist was a masterpiece. I too saw the original theatrical release. Have only watched it one time since. But you should watch “The Exorcism of Emily Rose.” Another good film; but not quite as good as The Exorcist. Linda Blair was amazing. I read the book years earlier than the film as a kid. Freaky!
The Exorcist, the Shining and Pet cemetery ..The movies that really scared the sh*t out of me.
Fantastic! Thank you guys, I like to hear your opinions on great directors such as this man. Long live The Monster’s Den.
Great show, I'm with Jamie on the To Live and Die in LA over French Connection, Freidkin trumped himself with the car chase
Friedkin was one of the most knowledgeable and interesting movie directors and really knew his stuff. Check out any of the interviews or his film commentaries on TH-cam. His take on Hitchcock's classic Vertigo is a great place to start. RIP Bill Friedkin.
I was 8 when it hit the theaters. First time I watched the original (unedited for TV) was probably on cable. We had cable before a VCR. I was about 16. Yes, definitely freaked me out the first time. But., still thought it was one of the best movies I ever saw. I think it stands up through the tests of time, without a doubt. Besides watching it a # of times, I've read the book at least 3 times too. They stayed true to the book, for the most part. It explained things too which slipped by me in the movie. 1 example is, when kinderman picked up the clay turtle Regan made, it was to scraped off a little of the clay with his thumbnail. When he got to the car and grabbed that envelope, he scraped the clay out from beneath his nail and put it in the envelope. He did that so they could compare the clay to the clay used on the desecration in the church. Another thing, when she does the spider walk, she chases Sharon around, licking her heals.
*Edit: After Chris mentioned the TV version, I remembered watching that first. I was about 15 for that. The only thing they cut out for that was the swear words and the crucifix scene, pretty much.
The greatest, darkest and scariest horror film of ALL TIME...
Great show guys :) Friedkin is often overlooked but he should be mentioned along with any of the 70’s “movie brat” directors (Scorsese, Spielberg, Altman, Ashby, etc) - I’m not a big horror buff but this movie is definitely a top tier entry: The opening archaeological scene where Father Merrin is facing off with the evil artifact in the desert is one of the greatest visual representations of good vs evil ever put down on film….
He was terrific, and every bit as worthy as any of the Easy Riders-Raging Bull generation. Cheers!
I'm 62... I've seen The Exorcist two or three times. I don't remember the first time... I think I psychologically obscured it from my mind. I remember sitting down to watch it again when I was 40-ish and I was reluctant to watch. I've never seen the 'crab-walk' version because I'm just plain too afraid to. Again, I'm 62 yrs. old. Like Pete said, it's just too real and feels too much like you're actually living it. Also, I'm one who believes in the reality of such things taking place in the universe, and on Earth. Very honorable mention for The Sorcerer; a slow burn, but gets so intense it's almost unbearable... much like The Exorcist. Also... Jade... a very good movie and superb car chase... as good or better than the French Connection car chase. And I don't even like car chases... not sure how he was able to make them so well. I think I'll watch The Hunted again this coming weekend... I remember it being really good and I like Benicio Del Toro a lot. I think I'll re-watch To Live and Die in L.A. and Killer Joe too. Great movies!
I also wasn't that impressed when I saw it when I was young. But then as an adult it always blows me away. I think you need to be far enough removed from Regan's age to understand how innocent you were then, and therefore how innocent she is. That's when the horror of it can hit you.
Topic idea--horror performances that SHOULD have been nominated for Oscars. Tons of horror actors, directors, designers, writers, etc. have been snubbed from noms for those kinds of awards over the years. Which snubs are the biggest?
From previous eps, a couple of the guys at least could care less for Oscars. Chris and Davey in particular went off on them.
As someone from the UK, a few clarifications. You couldn’t watch the film in the UK on VHS but you was allowed to watch it legally at the cinema, because the director of the BBFC James Ferman thought you can control who watches it at the cinema unlike VHS where kids could easily access the movie.
It was always shown late at night at cinemas, & I remember seeing it in the early 90s at the cinema after years of watching it on crappy bootleg & my eyes was absorbing every part of the scene that was projected on to the screen.
The cinematography is stunning.
With regards to the film being banned on VHS, as soon as James Ferman retired in ‘98 who was the director at the BBFC who would cut or banned films at a click of a finger.
As soon as he retired, within a couple of months of the new director taking charge of the BBFC. The Exorcist, Straw Dogs, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Death Wish, the uncut version of Enter the Dragon were automatically released.
The Exorcist holds a special place in my heart because when I watched it on bootleg, it felt forbidden, it felt realistic, your mind interpreted what you thought you saw when the 99th generation copy lost its tracking, & you had to re-track the VHS tape to try & get a decent picture.
Kids today!!! Will never know the struggle of bootleg tapes!
How times change, I remember buying a copy of Straw Dogs from the US and within a few months it became available here, now it's gone full circle where anyone can by A Serbian film online has censorship become too relaxed now?
@@andrewcarr5923
It relaxed a lot since Ferman retired.
It’s just the distributors that are the problem with asking the BBFC for a lower rating by cutting a bit of violence even though the BBFC offered them an uncut 18.
Yet those cuts are carried over to the blu ray releases with the same 15 or 12 certificate.
Sony & Warner are crafty & release the cut film on blu ray but release the uncut version on 4K.
Well put, Fermans sign off would haunt every film certification and was so selective about his censorship (his problem with Enter the Dragon was the nunchuks), a tiresome man who thought he knew best.
But catching The Exorcist at a midnight show is something I remember well.
So there are different deals for home video and cinema? I know Davey was talking about VHS - so it can be banned for the home and yet shown on screen?
The distributor has to pay the BBFC to certify their film for the cinema, then when it comes out on VHS. The distributor has to pay the BBFC again for the film to be certified. Sometimes it gets a higher or lower rating.
Back in the 80s & 90s the film was cut again for home video.
I was born in 73' and I saw The Exorcist in 93' at a midnight showing at a small cinema connected to the Empire theatre in Sunderland, suffice to say I never slept that night, of course I've seen it many times since in various versions but I can honestly say it still carries a strong psychological impact for me, as for the sequels there garbage other than Exorcist three which is equally chilling especially the surgical shears scene.
Best show! Greates film!
I recently watched Exorcist two after decades of not seeing it and I liked it.
The Exorcist will always be my fav horror fil of all time. Nothing can come close to it.
Imagine reading the script where it says 'The power of Christ compels you' maybe a dozen times in a row. You're bound to think 'There's no way that we can do this with a straight face' but Friedkin, Von Sydow and Miller make this work really really well. This is a horror film that transcends the genre in a similar way that The French Connection is much more than a cop movie. Friedkin was a true great..
I've got a movie called Jesus Christ: Vampire Killer. The tagline is "The power of Christ impales you"! Cheers!
I felt I should comment on one subject you guys brought up. You were talking about how nowadays there's a lot of merchandising related to the film. I happen to be friends with Michael Blatty, the son of William Peter Blatty, who obviously wrote the novel and screenplay and produced the film. I once asked him about the merchandising, and he said they, WPB's family, really have no say over it and don't make money off of it. Apparently, a few years before he passed, WPB had sold off some of the film/character rights. So, that aspect of it, the family has no say nor a say in any film sequels/reboots either.
Been watching a few Friedkin movies since his passing. Sorcerer (masterpiece), The French Connection (good, but not as incredible as some people say for me) and Killer Joe (absolute blast). When it comes to The Exorcist, it's probably my second favorite horror movie after An American Werewolf in London. I just get chills every time I watch it. The atmosphere is just so evil (like Davy said) and cold. Perfection.
Great analysis. Wanted to re-watch The Exorcist before commenting. With regards to Tubular Bells it is so memorable to the movie as there are only 2-3 scenes with any score involved so it really stands out. My favorite scene is when Father Dryer (a real priest) gives last rites to Father Karras. Completes the character arc that Jamie was talking about as Father Karras had his faith restored. The one negative with the movie is that it is choppy at points. I also agree that the Director's cut was annoying with all the faces. I remember watching the original on VHS back in high school and my friends and I were like "did you see that, see what, the face" and going back and pausing and being shocked and scared. Less was definitely more. I am watching Exorcist II now as I don't believe that I ever saw it. Exorcist III was good and has the one top scary scene. I also liked the TV show (2016). I thought it was a nice companion to the original movie. However, not looking forward to the new movies.
Pazuzu is an ancient name of a demon,it's image used in the film was based on an Assyrian sculpture.
Sure but it still demystifies when given a name.
The French Connection is my favourite film of all time, if there could ever be one. It's a suspense classic. Both films are superb but FC would be my choice between the two, if it came down to it.
My actual Friedkin fav is To Live & Die in L.A., but obviously Exorcist as well as French Connection are great too.
To live and die in LA was fantastic
One of best chases around still on film from the 80s
Watched TL&DiLA again the other night, very good film.
One funny filmography thingy : as he did some of the most memorable car chase sequences in The French Co or To Live & Die In L.A., he also did succeed making an anti-car chase sequence interesting in Jade, where David Caruso is stuck by obstacles - traffic etc.
P.S. : Sorcerer is a masterpiece 🧐
🌠Classic Movie ...
The one thing I can say about watching The Exorcist is that you, the viewer, are very aware that you are very alive.
i do remember it being on TV but don't think i ever watched whole thing. even on regular TV, it was one of those movies my parents still wouldn't let us watch. i probably first saw it unedited on HBO. i liked it, but it was a little ponderous for a young teen. I do remember it having some very scary scenes though. i also remember renting it with my girfriend my sr. yr. in high school. Laying on a blanket in front of the TV, and i'm pretty sure we weren't even to the scariest bits yet, and i look over and my girlfriend has her face buried in the pillow, sobbing with fright. needless to say, we had to turn it off.
it has become my favorite "horror" movie of all-time (maybe "scary" movie is a better description?) but it definitely isn't just a drama.
Love the exorcist. Can you guys do more rank shows? How about ranking the lord of the rings and Star Wars. I love your guys show thank you for all the content.
Both October shows are ranking eps!
I like the exorcist but William friedkin had a lot of other movies that were great too.and are very underrated. Jamie lazlo I don't know how you can say The French connection isn't good. that's an academy award winning film. Gene Hackman won the academy award for best actor. William friedkin won the academy award for best picture he was only like 27 years. old I think you should put the French connection on a rainy day sit down and really watch it and you'll see you how great it is. To live and die in LA is also great.
Not sure what Davy is referring to but I purchased an official VHS copy of The Exorcist on WB home video around '82 or so in The Uk. I don't remember it being banned or only bootleg versions being available back then. It was easily available. The WB videotape was excellent quality. Back then, to buy an official copy wasn't cheap. Around £40 which was a lot in those days. I never remember The Exorcist not being available back then. Even in cinemas, the film was still having runs. Late 70's it was released as a double bill with Exorcist 2. So I never found it considered a video nasty. I think it was most controversial when it was first released back in the early '70's.
Late response - you had a pre-certification copy, which I went into on our video nasties ep. In fact, my first sentence here, I said "it originally came out before certifications in the UK..." - which is what you had. If you could see that video now, the cover wouldn't have said 18 on the cover. The BBFC wouldn't certify the film when the Recordings Act came in, and copies of The Exorcist were withdrawn and destroyed in 84-86 or so. The next time it was on video legally was 1999.
I was 5 when i seen it on CBS.
I saw Sorcerer a few years ago and all this foreign dialog in the early part of the movie was untranslated, even going to the settings didn't offer me anything. Did I just have a poor release of it? Or is that the way it is? I got it through Netflix.
Killer Joe was great and I’m surprised you guys just breezed past The Guardian. That is a truly great and severely underrated horror film. I know supposedly a lot of the script and plot was made up on the fly but in watching the movie I never felt like it came across as this jumbled mess. It actually had a very basic and easy to understand plot (which I love) and damn was it creepy. I highly recommend revisiting that film!
Just watched last night the 50th anniversary sequel to this story. What a sh*t fest. I wasn't deterred by the negative reviews, in the end I had to see it for myself. Not even Ellen Burstyn's appearance saved this nightmare, regardless of the undignified treatment her character received (and don't get me started on Linda Blair's less than one minute cameo). A true insult to the legacy of one of the greatest films of the seventies and top 5 horror picture of all time, not to mention to the memory of a truly great director.
Gregory Hines was in Deal of the Century, not Pryor.
I saw the original in the theater 2 weeks ago and it was epic. I also saw the new one the other day and it completely sucked!
who has seen Seytan, a Turkish remake of the Exocist, its so cheap looking and pretty bad but is worth a look , it came out in 1974.
An almost scene for scene ripoff. Legendary. Beyond the door is the best of the ripoffs
Nothing on Cruising?
Are you looking for dudes??? Jk 😂😜
Did anyone watch the TV series?
I watched the entire first season. It wasn't bad. There were elements of the story that I enjoyed and others not as much. Overall it wasn't bad.
I was so distracted by Geena Davis' plastic surgery!
😄👍
Rather static movie, not really scary. Not bad, not an icon movie for me.
It's a horror film.
Don't think the Exorcist is that scary
To live n die in l.a. is a great movie. Except for the ending. Total downer...
I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t like “The Exorcist” at all. It takes way too long to get going, and never scared me.
Not everyone gets scared by it. My father wasn't ever fazed by that film but he served in Vietnam during the first Tet Offensive so let's be honest, after something like THAT, a hollywood film isn't going to rattle his cage.
What is your favorite horror film that scared you?
Its Exorcist 3 that freaks me out
@@moonytheloony6516 I don't have an absolute favorite, but one that got to me was "The Blair Witch Project". I know everyone loves to hate it now, but at the time there weren't a ton of found-footage films. The fact that you don't see what happens makes it scarier to me. I'm often more scared by what I can't see than what I can see on film.
"Bug" is a horror film too!🫡