Capital Celluloid 2020 — Day 110: Sat Oct 31

The Exorcist (Friedkin, 1973): Prince Charles Cinema, 8.30pm

The Exorcist (35mm) extended cut is on at the Prince Charles from Friday October 30th to November 4th. You can find the full details here.

Chicago Reader review: "Doubtless this tale of spirit possession in Georgetown packs a punch, but so does wood alcohol," wrote Reader critic Don Druker in an earlier review of this. I wouldn't be quite so dismissive: as a key visual source for Mel Gibson's depiction of evil in The Passion of the Christ, as well as an early indication of how seriously pulp can be taken when religious faith is involved, this 1973 horror thriller is highly instructive as well as unnerving. William Friedkin, directing William Peter Blatty's adaptation of his own novel, aims for the jugular, privileging sensation over sense and such showbiz standbys as vomit and obscenity over plodding exposition. Jonathan Rosenbaum

Here and above is the original trailer.

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