The Exorcist 1973

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: I loved it. Read more

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: The Exorcist, like most memorable Hollywood movies, gains its power from the way it mixes opposites: new-style realism and sexual radicalism, old-style horror and religion. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: When I first saw The Exorcist, I saw only the literal side of the story. But as I watched it again, I began to view the movie as a dark fairy tale about a parent whose child is experiencing a painful trauma. Read more

Desmond Ryan, Philadelphia Inquirer: The Exorcist, with its excellent cast, mounting intensity, and ingeniously constructed surprises, is still a commanding achievement. Read more

Vincent Canby, New York Times: The Exorcist is not an unintelligently put-together film, which makes one all the more impatient with it. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Von Sydow, Blair and Mercedes McCambridge (the originally uncredited actress who dubbed Regan's gross mutterings) are flat-out terrific. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: This 1973 horror thriller is highly instructive as well as unnerving. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Some movies aren't just movies. They're closer to voodoo -- they channel currents larger and more powerful than themselves. Read more

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News: The movie that launched a new era in horror films, and which, for one generation, remains one of the scariest experiences of their lives. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: There is nothing dated about The Exorcist, which remains an effective excursion into demonic possession more than a quarter of a century after it was first unveiled to the public. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: If movies are, among other things, opportunities for escapism, then The Exorcist is one of the most powerful ever made. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: There's something elemental about The Exorcist. Read more

Jay Cocks, TIME Magazine: Friedkin and Blatty seem to care nothing for their characters as people, only as victims-props to be abused, hurled about the room, beaten and, in one case, brutally murdered. Read more

Chris Peachment, Time Out: Aall The Exorcist does is take its audience for a ride, spewing it out the other end, shaken up but none the wiser. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: It's good stuff but, basically, The Exorcist is a museum piece, something to be enjoyed for its historical value, its datedness and its almost quaint shock value. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: An expert telling of a supernatural horror story. Read more