Oct 26 2023
New Story #8
This article was about “The Exorcist”, a 1973 film. The article highlights the dispute between the director, William Friedkin, and the screenwriter, William Peter Blatty, over its meaning. Blatty, a devout Catholic, wanted to emphasize the religious aspect, while Friedkin preferred ambiguity and cut out some scenes. Blatty was upset, but the changes were implemented anyway. Later, the director restored the cuts as a gift. The original version is scarier and more thought-provoking, as it keeps things mysterious. The article then describes the film, saying that it deals with various fears, including the supernatural, medical issues, and faith. The clash between Blatty and Friedkin’s visions added to the film’s power, it says. It shows that sometimes, great art comes from compromising one’s original vision. I would say the article is pretty unbiased considering it shows both sides of the story. I also didn’t know all the interesting reactions to the movie when it first came out.
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/10/17/movies/the-exorcist-50th-anniversary.html
Hope you’re feeling better, Casey.
It’s interesting how times have changed. The Exorcist was “leading edge” for its day. Shocking. Partly because Linda Blair was so young. People today would likely yawn. Not enough blood.
As someone who read the book, the movie does take out much of the more graphic content.