The Exorcist, originally released in 1973, was re-released in 2000, with 11 minutes of extra footage that had been censored in the original release. It also featured a digitally enhanced version of the Oscar winning sound by Chris Newman.
The Exorcist begins with Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow) on an archaeological dig in Iraq. A series of unsettling and ominous incidents occur, culminating in the unearthing of a little statue of a demonic figure.
Meanwhile in Washington, DC, a successful actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is filming her new move with director Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran). At the same time, a young priest Damien Karras (Jason Miller) is fighting inner conflict as his faith in God dwindles each time he sees his ailing mother suffer.
Chris’ house in the upscale Georgetown neighborhood begins to witness strange occurrences. Her daughter Regan shows signs of eccentric behavior and complains about depression and anxiety. Medical tests reveal nothing. She is taken to a psychiatrist but ends up attacking the psychiatrist during the session.
The story of The Exorcist picks up pace, as the paranormal incidents increase in frequency and intensity culminating in the death of Dennings, who supposedly commits suicide by throwing himself out of a window while visiting Chris at her house. His body is found dead by Lieutenant Kinderman (Lee J.Cobb) at the edge of the stairs outside the house with his head fully twisted around his shoulders. Later Regan attacks her mother and injures her. The doctors are unable to assess Regan’s medical condition and reluctantly recommend an exorcism.
Chris turns to Father Karras for help. He is a priest and a psychiatrist, so he monitors Regan who by now is referring to herself as the Devil. He believes her to be suffering psychosis but changes his mind when he hears her speak in English backwards and sees “Help me” rise on the skin of her abdomen as if written in her own handwriting. He approaches the Church and seeks consent to conduct an exorcism. The Church agrees to send Father Merrin, an experienced exorcist, to assist Karras. Father Merrin has previously conducted an exorcism “which nearly killed him” according to the Bishop.
The two priests prepare to battle the demon possessing Regan in an exorcism ritual. The demon spirit is at its full strength. It hurls obscenities, levitates, vomits, jeers and attacks them in every way possible to break their spirit. The possessed child speaks in the voice of Karras’ recently deceased mother. This disturbs him and breaks him down to some extent. Merrin insists that Karras take a break while he continues the ritual alone. After a while he goes back to the room alone to continue with the exorcism.
Karras returns a little while later and finds Father Merrin on the floor, dead from a heart attack. He rushes to Regan and grabs her. He yells at the demon to enter him and leave the child. As soon as the demon transfers to Karras’ body, he jumps out of the window and kills himself. Father Dyers, who happens to be there, performs the last rites for Karras. Regan recovers a few days later but doesn’t remember anything. Shortly after her recovery, Chris and Regan leave town. The Exorcist ends on a note of poignant reflection when Chris gives a silver medallion to Father Dyer which belonged to Father Karras before they leave. The medallion had been taken by Regan from Father Karras when they were struggling during the exorcism.
