The Exorcist tells the now-famous story of a girl’s demonic possession, and a gripping fight between good and evil. Linda Blair, in a breakout role, plays Regan, a young girl who starts to exhibit strange, arcane behavior. Her mother (Burstyn) calls upon a priest, Father Karras (Miller), to investigate. But Karras, who has a spiritual crisis of his own, is suddenly confronted with the unimaginable evil of Regan’s possession. Father Lankester Merrin (Von Sydow), an archeologist-priest, is called to help, and a horrific battle for her soul begins.

For thoughts on The Exorcist, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

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Video Quality

Warner Bros. presents The Exorcist with an occasionally fantastic, yet flawed 2160p transfer in its original aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K master of both the Theatrical Cut and the Extended Director’s Cut on separate discs in HDR10. Both of these cuts share nearly identical qualities, so they will be discussed as a pair. There are no Blu-Ray discs included in this set, but we are able to make comparisons to previous Blu-Ray versions in our collection. While there does not appear to be anything technically wrong with this disc, there are issues when it comes to director William Friedkin’s penchant for tweaking his movies for the worse prior to his recent passing. His landmark film was previously altered in terms of color timing with the previous Blu-Ray release, and most of those issues persist on 4K UHD with some additional flaws exacerbated by the HDR.

This new 4K UHD presentation is a tremendous update when it comes to about 75% of the movie. When the movie is being presented as it was originally captured, this disc offers up a lovely amount of natural film grain with few moments appearing tweaked. Within the various environments, you will be bowled over by how much distinct texture you will find in the production design, the makeup effects and more. This disc mostly preserves the specifics of each environmental change with care. When you are looking at the daytime exteriors of Georgetown, you will be struck by the sumptuous colors and overall pleasantness of the imagery. If only this had been the entire movie, this could be in contention for one of the releases of the year.

The issues with this presentation do not just boil down to disagreements about color timing, but rather how they are implemented. Arguably the crux of the movie, the iconic exorcism scene, has been criticized for the blue tint applied to it previously, but where things really go awry is in the near-absence of film grain and manipulation of the image for a very filtered, unnatural experience. Within these scenes, the transfer also falls victim to some black crush and other digital anomalies. Along those lines, the implementation of HDR does not always play well with the over-saturation of certain hues, often making colors appear unnatural or highlights bloom. Once again, this is not simply a case of a mismanaged disc, but rather a misguided aesthetic tweaking by a director who could have simply left his masterpiece alone. Print damage is at least not an issue in the slightest here, as the source has been kept in good condition.

As (rightfully) harsh as the previous observation may be, most casual fans will likely find the new 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of The Exorcist to be a stunning presentation – and it largely is. Yet, those who are sensitive to digital manipulation or differences from the original theatrical look of the film may call for these discs to be burned. The truth lies somewhere in the middle; Warner Bros. will hopefully release another (actually) definitive release in the future, but if this is the end of the line then we are left with a mixed bag. Outside of a handful of scenes, this is a marvelous presentation for fans, and perhaps “mostly great” will be good enough for you.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs come with a formidable Dolby Atmos mix, along with the original theatrical DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track exclusive to the Theatrical Cut which both hold up very well. Those looking for a more pure audio experience will really appreciate the split mono track which balances all of the elements well with barely a hint of fragility at its peaks. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear in both mixes even when the thrills ratchet up. Creepy environmental noises are given a precise placement within the mix.

The Dolby Atmos track may not have artistic purity on its side, but it will likely get the vote for any audiophiles taking it for a spin. In comparison to the mono track, the Atmos track offers firmer stability which allows fidelity to never falter. The low end of the track adds incredible weight to certain notable moments, bringing a quality to this track you have probably never experienced before. Speaking of, the engagement of the height channels is stellar as it carries the core of certain sounds while expanding the soundscape in unsettling ways. The iconic score emanates without a hint of damage as it adds so much to the thematic impact of the film. Warner Bros. has provided a top-notch audio experience for this one. English SDH and an array of non-English subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

Disc One (Original Theatrical Version)

Audio Commentary #1: Director William Friedkin provides a great commentary track that delves deep into the history of the production, experiences shooting on location, changes made from the novel, religious history, the challenges faced during production, the performances, the look of the film and more. Friedkin is a wealth of information that fans will love listening to.

Audio Commentary #2: Writer William Peter Blatty takes a less focused approach with his commentary track as he muses on the themes of the picture, what led him to write The Exorcist and more.

Introduction: A two-minute archival introduction from Director William Friedkin who discusses the legacy of the film, the audience response over the years and more.

Disc Two (Extended Director’s Cut)

Audio Commentary #3: Director William Friedkin provides a different commentary track than the one on the first disc which touches quite a bit on the changes made to this cut of the film, his reasons for including certain scenes, the themes of the picture, and more that is never light on anecdotes.

Final Thoughts

The Exorcist is the undisputed classic in the world of horror for many, and it is difficult to disagree with that sentiment. Director William Friedkin brought a sense of thematic weight and respectability which few audience members of the time thought the genre could ever offer. The story is the focus of the film, and from there the horror begins to conjure. The performances are on another level of quality, and the feature is littered with iconic moments that are impossible to forget. It has endured for 50 years, and it will undoubtedly endure for 50 more. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a complicated A/V presentation and a sad selection of archival special features (on disc – the full slate of special features can be accessed digitally with the included digital copy). This new presentation is not quite as definitive as fans deserve, but it will do for now. Recommended

The Exorcist is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.