For more than fifteen years, Police Lieutenant Kinderman (George C. Scott) has been haunted by the death of his friend Father Damien Karras. Now, on the 15th anniversary of the exorcism that claimed the priest’s life, Kinderman’s world is once again shattered when a boy is found decapitated and savagely crucified. It’s just the beginning of a nightmare series of bizarre religious murders.

When a psychopath claiming to be the infamous Gemini Killer admits responsibility for all the murders, Kinderman is confronted with a horrifying truth that he cannot begin to explain … the man does know intimate details that only the true killer could possibly know. There’s only one problem … the Gemini Killer died in the electric chair fifteen years ago!

The Exorcist III is author/filmmaker William Peter Blatty’s vision of what followed after The Exorcist. Also included in this set is Legion, a Director’s Cut of the film long thought lost.

For thoughts on The Exorcist III, please check out my piece on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/dxlcPGipsSw?t=51]

Video Quality

Scream Factory presents the theatrical cut of The Exorcist III with a stunning 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. The previous Blu-Ray release was derived from a 2K scan of the interpositive, which means the transfer is improved beyond increased resolution and HDR. The previous release was no slouch, but this one improves upon it in every way.

The level of detail and clarity is stunning with an excellent amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves nearly flawlessly with nothing ever feeling clumpy even during the smoky or murky environments. The texture on display in the ghastly makeup, the outfits and within the production design are a sight to behold. The special effects present with impressive clarity that makes the work all the more visceral, especially as the exorcism begins. Virtually all print damage has been eliminated with nary a scratch to be found. This presentation is true to the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more stark and natural. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances.

A key aspect of the disc is the application of Dolby Vision/HDR for increased color output that will surprise with its depth and nuance. While the film takes place in shadowy environments and during the night for extended portions of the narrative, there is a world of nuance to be found during the daytime scenes in the open air. The new presentation features some colors in the production design and effects that pops off the screen with a searing intensity. Lighting is used to establish the mood of this film and this disc handles every slight environmental change with ease. The black levels are outstanding with nothing in the way of crush present, and white levels are firm with no evidence of blooming. This presentation is a top-tier effort from the team at Scream Factory.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 and 5.1 Master Audio tracks which bring this film back to its original glory. The previous release had an audio presentation which did not satisfy fans, but things sound pretty great here. From the very opening moments, the new track provides a powerful soundscape that captures the artistic intent with a fidelity that is accurately maintained. The environmental sounds such as nurses chatting in the background and sporadic moments of goopy violence renders well alongside everything else.

The score has never sounded richer and is used impeccably to establish the mood of the story. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. There does not seem to be any major instances of age-related wear and tear. Scream Factory has treated the audio with the respect it deserves. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

Disc Two (Blu-Ray – Theatrical Cut)

Theatrical Cut (1:49:58)

Vintage Featurette: A seven-minute piece which focuses heavily on the legacy of the original film and how director William Peter Blatty is continuing his terrifying vision. There are some good interviews with George C. Scott and various others that highlight the efforts put in by everyone to create an effective story.

Photo Galleries: This disc provides a Behind-The-Scenes Photo Gallery, Posters & Lobby Cards Gallery, and a Still Gallery.

Trailers: There are three trailers totaling five minutes provided here.

TV Spots: There are six TV spots totaling two and a half minutes.

Deleted Scenes, Alternate Takes and Bloopers: There is six minutes worth of unused footage provided here including an alternative confessional murder scene and nurse attack, bloopers and more.

Deleted Prologue: A nearly three-minute unused prologue is provided here which more directly calls back to the original film and the death that haunts Kinderman.

Vintage Interviews: A 39-minute collection of interviews with William Peter Blatty, producer James Robinson, Larry King, C. Everett Koop, Ed Flanders, George C. Scott, Grand L. Bush, production designer Leslie Dilley and more. It is great to hear from figures who might not normally get to give some insight into the production process.

Radio Spots: Five radio spots totaling four minutes are provided here.

Disc Three (Blu-Ray – Director’s Cut)

Legion – William Peter Blatty’s Director’s Cut (1:44:58): This rare alternate version of the film approved by the director is presented using inserts from VHS dailies and footage from the interpositive for select scenes unique to this cut. The footage is very rough in quality, but it is really cool we got to see this version of the film in the first place.

Audio Interview with Director/Writer William Peter Blatty: A terrific audio interview with Blatty hosted by Michael Felsher of Red Shirt Pictures conducted in 2016 which plays as an audio track underneath the film. Not only does Blatty delve into the creation and release of The Exorcist III, but he also discusses his transition from comedic filmmaking to author of the original landmark Exorcist novel. You get some unfiltered thoughts on how being associated with this property has impacted his life plus so many fascinating anecdotes that fans will eat up.

A “Wonderfull” Time: A nearly 25-minute first installment in a making-of documentary featuring interviews with composer Barry Devorzon; producer Carter DeHaven; actor Brad Dourif, Clifford David and Tracy Thorne; make-up effects artists Mike Smithson, William Forsche, Brian Wade; production designer Leslie Dilley; and many more artists who provide some fantastic insights into the production process.

Signs Of The Gemini: A more focused 18-minute second installment featuring an interview with actor Brad Dourif about his role as The Gemini Killer in which he discusses why the original performer could not reprise the role, why the role made him uncomfortable, Blatty’s hatred of The Exorcist II, working with George C. Scott, working through the character with Blatty, and much more.

The Devil In The Details: The 18-minute third installment focuses largely on the design aspect of the film including location scouting, production design, bringing Blatty’s vision to life, the most memorable sequences and more.

Music For A Padded Cell: The 15-minute fourth installment features an interview with composer Barry Devorzon who discusses his career and work on creating an iconic sound for this film.

All This Bleeding: The final 29-minute installment explores all the juicy drama that happened during production which greatly changed Blatty’s vision for the film and how this unfolded on set. You always have to appreciate getting the dirt from those involved with the project.

Final Thoughts

The Exorcist III is a really great example of how to continue a horror franchise while allowing it to evolve – to an extent. William Peter Blatty had a really unique idea on where to take this story, and the studio allowed him to do it until they felt threatened by the lack of a perceived hook. The film is moody and steeped in character, and not even the sudden shift in tone in the third act can completely derail this very entertaining film. George C. Scott is a really terrific focal point for this story, and Brad Dourif is appropriately creepy in the antagonistic role. This film is a terrific addition to the franchise. Scream Factory has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a 5-star A/V presentation and an assortment of special features that are not to be missed. Even if you already own this one on Blu-Ray, you owe it to yourself to upgrade and see this film in the best presentation possible. Highly Recommended

The Exorcist III (Collector’s Edition) will be available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack on March 28, 2023.

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

Disclaimer: Scream Factory 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.