The Exorcist

PLOT

Lankester Merrin, a veteran Catholic priest who performed an exorcism in the 1950s, is on an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hatra in Iraq. There he finds an amulet that resembles Pazuzu, a demon of ancient origins with whose history Merrin is familiar.

In Georgetown, actress Chris MacNeil is living on location with her 12-year-old daughter Regan; she is starring in a film about student activism directed by her friend and associate Burke Dennings. After playing with a Ouija board and contacting a supposedly imaginary friend whom she calls Captain Howdy, Regan begins acting strangely, using obscene language, and exhibiting abnormal strength; additionally, there is poltergeist-like activity in the home at night. Chris hosts a party, during which Regan comes downstairs unannounced, tells one of the guests – an astronaut – that he will die "up there" and then urinates on the floor. Later, Regan's bed begins to shake violently, further adding to her mother's horror. Chris consults a number of physicians, but Dr. Klein and his associates find nothing physiologically wrong with her daughter, despite Regan undergoing a battery of diagnostic tests.

One night when Chris is out, Burke Dennings is babysitting a heavily sedated Regan. Chris returns to hear that he has died falling out of the window. Although this is assumed to have been an accident given Burke's history of heavy drinking, his death is investigated by Lieutenant William Kinderman. Kinderman interviews Chris. He also consults psychiatrist Father Damien Karras, a Jesuit priest struggling with his faith, which struggle worsens after the death of his frail mother.

The doctors, thinking that Regan's aberrations are mostly psychological in origin, recommend an exorcism be performed, reasoning that believing oneself to be possessed can sometimes be cured by believing that exorcism works as well. Chris arranges a meeting with Karras, begs him to help and tells him she suspects Regan murdered Dennings. After Regan speaks backward, in different voices, and exhibits scars in the form of the words "Help Me" on her stomach, Karras is convinced that Regan is possessed. Believing her soul is in danger, he decides to perform an exorcism. The experienced Merrin is selected for performing the actual exorcism with Karras assisting.

Both priests witness Regan perform a series of bizarre, vulgar acts. They attempt to exorcise the demon, but the stubborn entity, by then claiming to be the Devil himself, toys with them, especially Karras. Karras shows emotional weakness after the demon impersonates his late mother, and is dismissed by Merrin, who attempts the exorcism alone. Karras enters the room later and discovers Merrin has died of a heart attack. After failing to revive Merrin, the enraged Karras confronts the mocking, laughing spirit, and wrestles Regan's body to the ground. At Karras' invitation, it leaves Regan's body and possesses Karras. In a moment of self-sacrifice, Karras throws himself out of the window before he can be compelled to harm Regan, fatally tumbling down a set of stone steps and thus defeating the demon. Father Dyer, an old friend of Karras, happens upon the scene and administers the last rites to his friend.

A few days later, Regan, now back to her normal self, prepares to leave for Los Angeles with her mother. Although Regan has no apparent recollection of her possession, she is moved by the sight of Dyer's clerical collar to kiss him on the cheek. As the car pulls away, Chris tells the driver to stop, and she gives Father Dyer a medallion that belonged to Karras. After they drive off, Dyer pauses at the top of the stone steps before turning and walking away.

CAST

Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil

Jason Miller as Father/Dr. Damien Karras, S.J.

Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil

Max von Sydow as Father Lankester Merrin

Lee J. Cobb as Lieutenant William F. Kinderman

Kitty Winn as Sharon Spencer

Jack MacGowran as Burke Dennings

Father William O'Malley as Father Joseph Dyer

Father Thomas Bermingham as Tom, President of Georgetown University

Peter Masterson as Dr. Barringer

Robert Symonds as Dr. Taney

Barton Heyman as Dr. Samuel Klein

Rudolf Schündler as Karl, house servant

Arthur Storch as the psychiatrist

Mercedes McCambridge as the voice of Pazuzu

Eileen Dietz as the face of Pazuzu (uncredited)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

based on the 1971 novel of the same name by Blatty