|
Video
|
Cuts
|
Cert
|
Runs
|
Details
|
-
William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist
|
The Exorcist is a 1973 US horror by William Friedkin.
With Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Linda Blair.
A video release was informally banned by the BBFC for many years. Later released uncut. A Director's Cut turned up for DVD
|
Altered Director's Cut
|
MPAA
|
126:45s
|
UK: The Altered Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut for:
-
2010 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] R0 Blu-ray
at UK Amazon
US: The Altered Director's Cut is MPAA R Rated for:
-
2014 Warner Home Video Exorcist Anthology RA Blu-ray
via UK Amazon and
at US Amazon
-
2014 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] Exorcist Complete Anthology RA Blu-ray
at US Amazon
-
2013 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] 40th Anniversary Edition RA Blu-ray
at US Amazon
-
2010 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon
See version details
from dvdcompare.net
:
-
Two of the demon/gargoyle face effects which were available on the DVD release have been deleted.
|
Director's Cut
|
MPAA
|
126:41s
|
UK: The Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut for:
US: The Director's Cut is MPAA R Rated for:
From IMDb. The Director's Cut includes the following additions and changes:
-
A slightly different opening, which shows the MacNeil's home in Georgetown, then cuts to the opening titles.
-
The scene where Chris MacNeil screams on the phone includes a new music cue and omits the line "I've been on this fucking line for 20 minutes!" and simply cuts to the next scene.
-
A new scene with Regan at the hospital receiving treatment to diagnose her "unusual" behavior. The doctor tells Chris MacNeil that Regan told him to "keep his hands away from her Goddamn cunt." This scene sets up her bizarre
behavior earlier and clarifies the scene where Chris tells Regan "it's just like the doctor said, it's just nerves. You just take your pills and you'll be fine"
-
The party scene removes the shot of Regan lauging with the guests, obviously because of her "unusual" behavior in the previous scene.
-
In the scene where Chris returns home and the lights go out, new digital effects including satanic faces and images of the statue, new sound effects, and music have been added to the scene.
-
The "spider-walk" scene has been restored and digitally altered from the original scene. Here, crude wires from the scene have been digitally removed, she comes down the stairs much faster, and her mouth is full of blood. It then cuts to
black, and the next scene opens.
-
Before she grabs the psychiatrist's crotch, a new digital effect of her face morphing into the devil(which is seen in subliminal cuts throughout)including a new growl has been added.
-
A new music cue has been added to the scene with Lt. Kinderman and Father Karras.
-
After Father Karras leaves for the night, a new scene of him examining a tape of Regan trying to talk to her dad has been added and a new music cues ties the new scene and the scene of Father Karras at the mass together.
-
New scenes with Sharon trying to tune out the devil groans and a short moment with Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin(which hints his vulnerability and weakness) have been added.
-
A new music cue has been added to the scene with Father Karras and Father Merrin going up the stairs to perform the exorcism, and a short scene has been added before they enter the room. Father Damien asks Chris MacNeil what Regan's middle name is.
She tells him it's Theresa, and he says "what a lovely name."
-
The scene with Father Karras and Father Merrin talking on the stairs (which was included on the 25th Anniversary DVD) has been restored.
-
When Father Karras looks up at the window when he's possessed, a new digital effect with Karras' mother's face has been added, and the scene includes the "subtle morph effect" that was included on the 25th anniversary edition DVD.
-
When Chris MacNeil gives Father Dyer Father Karras' medal, he gives it back to her and says "I think you should keep it", instead of simply keeping it as in the original version. A new short scene of Regan smiling and waving at Father Dyer
as they drive away and Father Dyer waving back has been added.
-
The original ending with Father Dyer and Lt. Kinderman has been restored. The 'tubular bells' music cue plays over them walking away, and it ends before Lt. Kinderman can say quote "Casablanca", "I think this is the beginning of a
beautiful friendship".
|
uncut
Theatrical Version
|
MPAA
|
116:41s
|
UK: The Theatrical Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for:
-
2010 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon
-
1999 Warner R2 DVD
-
1999 Harbottle & Lewis VHS
-
1990 cinema release
-
1974 cinema release
US: The Theatrical Version is MPAA R Rated for:
-
2014 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] Exorcist Complete Anthology RA Blu-ray
at US Amazon
-
2013 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] 40th Anniversary Edition RA Blu-ray
at US Amazon
-
2010 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon
By the time Ferman had been replaced as director by Duval the video was passed with the following justification:
The film version was originally given an 'X' certificate in 1974 and has been widely shown since then. In the 1970s, however, incidents of hysteria involving young women led to some concern that the film might cause
severe emotional problems particularly among those who believed in the reality of demonic possession. It was with this concern in mind that the BBFC in the 1980s and early 1990s concluded that a video classification - even with an '18' rating (which
could not entirely exclude the possibility of the work being seen by younger and susceptible viewers) - was inappropriate.
It must be acknowledged, however, that there is little if any hard evidence known to the BBFC that The Exorcist has, in its video form, caused actual harm to its viewers. The video version was in fact
widely available for many years before the Video Recordings Act 1984 introduced the requirement of BBFC classification. The recent re-release of the film version by Warner Brothers has, moreover, been accompanied by none of the hysteria or audience
disturbance which occurred in the mid-1970s.
The Exorcist has been available on video uncut for many years in other European countries, notably Germany (rated for 16 year olds) and Sweden (rated for 14 year olds) where the protection of the young
is considered particularly important.
The Video Recordings Act places on the BBFC a duty to have special regard (among other relevant factors) to any harm that may be caused to potential viewers or, through their behaviour, to society by the manner in which
the work deals with, for example, violent or horrific behaviour or incidents or human sexual activity. The Board must consider as a potential viewer any person (including a child or young person) who is likely to view the video.
The BBFC must also apply the requirements of Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, now accepted as British law. Inter alia, these impose a duty to preserve freedom of expression, with the relevant
restrictions being "for the prevention of disorder or crime (or) for the protection of health or morals". Alongside these, there is a duty to observe the principle of proportionality: any restriction on the basic duty of freedom of
expression should have a proportional justification.
The BBFC concluded that The Exorcist , while still a powerful and compelling work, no longer has the same impact as it did 25 years ago. Film technique and special effects have moved on a long way since
then, and audiences - including (or especially) teenagers brought up on a range of modern multi- media output - are less likely to be affected. Correspondingly, the potential of The Exorcist to disturb a small, impressionable minority must be
significantly diminished.
The BBFC has also considered the likely effects of The Exorcist 's current reputation. We cannot discount the possibility that, however restrictive its classification, under-age persons may seek ways to
view it. On the other hand, both the name and the nature of this film are familiar to most people: its reputation should prompt many parents and guardians to be more alert to that possibility than would normally be the case.
On balance, therefore, and after careful consideration, the Board has concluded that the video version of The Exorcist should be classified - but at a level which minimises the likelihood of the work being viewed by
young and impressionable persons.
|
banned
|
banned
|
|
UK: The BBFC website in Dec 98 noted the absence of video releases:
The film itself still shows quite regularly in cinemas but we have not yet classified the video, nor has it ever been shown on television, including subscription television. The problem is not the frightening nature of
the story but the combination of the themes with which it deals and the very powerful treatment it is given in this version.
Showings of this film have resulted in severe emotional problems among a small but worrying number of adults who do believe in the reality of demonic possession and satanic practices. A video or television showing would
inevitably attract many young teenagers, some of whom would be, more even than adults, susceptible to this sort of material, since they might well identify with the central character, a 12-year-old girl. Newspaper reports and letters in our files
indicate the very real and serious disturbance that can result and we feel uneasy about being a party to this sort of psychological damage. It is partly because the film is so convincing and effective that it can be so disturbing for some.
It is hard for those of us who do not give credence to the possibility of possession to appreciate how powerful an influence this can evidently exert on those who do. At a time when charges of satanic abuse appear
fairly regularly in the press and alleged instances have been reported and when an Act was passed in Parliament, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994), which specifically requires the Board "to have special regard to any harm that may
be caused to potential viewers, or, through their behaviour, to society by the manner in which the work deals with, for example, horrific incidents", there are added reasons to be cautious. Eventually, perhaps the time will come to release THE
EXORCIST on video, but we are not convinced that this is that moment, particularly at a time when many parents allow their children to see videos unsupervised, according to the latest research.
|
|
Exorcist II: The Heretic is a 1972 US horror by John Boorman.
With Richard Burton, Linda Blair and Louise Fletcher.
Shortened for theatrical release but the Original Version was eventually
released
Summary Review
A girl once possessed by a demon finds that it still lurks within
her. Meanwhile, a priest investigates the death of the girl's exorcist.
|
uncut
|
MPAA |
112:46s
|
UK:
The Original Version was passed 18 uncut for:
US: The Original Version is uncut and US R Rated for:
|
shortened |
MPAA
|
98:13s
|
UK:
The shortened US Theatrical Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for:
-
1987 Warner VHS
-
1977 cinema release
After a presumably poor response to the premiere, the director rapidly created a shortened version for US general cinema release.
From IMDb: The film was shortened as follows:
-
A faster re-working of the theme music
-
An introduction was added to recap The Exorcist.
-
In the opening, Burton's touching of Merrin's picture is cut. The tap-dancing scene with Linda Blair had been completely cut.
-
Just about all conversation between Burton and the cardinal has been cut.
-
The hypnosis scene is mercifully edited.
-
A few lines are cut when Blair talks with the autistic girl.
-
The church top communion scene is almost completely cut
-
The line Let me reach you , spoken by Blair, is dubbed out.
-
There is more stock footage to be seen when Linda Blair enters her old bedroom, Stock footage of her yelling Fill It UP! from the first film and a face dissolving scene with Blair in black lipstick.
-
The line, Be joined with us father has been completely cut.
-
The next three or four scenes have been mixed around as well, leaving the scene with Fletcher yelling HELP edited out.
-
The infamous ending of course, has Burton dying, instead of living, and Blair and Fletcher just looking at each other with artificial looks of grief on their faces.
-
The end credit theme changed to a rock song
|
|
|
|
|
There is also a European Variant version
|
|
Exorcist III
- Exorcist 3
- Exorcist III: Legion
 |
The Exorcist III is a 1990 USA horror mystery thriller by William Peter
Blatty.
Starring George C Scott, Ed Flanders and Brad Dourif.
Passed 18 uncut by the BBFC for cinema and VHS. Then 15 uncut for DVD.
Uncut and R rated in the US
Summary Notes
Lt. Kinderman and Father Dyer cheer each other up on
the anniversary of the death of their mutual friend, Father Damien
Karras, by going to see "It's a Wonderful Life" at the local theater in
Georgetown, near Washington D.C. But there's no cheering Kinderman while
a particularly cruel and gruesome serial killer is at large. His
murders, which involve torture, decapitation and the desecration of
religious icons, is bad enough; but they also resemble those of the
Gemini Killer, who has been dead for fifteen years.
|
uncut
|
MPAA
|
105:15s |
Netherlands: Uncut and 16 rated for:
UK: Passed 15 uncut for:
- 2015 Warner Complete Anthology RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
- 2005 Warner Anthology R2 DVD
at UK Amazon
- 2002 Warner Trilogy R2 DVD
UK: Passed 18 uncut for:
- 1991 CBS/Fox VHS
- 1990 cinema release
US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:
|
uncut
|
|
|
From IMDb:
Some European prints are rumored to include a scene
depicting the violent killing of a priest, removed from the US version after
unsuccessful sneak previews. A shot from this scene, showing the beheaded
priest sitting on a bench and holding his own head in his lap, can be seen
in the French publicity stills.
|
|
Exorcist: The Beginning
|
Exorcist: The Beginning is a 2004 USA horror mystery thriller by Renny Harlin.
Starring Stellan Skarsgard, Izabella Scorupco and James D'Arcy.
Uncut in the UK and US.
Summary Notes
Paul Schrader was originally hired as director of
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), but Morgan Creek ultimately rejected his
psychological thriller approach, saying it was commercially
unmarketable. The decision was made to extensively rewrite and
re-shoot the script, re-cast several roles, add new characters and give
the director's chair to Renny Harlin.
Africa, 1949 and Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård), his faith shattered by World War II, journeys to Kenya to join an archaeological dig that has uncovered a Byzantine church mysteriously untouched by the ravages of time.
But an even greater mystery awaits: an ancient and horrific evil is now awakened and a soul-shattering death spree begins. Can Merrin summon the faith and courage to defeat humanity's oldest and most powerful foe?
|
uncut
|
MPAA
|
108:40s
|
UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong bloody violence and sex references for:
US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:
|
|
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
|
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist is a 2005 USA horror thriller by Paul
Schrader.
Starring Stellan Skarsgård, Gabriel Mann and Clara Bellar.
Uncut in the UK and US.
Summary Notes
Paul Schrader was originally hired as director of
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), but Morgan Creek ultimately rejected his
psychological thriller approach, saying it was commercially
unmarketable. The decision was made to extensively rewrite and
re-shoot the script, re-cast several roles, add new characters and give
the director's chair to Renny Harlin. Schrader's version was originally
supposed to be released direct to video, as a bonus feature on the DVD
release of Harlin's version. However, in the wake of Exorcist: The
Beginning (2004)'s box office failure, Morgan Creek abandoned this idea,
allowing Schrader to present his version at several film festivals, as
well as giving it a small scale theatrical release in several countries
under a new title (Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist). Schrader's
version also received support from William Peter Blatty, who said to The
Houston Chronicle that Schrader's version is a handsome, classy,
elegant piece of work.
Africa, 1949 and Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård), his faith shattered by World War II, journeys to Kenya to join an archaeological dig that has uncovered a Byzantine church mysteriously untouched by the ravages of time.
But an even greater mystery awaits: an ancient and horrific evil is now awakened and a soul-shattering death spree begins. Can Merrin summon the faith and courage to defeat humanity's oldest and most powerful foe?
|
uncut
|
MPAA
|
111:02s
|
UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong violence for:
US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:
|
