[Jason Stringer]

The original cut is a tour de force of precise storytelling on film. It's intense, engaging and rewarding. TVYNS was exciting to see at the time but it is terribly disjointed and clearly 'geared up' to cater to an audience not so used to the calmly paced editing of 1973.

I'm glad we got to see the spiderwalk and some extra footage, but I cringe when people tell me they're watching The Exorcist for the first time and it was 'The Version You've Never Seen'. Only because, you can't 'unsee' that.

The spiderwalk is also the only time possessed Regan leaves her room, and it completely eliminates thee claustrophobic feeling for the rest of that cut.

[fatherbowdern]

Captain Howdy said:

The spiderwalk is also the only time possessed Regan leaves her room, and it completely eliminates thee claustrophobic feeling for the rest of that cut.

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Ding, ding, ding! I agree with your thinking on the spiderwalk issue, Cap.

The original cut is much more intense by thinking about how Regan (Pazuzu) sneaked out of her room to commit the church desecrations and thinking about how Regan went downstairs to get the crucifix for the wicked vaginal assault scene. This also includes the shadow that Regan casts on her bedroom window while Lt. Kinderman was “casing the joint” despite Regan being strapped to her bed.

These subtle scenes were more thought provoking, which is exactly what Friedkin and Blatty wanted. They got it in the original cut. We all know that TVYNS/EDC was nothing more than a marketing ploy. But, hey, if you enjoy it, go for it (just don’t miss how the film was intentionally created before WB added backed the senseless 11 minutes of cutting-room floor material and “oh, golly, gee” CGI elements).

I too cringe at anyway saying their first exposure to the film is The Exorcist: TVYNS/EDC and not knowing how pristine and mysterious the original version really is. The second cut is the deepest and that holds true for TVYNS/EDC. It just bled out most thinking and the individual viewer’s interpretive variants.

Father Bowdern

[Jason Stringer]

Very well said, Father. I couldn't agree more.

[Steve Dunlap]

Some people might not be able to “unsee” if their first exposure was to the enhanced versions of The Exorcist.  However, there is some comfort (for those who despise the newer versions) that some folks who were first exposed to TVYNS might not have a nostalgic grip on it, and when they A/B it with  the original cut, they can look and say:  “Ya' know, I like the original cut better.”  (Meant they were paying attention to the story. ) 

[fatherbowdern]

Exactly, Steve. That's a well-spoken point in a nutshell.

I think TVYNS/EDC is a true insult to a younger demographic because WB thought those individuals couldn’t follow along or comprehend one of the most intriguing films in cinematic history. Instead, WB felt compelled to add the in-your-face garbage to try to parallel current horror films while making nefarious assumptions that most viewers have ADD or ADHD. WB should have known they couldn't water down the Mona Lisa without some kind of damage.

In the aftermath, we can see that WB tried to clean up their act for the BR release by editing out two of the ridiculous Pazuzu face/statue flashes. IMHO, the CGI face of Pazuzu superimposed over Regan’s during the hypnosis scene reminds me of a rabid bucktoothed rabbit [insert screams here]. The only startling thing about that scene is the actual use of CGI because it would add another more current element … an element so out of sync and unrealistic that it’s laughable.

The mystique of the original film is the exquisite execution of the unseen/unknown elements that Friedkin did not purposefully deliver. Once you’ve viewed TVYNS/EDC, it’s impossible to re-ravel and then unravel the mysteries that left audiences with a sense of unease and tension. Enough so that audiences could actually debate the film’s tagline of “Somewhere between science and superstition, there is another world.”

Father Bowdern

[Mike Myers]

I discovered “The Exorcist” with “The Version You've Never Seen”.  I absolutely loved this film and I bought it on DVD.  However, the original theatrical version was nowhere to be found.  I was finally able to watch it when the Blu-Ray came out.  I first watched the Extented Director's Cut and I was glad to see that they removed two of the Pazuzu flashes because I thought that the movie had too many of them. After that, I watched the original theatrical cut, and wow, it was better than the EDC ! Father Bowdern said exactly why I prefered this cut over the other one.  I was glad that I was finally able to watch this version of Friedkin's masterpiece !

 

(I hope that my English is good because even though I'm half English & French Canadian, I'm currently on the French side and I don't write very often in English)

[hammer horror]

your English is for sure better than mine … 🙂

[fatherbowdern]

Mike Myers said:

I discovered “The Exorcist” with “The Version You've Never Seen”.  I absolutely loved this film and I bought it on DVD.  However, the original theatrical version was nowhere to be found.  I was finally able to watch it when the Blu-Ray came out.  I first watched the Extented Director's Cut and I was glad to see that they removed two of the Pazuzu flashes because I thought that the movie had too many of them. After that, I watched the original theatrical cut, and wow, it was better than the EDC ! Father Bowdern said exactly why I prefered this cut over the other one.  I was glad that I was finally able to watch this version of Friedkin's masterpiece !

 

(I hope that my English is good because even though I'm half English & French Canadian, I'm currently on the French side and I don't write very often in English)

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Mike, thanks for the nod on the write up. The masterpiece will always remain the best! Your English writing is excellent and don't worry about it on here because it's just a blog. Sometimes I forget to add words altogether so __ writing __ not ___ great when _ type fast!

Father Bowdern

[Sofia]

What happened to Steve Dunlap??

[hammer horror]

Right … Steve where are you?

[fatherbowdern]

I would guess Steve's away for the holidays?

Father Bowdern

[Steve Dunlap]

Oh, hi my friends 🙂

Sorry if I worried anyone.  I'm still here…alive and well.   Not really gone for the holidays.  Been doing some actual 3D CG modeling.  (Building the original Colonial Battlestar from the 1978 Battlestar Galactica TV series).  And it's coming along really nice!  My first model built using a full quality 3D model maker (Blender….a free app that is really quite powerful!)  Perhaps in the off-topic section, I'll post some pics of the work in progress. 🙂

 

 Merry Christmas, my friends! 🙂

[DamienKarras]

I'm on the fence about which version I prefer.  I saw TVYNS first and I do like some of the added hospital scenes, but I do agree with the added subliminals.. Really not needed.  Captain Howdy is enough for me =P

Well, I guess I'm off to watch the original cut to help my opinions progress! :>

Edit: I just noticed both Merrin and Karras can't button up shirts properly =P

[ReganMacNeilfan]

I like this version. I like both. Sad its not in 5.1 like the anniversary is. But still awesome.

[RatBoy]

Being a fan of Legion, I liked the added scene at the end with Kinderman and Dyer.  It sets in motion their continued friendship 17 years later.

[Author]

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