Media Release
For Immediate Release
Spine chilling terror is reborn on DVD in …
THE
EXORCIST
THE VERSION YOU’VE NEVER SEEN
On the day after Christmas," a 1974 Newsweek
cover story began, "a film called The Exorcist opened in 22 cities across
America. Since then, all hell has broken loose."
On June 13, 2001, the forces of evil will rise again
for a new generation of horror fans when The Exorcist – The Version You’ve
Never Seen is released to rent or buy on DVD. In this new version director William
Friedkin has restored 11 minutes of footage not included in the original film.
The fully integrated added minutes sharpen the impact
of the already astonishing performances by Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Max
von Sydow and Lee J. Cobb. They include a ‘nervous disorder’ diagnosis,
expansion of Father Merrin’s arrival before the ritual, priestly doubts during the
ritual and a shattering ‘spider walk’ staircase descent by Regan.
Friedkin and Blatty restructured their new version to
put audiences in the middle of the action by digitally remastering the original mono
soundtrack into six-track surround sound and enriched it with new special sound effects,
atmospheric sounds and music.
The Exorcist – The Version You’ve Never
Seen on DVD has this stunning state-of-the-art remix in both Dolby Surround Stereo
(mono compatible) and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX. The DVD is also in a
‘matted’ widescreen format preserving the aspect ratio of its original
theatrical release (16x9 widescreen format 1.85:1) and is enhanced for widescreen TV.
Other Special features on The Exorcist – The
Version You’ve Never Seen DVD include:
- All new feature-length audio commentary by director,
William Friedkin
- Theatrical trailers
- 4 TV spots
- 2 radio spots
- scene access
ABOUT THE EXORCIST
The Exorcist tells the story of Regan, an adolescent girl living with her actress
mother in Georgetown, Washington DC, who exhibits strange symptoms, including levitation,
great strength, unrecognisable voices and inexplicable behaviour. When all medical
possibilities are exhausted, her mother is sent to a priest, who, convinced that Regan is
possessed by the devil, calls on the services of the Exorcist. The Exorcist
presents the mystery of faith at its most primal - the battle of good and evil.
The Exorcist in its original form was an
enormous critical and box office success, grossing over $170 million in the US alone. The
Exorcist – The Version You’ve Never Seen grossed over $40 million on US
screens taking the total box office to over $200 million making it one of the top grossing
films of all time!
William Blatty, who based the screenplay on his
best-selling novel, won an Academy Award® for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film, which
also won the Golden Globe for Best Film Drama and received 10 Oscar® nominations,
including Best Director. Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair and Jason Miller were also nominated
for Academy Awards® for their performances and the film won the Oscar® for Best Sound.
The Exorcist – The Version You’ve Never
Seen is supported by a website (www.theexorcist.net)
with multimedia, never-before-seen images, video footage and interviews with the creators
of the film.
The Exorcist – The Version You’ve Never
Seen is available to rent or buy on DVD from 13 June 2001. RRP is $34.95. |
