The Exorcist III Blu-ray Review

"The Exorcist III" Blu-ray release by Scream Factory offers a notable upgrade over the previous Warner Bros. edition, showcasing an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Scream Factory has employed a new 2K scan of the theatrical cut, resulting in a significant improvement in detail and color accuracy. The updated transfer presents more vivid and slightly warmer color tones, with enhanced skin complexions and facial features in medium and close-ups. Although the film’s overall photography leans towards bland and overlit, the new transfer breathes life into the image with richer detail and color fidelity. However, occasional blacks appear slightly crushed, particularly with dark clothing blending into shadowy backgrounds.

The film grain is better controlled in this release, maintaining a natural look despite some digital sharpening that might make grain appear coarser at times. Contrast is slightly boosted compared to past releases, but without appearing unnatural. Minor issues persist, such as sporadic image instability and wobbles, though these do not significantly detract from the overall quality. Black levels are deep and reveal impressive details, such as the fuzzies on jackets or rain drops, providing a commendable overall depth to scenes. Makeup details including sweat, wrinkles, and stubble stand out due to the improved flesh tones which now appear more natural and consistent.

One caveat is the Director’s Cut, which suffers from severe quality issues. New footage for this cut only survives on VHS dupes of production dailies, resulting in extremely blurry, faded, and smeary images presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio. These drastic quality shifts are highly distracting and make for a difficult viewing experience. Despite these drawbacks, the theatrical cut's updated transfer marks a commendable improvement over previous releases.

The audio presentation of "The Exorcist III" Blu-ray offers DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 mixes, delivering adequate fidelity but suffering from certain limitations. The 5.1 mix lacks substantial separation and discrete channelization, remaining heavily front and center-focused with sporadic elements emerging from the side and rear channels. Despite Barry De Vorzon's evocative score occasionally extending through the surrounds, the overall effect appears somewhat constrained. Dialogues remain crisp and clear, with vocal performances, such as George C. Scott’s intense screams, rendered without noticeable peaking.

The theatrical cut is available in both DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 formats, where the 2.0 track aligns more closely with the original Dolby Stereo theatrical master. However, the sound mix across both tracks tends to be somewhat thin and hollow, marked by a rather harsh character. While the 5.1 mix offers a broader dynamic range and deeper bass, it can be fatiguing due to its volume variability. Surround sound presentation attempts to enhance the haunting ambiance with subtle cues from the rear speakers and more pronounced effects during action sequences, notably during the final exorcism scene.

In the Director's Cut, offered exclusively in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, audio fidelity faces additional challenges, particularly when switching to VHS sourced footage. Such transitions bring noticeable declines in sound quality with background ambient noises often dropping out. Nevertheless, even with these analog constraints, the audio remains relatively sharp, though it carries a faint hiss. Subwoofer performance is moderately effective, providing gentle enhancements to scoring hits and demonic sounds without becoming overbearing, thus complementing the overall mix.

The supplemental content for "The Exorcist III" Blu-ray offers an unparalleled deep dive into the film's production and legacy. The vintage featurette provides behind-the-scenes footage, while the extensive array of photo galleries, trailers, TV spots, and deleted scenes enrich the viewer’s understanding. Particularly noteworthy are the in-depth vintage interviews featuring key cast and crew members, which offer candid insights into the movie's creation. The Director's Cut comes with a compelling audio interview with William Peter Blatty, illuminating Blatty's creative process. Additionally, the comprehensive "Death, Be Not Proud" documentary series provides a multifaceted view of the film through various interviews and featurettes that dissect the production, acting, and technical aspects. This extensive supplemental content makes the Collector's Edition a must-have for fans and film enthusiasts.

Extras included in this disc:

• Vintage Featurette: Behind-the-scenes footage featuring William Peter Blatty, George C. Scott, and Jason Miller.
• Photo Galleries: Various galleries including Behind-the-Scenes, Posters and Lobby Cards, and Still Gallery.
• Trailers: Vintage previews promoting the film.
• TV Spots: Television advertisements for the film.
• Deleted Scene, Alternate Takes and Bloopers: Outtakes and amusing bloopers.
• Deleted Prologue: An alternate opening scene.
• Vintage Interviews: In-depth on-set interviews with cast and crew.
• Audio Interview with Director/Writer William Peter Blatty: Plays as a commentary track.
• A Wonderfull Time: Introductory part of "Death, Be Not Proud" documentary.
• Signs of the Gemini: Focuses on Brad Dourif’s involvement and experiences.
• The Devil in the Details: Production design insights.
• Music for a Padded Cell: Composer Barry DeVorzon discusses the film’s score.
• All This Bleeding: Examination of the studio-imposed reshoots.

William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist III" is an immersive narrative that stands out as the strongest follow-up to the original "The Exorcist." Propelling the franchise forward after the infamous flop of "Exorcist II: The Heretic," Blatty, who authored the original and this film's screenplay, returns to reclaim his creation. Centering around Lt. Kinderman, now portrayed by George C. Scott, the story unfolds with investigations into a series of macabre, religiously themed murders linked back to the Gemini Killer. Exceptional performances, particularly from Brad Dourif—who delivers one of his career-best roles—elevate the complex and chilling plot.

Despite studio-mandated changes that have diluted Blatty’s original vision, "The Exorcist III" maintains an eerie atmosphere akin to its predecessor. The film uniquely combines horror with idiosyncratic humor and character depth, particularly through the chemistry shared between Scott’s Kinderman and Ed Flanders’ Father Dyer. The narrative is marked by ingeniously crafted suspense sequences and unsettling dreamscapes that contribute to a relentless sense of dread. Notably, the infamous nurse scene remains a paragon of jump scares in cinema.

Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release offers significant enhancements over previous editions, including a new 2-disc Collector's Edition that features both a remastered theatrical cut and a roughly reassembled director’s cut of Blatty's original vision, titled "Legion." While compromised by the inclusion of inferior VHS-sourced dailies, this version provides valuable insights into Blatty’s unfiltered storytelling. Some mandated changes, paradoxically, improved narrative clarity and tension, underscoring the complicated interplay of creative ambition and studio constraints. This release, complemented by insightful special features, offers an intriguing exploration of one of horror cinema's most underrated sequels.

Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release of "The Exorcist III" breathes new life into a film that has long been considered an underrated gem within the horror genre. Far from being an undiscovered masterpiece, it nevertheless stands out as a more legitimate follow-up to the original "The Exorcist" than any of its other sequels. William Peter Blatty's ambitious script shines through despite some flaws and the unavoidable compromises that came with not being able to complete his full vision. The re-release notably includes a never-before-seen Director's Cut, which offers a fascinating glimpse into Blatty's original intentions and presents a compelling chance for fans to reassess the film's merits.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray transfer impresses with its excellent video and audio quality, rendering the film's atmospheric horror in vivid detail. The Collector's Edition package is equally commendable, featuring a wealth of supplementary materials that delve deeply into the troubled production history. The inclusion of both the theatrical and the newly unearthed Director's Cut allows viewers to appreciate the various editorial decisions and understand the narrative choices made during the film’s initial release. The special features are carefully curated to offer an enriching experience, making this a must-have for dedicated fans and an intriguing option for newcomer curious about this enigmatic sequel.

In conclusion, "The Exorcist III" surpasses its general reputation, though it's important to manage expectations regarding its status as an undiscovered classic. The film's technical presentation and supplementary content assembled by Scream Factory are generally excellent, affording "The Exorcist III" the detailed recognition it has long deserved. Recommended for any fan of the franchise or horror genre aficionados interested in comprehensive collector’s editions.