4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
from 5 reviewers
Review Date:
The Exorcist's 50th-anniversary 4K release wows with its restoration, despite minor flaws, reaffirming its horror masterpiece status.
Disc Release Date
The Exorcist's 4K release has stellar image quality but faces criticism for anomalies and strange visual effects, notably during key scenes, which may distract purists despite overall improvement.
The Exorcist's new Dolby Atmos mix captivates with immersive, dynamic sound, complemented by the original mono for purists, offering a refined audio experience.
The Deluxe set and UHD release offer extensive features and high-quality packaging, with some content repetition from prior versions, but adding value with unique extras like Kermode's documentary and off-disc features, despite some disappointment over new inclusions.
The Exorcist, a masterful blend of cultural clash, religious themes, and horror, remains iconic, featuring technical brilliance and groundbreaking effects, celebrated with a 50th-anniversary 4K release.
Let everyone know how you liked The Exorcist: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Your review will appear on this page
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Exorcist" offers a video presentation that is both commendable for its enhancements and controversial for its deviations from expectations. Delivered on two 100GB discs for the Theatrical and Extended Director's Cut versions, the films feature a native 3840 x 2160p resolution, preserving the original aspect ratios of 1.85:1. Employing a 10-bit video depth alongside Wide Color Gamut (WCG) and HDR10 (absent of a Dolby Vision layer), encoded using the HEVC (H.265) codec, this release aims to present the films in their finest form yet. However, certain artistic choices and anomalies, such as the pronounced softness and color bleeding during pivotal scenes like the final exorcism, have sparked debates regarding fidelity to director William Friedkin's original vision.
The majority of "The Exorcist" shines in this 4K restoration, with the opening Iraq sequences, daytime exteriors in Georgetown, and well-lit indoor scenes displaying remarkable clarity, enriched color grading, and meticulous detail. The HDR10 composition elevates the visual experience with vibrant whites and deeper black levels, offering a cinematic texture that’s faithful to the film’s gritty aesthetic. Yet, it's not without its flaws. Identified issues such as unnatural color bloom, excessive noise, and the controversial softening of certain key sequences have left enthusiasts torn. These visual choices, whether a result of directorial intent or digital manipulation, notably affect the immersive quality of these moments, drawing some viewers out of the narrative.
Despite these contentious points, it's undeniable that this release marks a significant improvement over previous editions in many respects. The restoration work showcases an admirable dedication to preserving the film's authenticity while embracing the advantages of modern technology, offering an overall enriching viewing experience. Individuals especially sensitive to image fidelity may find certain aspects problematic, but most will appreciate the effort to enhance this horror classic for contemporary audiences. This release encapsulates the challenges and rewards of bringing vintage cinema into the realm of 4K UHD, marrying historical filmmaking techniques with state-of-the-art restoration processes.
The Warner Bros. release of "The Exorcist" on 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents a meticulously crafted audio presentation that truly enhances the eerie atmosphere of this cinematic classic. At the forefront of its audio options is a new Dolby Atmos track, built from elements of previous surround mixes, which stands as a testament to audio engineering excellence. This mix isn't merely an upgrade; it shifts seamlessly from subdued, naturalistic moments to aggressive auditory experiences, mirroring the film's duality between contemplative themes and horrifying elements. The overhead channels are employed masterfully, adding depth through subtle ambient effects and startlingly clear overhead noises that enrich the three-dimensional soundscape. Whether it’s the disturbing opening in Iraq or the unnerving quiet of the Georgetown set pieces, the Atmos mix excels in immersing the viewer, with well-prioritized dialogue and a dynamic range that respects the film's original sonic fingerprint while embracing modern audio capabilities.
Further enhancing the package, Warner Bros. has also included the original theatrical mono mix for purists. Available as a split DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, this inclusion pays homage to the film's initial acoustic presentation, offering a clean, polished experience that maintains the film's integrity with excellent fidelity. It provides an authentic aural experience, albeit with less dynamism than its Atmos counterpart but satisfying for those craving originality. The comprehensive subtitle options across various cuts underscore the studio's commitment to accessibility and preservation, ensuring that audiences worldwide can appreciate the film's nuanced sound design.
In this new Dolby Atmos reimagining, audio elements come alive with unprecedented clarity and depth. From the subtle sounds of ambient wind to the disturbing clarity of demonic voices, the mix skilfully exploits the format's capabilities without ever feeling overdone. The bass is deep and discerning, lending weight to the supernatural occurrences, while music and sound effects are integrated smoothly, maintaining clear separation that enhances the overall viewing experience. Despite occasional brightness in louder scenes, the soundtrack remains detailed across its range, with vocals standing out crisply against the atmospheric backdrop. The inclusion of both this new mix and the original mono track offers listeners a choice between groundbreaking immersion and nostalgic authenticity, making "The Exorcist" an auditory experience as formidable and nuanced as its visual counterpart.
The Deluxe 4K UHD Blu-ray set of "The Exorcist" encompasses a rich and diverse compilation of extras spread across five discs, significantly enhancing the viewing experience with deep dives into the film's making, its legacy, and its profound impact on horror cinema. Noteworthy among these is the inclusion of both the Theatrical and Extended Director's Cuts, accompanied by illuminating commentaries from director William Friedkin and writer William Peter Blatty, providing intriguing insights and anecdotes. Although the set recycles extras from previous UK and US releases without introducing brand-new content, it compensates with the comprehensive collection of existing supplemental materials, including the renowned Mark Kermode documentary. This release is somewhat marred by less practical packaging, which could potentially risk disc damage over time. Nonetheless, it remains a premium offering that superbly honors the film's storied history, making it an essential acquisition for dedicated fans, despite the absence of recent documentaries like "Leap of Faith" or "Fear & Love in Georgetown" that could have rendered this edition truly definitive.
Extras included in this disc:
Introduction by William Friedkin: Short introduction to the theatrical version.
Commentary by William Friedkin: Available on both Theatrical and Extended Director’s Cut versions.
Commentary by William Peter Blatty with Special Sound Effects: Exclusive insight from the writer.
Digital Codes: Providing access to some previously released but now missing extras.
The 50th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of "The Exorcist," William Friedkin's monumental horror masterpiece, has been expertly revitalized to bring this culturally significant and terrifying film into the 21st century. Highlighting a new 2160p/HDR transfer that promises to illuminate Friedkin’s genius in high definition, this edition encapsulates the chilling depth and innovative craft of the original. With dual audio tracks and inclusion of both the original theatrical and an extended director's cut across two 100GB discs, the set respects the film’s dual identity while leveraging modern visual and auditory capabilities to enhance the viewing experience. However, it's notable that purchasers will need to retain their previous editions to enjoy the full spectrum of legacy extras, as this release focuses predominantly on presenting the film itself in unprecedented quality.
"The Exorcist" remains a profound narrative, weaving a tale far surpassing the simplicity of a girl’s demonic possession. It engages in a profound exploration of themes such as the clash between science and faith, generational conflict, and the essence of evil through superbly drawn characters and masterful storytelling. William Peter Blatty’s script, paired with Friedkin’s direction, achieves a sophisticated and intense storytelling experience. Their collaboration brings to life the terrifying yet deeply human story of Regan’s possession with exquisite detail, supported by a stellar cast led by Linda Blair, Jason Miller, and Max von Sydow. The film’s blend of eerie visuals, poignant sound work, and groundbreaking makeup effects not only established it as a cinematic classic but also as a benchmark in horror filmmaking that continues to resonate with audiences today.
This 4K UHD edition is a tribute to the enduring power of "The Exorcist," pairing its historical significance with technological enhancement to offer both longtime fans and new viewers the opportunity to experience the film’s palpable tension and psychological depth like never before. Despite some disappointments concerning supplemental material, the release underscores the movie’s extraordinary impact, blending Friedkin’s mix of classical and experimental techniques with modern advances in picture and sound quality. As "The Exorcist" celebrates its half-century legacy, this edition reaffirms its status as a masterpiece in horror cinema, capturing an essential clash between human vulnerability and the incomprehensible forces of darkness.
Warner Bros.’ new 4K UHD release of "The Exorcist" brings this cultural and horror milestone into the modern era with commendable effort, despite some unavoidable drawbacks. This edition, celebrating its 50th anniversary, delivers the film with stunning visual clarity in HDR10 and a newly mixed Dolby Atmos soundtrack that revitalizes its haunting atmosphere. While the restoration showcases significant enhancements, ensuring this classic has never looked better on home media, some inconsistencies mar the final 30 minutes of the movie. Reports suggest this could be a conscious decision by the late director William Friedkin, known for his meticulousness, or perhaps an oversight by Warner Bros. Nonetheless, these visual anomalies cannot overshadow the overall superior quality of this release.
In terms of additional content, this release preserves all legacy supplementary materials and adds them to breathtakingly designed Ultimate Collectors and Deluxe Editions. The physical package is as impressive as one would hope for such a significant release, appealing to both longtime fans and collectors alike. However, the assortment of bonus features may leave some desiring more, especially considering the importance of this anniversary edition. Despite this, the inclusion of both original and new audio tracks offers viewers a chance to experience the film as it was originally heard or with contemporary enhancements.
Conclusively, while the inconsistency in image quality towards the film’s climax is disappointing, it doesn't significantly detract from the overall experience offered by Warner Bros.’ 4K UHD presentation of "The Exorcist." The brilliant restoration work for the majority of the film, combined with the atmospheric Dolby Atmos mix and extensive supplementary materials, makes this edition highly recommended. Whether revisiting Friedkin's masterpiece or discovering it anew, this release underscores the enduring impact and sophistication of "The Exorcist" as a pinnacle of horror cinema, making it an essential addition to any collection.
avforums review by Mark CostelloRead review here
And the encode on both discs use healthy bitrates of between the high 60mbps and peaks of well over 100 mbps, to deliver the image free from any compression nasties whatsoever and looking incredibly filmic....
Of course, this is all about as subtle as a vomiting demon – there are numerous new sound effects included, taken from multiple iterations of the previous surround mixes, but it’s an often-thrilling new...
So while we can bemoan the inclusion of anything new – especially given there are two much newer docs on the film (William Friedkin’s Leap of Faith and Fear & Love in Georgetown) that maybe could have...
The sophistication in author William Peter Blatty’s script and Friedkin’s interpretation of it is staggering – from ensuring that each of these thematic beats are delivered with ruthless efficiency, to...
Yet despite so much good work that WBs have put into this release – its barnstorming new Atmos mix, its retaining of all the legacy supplementals and releasing a range of really handsome collector’s editions...
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
It's a largely authentic representation of the original natural color palette, with understated production design and striking compositions that absolutely look better than ever on home video....
The low end gets a good workout at key moments, discrete surround effects are used wisely, and of course the Atmos-exclusive height channels are put to good use too, such as early creaks and thumps in...
This two-disc set ships in a keepcase with awful cover artwork, a slipcover, and a Digital Copy code that reportedly includes many of the missing extras from previous Blu-rays....
As indicated by my own rating of The Exorcist, I'm clearly not as big a fan but can still appreciate its craftsmanship as well as its considerable legacy during the past five decades, even if my rational...
Yet despite the obvious flaws of its new transfer, other larger areas of this 4K UHD presentation are mighty impressive and the two audio options -- a terrific new Atmos mix and the original theatrical...
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
However, this comes with a cost, notably chroma noise, the sky making this issue most prominent....
Sound jumps from every direction, the surrounds as lively as the center, filling the early camp and marketplace scenes....
Gutting their previous 40th anniversary Blu-ray release, Warner only includes two commentaries, one of them for the extended cut on the UHD, and the other for the theatrical on the Blu-ray only....
Effects happen organically, whether that’s invisible age makeup on Max von Sydow or an act of horrific violence (Regan stabbing herself with a cross), the camera doesn’t reveal anything other than reality,...
Iconic slow burn horror, The Exorcist masterfully unveils a descent into demonic terror, making it wholly plausible on screen....
High-Def Digest review by M. Enois DuarteRead review here
Also, the strong bluish hue of the exorcism sequences seen in previous releases has been toned down somewhat to a more downcast, steely tone that when combined with the diffusion photography, gives those...
From the opening moments in Iraq, this immediately creates an amazingly wide and expansive soundstage, a half-dome wall of sound that largely feels consistent and keeps the listener terrifically engaged....
Perhaps to the shock and dismay of everyone, Warner Bros. has seen fit to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary on 4K Ultra HD with only the commentary tracks while exorcising the legacy bonus features...
However, very few horror films have left such an indelible cultural impact as Friedkin's supernatural shocker, to the extent of consistently being honored as the scariest movie of all time or at the very...
Although the lackluster assortment of bonus features will make most hesitant to purchase, the UHD edition is nonetheless Highly Recommended for the massive improvement in the audio and video department....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
I can’t speak to how the film has looked on its various home video releases but, would imagine that given its often-darkish cinematography and the elements necessary to convey the film’s tone, it wouldn’t...
The use of overhead sound objects elevates proportional correlation, adding a noticeable improvement by opening-up the soundstage, elevating the perception of low-level detail and seemingly offering broader...
Disc 1: The Exorcist Theatrical version Ultra HD Blu-ray • Introduction by William Friedkin • Commentary by William Friedkin • Commentary by William Peter Blatty with Special Sound Effects Disc 2: The...
Linda Blair, in a breakout role, plays Regan, a young girl who starts to exhibit strange, arcane behavior....
It is indeed a classic and iconic film that opened the door to many great films that have followed....
Director: William Friedkin
Actors: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair
PlotIn the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C., actress Chris MacNeil starts to notice disturbing changes in the behavior and physical state of her 12-year-old daughter, Regan. Initially considered as psychiatric in nature, Regan's symptoms rapidly escalate to include violent outbursts and supernatural phenomena occurring around her. Desperate, Chris seeks medical help but the doctors fail to provide a reasonable explanation for Regan's condition. The situation worsens as Regan undergoes a series of inconclusive tests, and her behavior becomes increasingly erratic and dangerous, culminating in a particularly horrific incident at a party hosted by Chris.
Faced with her daughter's inexplicable condition, Chris turns to Father Damian Karras, a local priest and psychiatrist who is struggling with his own faith after the death of his mother. Karras is skeptical at first, but after witnessing the terrifying events firsthand, he comes to believe that Regan may be possessed by an evil entity. He seeks the aid of Father Merrin, an experienced exorcist, to confront the demonic presence. The two priests must prepare themselves for a grueling battle against an ancient and malevolent force that has taken hold of Regan, pushing the limits of their faith and endurance.
MoreWriters: William Peter Blatty
Release Date: 26 Dec 1973
Runtime: 122 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English, Latin, Greek, French, German, Arabic, Kurdish