The Exorcist: The Version I’d Rather See
It’s kind of strange that until now, I’d never read The Exorcist. I don’t really have an explanation as to why; it just worked out that way. Anyway, I’ve read it now, and despite some initial misgivings about Blatty’s style, I thought it was pretty incredible. Obviously.
Finishing the book reminded me that it’s high time I replaced my fifteen-year-old VHS copy of the movie with a DVD. I headed over Amazon to place an order, only to discover that the original movie is no longer being manufactured! The only one they’re pressing these days is The Exorcist: The Version You’ve Never Seen.
Now I’ve seen the version I’ve never seen, and I like the version I’ve seen much better. The newer cut is hardly terrible–we’re not talking about a Star Wars: Special Edition scenario–but it strikes me as unfortunate that they’ve discontinued one in favor of the other. By doing so, they’re effectively stamping an “Official!” seal on TVYNS‘s (abbreviated for sanity’s sake) cover. Maybe that was the intent. After all, this version is endorsed by both William Peter Blatty and William Friedkin. It’s the movie they both wanted to make. It’s just not a movie I want to watch.
Like I said, it’s not bad. With the exception of the facepalmer of a new ending, the changes are largely inconsequential (I’m sorry, but I give exactly no shits about the much-anticipated spider-walk scene, which adds nothing to nothing, and is never spoken of again). What’s more, I’m well aware that I can simply buy the original version used for much, much cheaper (which is what I’m going to end up doing) Mostly, I find it frustrating, even demoralizing, being told that something that I love is actually wrong, as though I’m somehow mistaken in my feelings towards it.
The original is still available in a boxed set that includes both cuts of The Exorcist as well as The Exorcist 2 & 3 and both versions of the prequel, but I’ll be effed before I buy that. I actually like the third movie quite a bit, but I’d put Repossessed on my shelf before I’d let The Exorcist 2 inside my house.
