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Exorcist Films


Detailed BBFC cuts and bans


 

 >   The Exorcist is a 1973 US horror by William Friedkin.

 X   The Exorcist

Link Here
  • William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist
The Exorcist is a 1973 US horror by William Friedkin.
With Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Linda Blair. Melon Farmers version details YouTube icon BBFC link 2020 IMDb
Passed 18 uncut for 1974 cinema release. A video release was informally banned by the BBFC for many years. Later released uncut. A Director's Cut turned up for DVD.

Listen to BBFC Podcast Episode 50 from bbfc.co.uk

Cutting Edge

Cutting Edge: The Exorcist
Cutting Edge Episode 49
The Exorcist
Gavin Salkeld investigates a BBFC film censor possessed by a censorial spirit

Promotional Material

Actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) has every reason to be content, having just completed a film with director Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran). However, she becomes disturbed by the changes taking place in her 12-year-old daughter, Regan (Linda Blair). At first sullen and withdrawn, Regan becomes aggressive and blasphemous, and ugly welts appear on her face and body. No medical cure is forthcoming, and after Burke is killed by being thrown from Regan's window, Chris turns to local Jesuit priest Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) for help. Karras then calls in exorcist Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow), who confirms that Regan is possessed by the devil. William Peter Blatty's screenplay, based on his own novel inspired by actual events, won an Oscar, and the film was deemed so powerful that it was refused a BBFC certificate for fifteen years.

Versions

uncut
Altered Director's Cut
run: 132:02s
pal: 126:45s
18

MPAA R

UK: The Altered Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut for:
  • 2014 Warner 40th Anniversary Edition [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon
  • 2010 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon

US: The Altered Director's Cut is MPAA R Rated for:

See version details from dvdcompare.net :

  • Two of the demon/gargoyle face effects which were available on the DVD release have been deleted.
uncut
Director's Cut
run: 131:58s
pal: 126:41s
18

MPAA R

UK: The Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut for:

US: The Director's Cut is MPAA R Rated for:

From IMDb. The Director's Cut includes the following additions and changes:

  • A slightly different opening, which shows the MacNeil's home in Georgetown, then cuts to the opening titles.
  • The scene where Chris MacNeil screams on the phone includes a new music cue and omits the line "I've been on this fucking line for 20 minutes!" and simply cuts to the next scene.
  • A new scene with Regan at the hospital receiving treatment to diagnose her "unusual" behavior. The doctor tells Chris MacNeil that Regan told him to "keep his hands away from her Goddamn cunt." This scene sets up her bizarre behavior earlier and clarifies the scene where Chris tells Regan "it's just like the doctor said, it's just nerves. You just take your pills and you'll be fine"
  • The party scene removes the shot of Regan lauging with the guests, obviously because of her "unusual" behavior in the previous scene.
  • In the scene where Chris returns home and the lights go out, new digital effects including satanic faces and images of the statue, new sound effects, and music have been added to the scene.
  • The "spider-walk" scene has been restored and digitally altered from the original scene. Here, crude wires from the scene have been digitally removed, she comes down the stairs much faster, and her mouth is full of blood. It then cuts to black, and the next scene opens.
  • Before she grabs the psychiatrist's crotch, a new digital effect of her face morphing into the devil(which is seen in subliminal cuts throughout)including a new growl has been added.
  • A new music cue has been added to the scene with Lt. Kinderman and Father Karras.
  • After Father Karras leaves for the night, a new scene of him examining a tape of Regan trying to talk to her dad has been added and a new music cues ties the new scene and the scene of Father Karras at the mass together.
  • New scenes with Sharon trying to tune out the devil groans and a short moment with Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin(which hints his vulnerability and weakness) have been added.
  • A new music cue has been added to the scene with Father Karras and Father Merrin going up the stairs to perform the exorcism, and a short scene has been added before they enter the room. Father Damien asks Chris MacNeil what Regan's middle name is. She tells him it's Theresa, and he says "what a lovely name."
  • The scene with Father Karras and Father Merrin talking on the stairs (which was included on the 25th Anniversary DVD) has been restored.
  • When Father Karras looks up at the window when he's possessed, a new digital effect with Karras' mother's face has been added, and the scene includes the "subtle morph effect" that was included on the 25th anniversary edition DVD.
  • When Chris MacNeil gives Father Dyer Father Karras' medal, he gives it back to her and says "I think you should keep it", instead of simply keeping it as in the original version. A new short scene of Regan smiling and waving at Father Dyer as they drive away and Father Dyer waving back has been added.
  • The original ending with Father Dyer and Lt. Kinderman has been restored. The 'tubular bells' music cue plays over them walking away, and it ends before Lt. Kinderman can say quote "Casablanca", "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".
uncut
uncut
Theatrical Version
run: 121:33s
pal: 116:41s
18

pre-cert VHS

MPAA R

UK: The Theatrical Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for:
  • 2010 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon
  • 1999 Warner R2 DVD
  • 1999 Harbottle & Lewis VHS
  • 1990 cinema release
  • 1974 cinema release
UK: The Theatrical Version was released on pre-cert video for:
  • 1982 Warner Rental VHS
  • 1980 Warner Rental VHS

US: The Theatrical Version is MPAA R Rated for:

  • 2014 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] Exorcist Complete Anthology RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
  • 2013 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] 40th Anniversary Edition RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
  • 2010 Warner [Theatrical + Altered Director's Cut] R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon

By the time Ferman had been replaced as director by Duval the video was passed with the following justification:

The film version was originally given an 'X' certificate in 1974 and has been widely shown since then. In the 1970s, however, incidents of hysteria involving young women led to some concern that the film might cause severe emotional problems particularly among those who believed in the reality of demonic possession. It was with this concern in mind that the BBFC in the 1980s and early 1990s concluded that a video classification - even with an '18' rating (which could not entirely exclude the possibility of the work being seen by younger and susceptible viewers) - was inappropriate.

It must be acknowledged, however, that there is little if any hard evidence known to the BBFC that The Exorcist has, in its video form, caused actual harm to its viewers. The video version was in fact widely available for many years before the Video Recordings Act 1984 introduced the requirement of BBFC classification. The recent re-release of the film version by Warner Brothers has, moreover, been accompanied by none of the hysteria or audience disturbance which occurred in the mid-1970s.

The Exorcist has been available on video uncut for many years in other European countries, notably Germany (rated for 16 year olds) and Sweden (rated for 14 year olds) where the protection of the young is considered particularly important.

The Video Recordings Act places on the BBFC a duty to have special regard (among other relevant factors) to any harm that may be caused to potential viewers or, through their behaviour, to society by the manner in which the work deals with, for example, violent or horrific behaviour or incidents or human sexual activity. The Board must consider as a potential viewer any person (including a child or young person) who is likely to view the video.

The BBFC must also apply the requirements of Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, now accepted as British law. Inter alia, these impose a duty to preserve freedom of expression, with the relevant restrictions being "for the prevention of disorder or crime (or) for the protection of health or morals". Alongside these, there is a duty to observe the principle of proportionality: any restriction on the basic duty of freedom of expression should have a proportional justification.

The BBFC concluded that The Exorcist , while still a powerful and compelling work, no longer has the same impact as it did 25 years ago. Film technique and special effects have moved on a long way since then, and audiences - including (or especially) teenagers brought up on a range of modern multi- media output - are less likely to be affected. Correspondingly, the potential of The Exorcist to disturb a small, impressionable minority must be significantly diminished.

The BBFC has also considered the likely effects of The Exorcist 's current reputation. We cannot discount the possibility that, however restrictive its classification, under-age persons may seek ways to view it. On the other hand, both the name and the nature of this film are familiar to most people: its reputation should prompt many parents and guardians to be more alert to that possibility than would normally be the case.

On balance, therefore, and after careful consideration, the Board has concluded that the video version of The Exorcist should be classified - but at a level which minimises the likelihood of the work being viewed by young and impressionable persons.

banned
banned
banned
banned
UK: Banned by a few local authorities, notably Bradford, Worthing and Torbay for:
  • 1974 cinema release
UK: The film was unofficially banned by the BBFC from the time the VRA became effective for already released videos in 1988 until it was finally released on home video in 1999.

The BBFC website in December 1998 noted the absence of video releases:

The film itself still shows quite regularly in cinemas but we have not yet classified the video, nor has it ever been shown on television, including subscription television. The problem is not the frightening nature of the story but the combination of the themes with which it deals and the very powerful treatment it is given in this version.

Showings of this film have resulted in severe emotional problems among a small but worrying number of adults who do believe in the reality of demonic possession and satanic practices. A video or television showing would inevitably attract many young teenagers, some of whom would be, more even than adults, susceptible to this sort of material, since they might well identify with the central character, a 12-year-old girl. Newspaper reports and letters in our files indicate the very real and serious disturbance that can result and we feel uneasy about being a party to this sort of psychological damage. It is partly because the film is so convincing and effective that it can be so disturbing for some.

It is hard for those of us who do not give credence to the possibility of possession to appreciate how powerful an influence this can evidently exert on those who do. At a time when charges of satanic abuse appear fairly regularly in the press and alleged instances have been reported and when an Act was passed in Parliament, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994), which specifically requires the Board "to have special regard to any harm that may be caused to potential viewers, or, through their behaviour, to society by the manner in which the work deals with, for example, horrific incidents", there are added reasons to be cautious. Eventually, perhaps the time will come to release THE EXORCIST on video, but we are not convinced that this is that moment, particularly at a time when many parents allow their children to see videos unsupervised, according to the latest research.

UK : Banned from Sky TV

In the 1990s,, Sky TV wanted to show The Exorcist on TV. The idea was championed by future BBFC director, Robin Duval, working at the time at Sky. However James Ferman petitioned that it would be odd that it could be shown on TV whilst being banned on video, and Sky backed down.

 >          Exorcist II: The Heretic is a 1972 US horror by John Boorman.

 X   Exorcist II: The Heretic

Link Here
  • The Exorcist 2
Exorcist II: The Heretic is a 1972 US horror by John Boorman.
With Richard Burton, Linda Blair and Louise Fletcher. YouTube icon IMDb
Shortened for an MPAA R rated theatrical release but the Original Version was eventually released
Summary Review
A girl once possessed by a demon finds that it still lurks within her. Meanwhile, a priest investigates the death of the girl's exorcist.

Versions

uncut
Original Version
18
MPAA Unrated
112:46s UK: The Original Version was passed 18 uncut for:

US: The Original Version is uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

BBFC uncut

cut
shortened
Theatrical Version

18
MPAA R
98:13s UK: The shortened US Theatrical Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for:
  • 1987 Warner VHS
  • 1977 cinema release

After a presumably poor response to the premiere, the director rapidly created a shortened version for US general cinema release.

From IMDb: The film was shortened as follows:

  • A faster re-working of the theme music
  • An introduction was added to recap The Exorcist.
  • In the opening, Burton's touching of Merrin's picture is cut. The tap-dancing scene with Linda Blair had been completely cut.
  • Just about all conversation between Burton and the cardinal has been cut.
  • The hypnosis scene is mercifully edited.
  • A few lines are cut when Blair talks with the autistic girl.
  • The church top communion scene is almost completely cut
  • The line Let me reach you , spoken by Blair, is dubbed out.
  • There is more stock footage to be seen when Linda Blair enters her old bedroom, Stock footage of her yelling Fill It UP! from the first film and a face dissolving scene with Blair in black lipstick.
  • The line, Be joined with us father has been completely cut.
  • The next three or four scenes have been mixed around as well, leaving the scene with Fletcher yelling HELP edited out.
  • The infamous ending of course, has Burton dying, instead of living, and Blair and Fletcher just looking at each other with artificial looks of grief on their faces.
  • The end credit theme changed to a rock song
There is also a European Variant version

 >   The Exorcist III is a 1990 USA horror mystery thriller by William Peter Blatty.

 X   The Exorcist III

Link Here
  • El exorcista III
The Exorcist III is a 1990 USA horror mystery thriller by William Peter Blatty.
Starring George C Scott, Ed Flanders and Brad Dourif. Youtube link IMDb
No BBFC or MPAA censor cuts. The Film exists as a Theatrical Cut and a Legion Director's Cut.
Summary Notes

Lt. Kinderman and Father Dyer cheer each other up on the anniversary of the death of their mutual friend, Father Damien Karras, by going to see "It's a Wonderful Life" at the local theater in Georgetown, near Washington D.C. But there's no cheering Kinderman while a particularly cruel and gruesome serial killer is at large. His murders, which involve torture, decapitation and the desecration of religious icons, is bad enough; but they also resemble those of the Gemini Killer, who has been dead for fifteen years.

Legion Director's Cut

BBFC uncut
Legion Director's Cut
run: 104:29s
pal: 100:18s
15

MPAA Unrated

UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong violence, horror:
  • 2019 Arrow Films [Legion Director's Cut + Theatrical Version] (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon

US: The Director's Cut is MPAA Unrated for:

  • 2016 Shout! Factory [Theatrical + Director's Cut] Collector's Edition (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon

In speaking to the process of creating the director's cut for this 2016 Shout! Factory release, Blu-ray producer Cliff MacMillan states:

We conducted an exhaustive search through a pallet of film assets from the original shoot to re-create William Peter Blatty's intended vision. Unfortunately, that footage has been lost to time. To that end, we turned to VHS tapes of the film's dailies to assemble the director's cut. However, even some of that footage was incomplete, so scenes from the theatrical re-shoot were used to fill in the gaps. This director's cut is a composite of varying footage quality from the best available sources.

Theatrical Version

uncut
Theatrical Cut
run: 109:38s
pal: 105:15s
15

18

MPAA R

UK: The Theatrical Cut was passed 15 uncut for:
  • 2019 Arrow Films [Legion Director's Cut + Theatrical Version] (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon
  • 2002 Warner Home video

UK: The Theatrical Cut was passed 18 uncut for:

  • 1991 CBS/Fox VHS
  • 1990 cinema release

US: The Theatrical Cut is uncut and MPAA R rated for:

  • 2016 Shout! Factory [Theatrical + Director's Cut] (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon

 >          Exorcist: The Beginning is a 2004 USA horror mystery thriller by Renny Harlin.

 X   Exorcist: The Beginning

Link Here

Exorcist: The Beginning is a 2004 USA horror mystery thriller by Renny Harlin.
Starring Stellan Skarsgard, Izabella Scorupco and James D'Arcy. YouTube icon IMDb

Uncut in the UK and US.
Summary Notes

Paul Schrader was originally hired as director of Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), but Morgan Creek ultimately rejected his psychological thriller approach, saying it was commercially unmarketable . The decision was made to extensively rewrite and re-shoot the script, re-cast several roles, add new characters and give the director's chair to Renny Harlin.

Africa, 1949 and Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård), his faith shattered by World War II, journeys to Kenya to join an archaeological dig that has uncovered a Byzantine church mysteriously untouched by the ravages of time. But an even greater mystery awaits: an ancient and horrific evil is now awakened and a soul-shattering death spree begins. Can Merrin summon the faith and courage to defeat humanity's oldest and most powerful foe?

Versions

BBFC uncut
uncut
15

MPAA R
MPAA

108:40s UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong bloody violence and sex references for:

US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:


 >          Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist is a 2005 USA horror thriller by Paul Schrader.

 X   Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

Link Here

Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist is a 2005 USA horror thriller by Paul Schrader.
Starring Stellan Skarsgård, Gabriel Mann and Clara Bellar. IMDb

Uncut in the UK and US.
Summary Notes

Paul Schrader was originally hired as director of Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), but Morgan Creek ultimately rejected his psychological thriller approach, saying it was commercially unmarketable . The decision was made to extensively rewrite and re-shoot the script, re-cast several roles, add new characters and give the director's chair to Renny Harlin. Schrader's version was originally supposed to be released direct to video, as a bonus feature on the DVD release of Harlin's version. However, in the wake of Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)'s box office failure, Morgan Creek abandoned this idea, allowing Schrader to present his version at several film festivals, as well as giving it a small scale theatrical release in several countries under a new title (Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist). Schrader's version also received support from William Peter Blatty, who said to The Houston Chronicle that Schrader's version is a handsome, classy, elegant piece of work.

Africa, 1949 and Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård), his faith shattered by World War II, journeys to Kenya to join an archaeological dig that has uncovered a Byzantine church mysteriously untouched by the ravages of time. But an even greater mystery awaits: an ancient and horrific evil is now awakened and a soul-shattering death spree begins. Can Merrin summon the faith and courage to defeat humanity's oldest and most powerful foe?

Versions

BBFC uncut
uncut
run: 115:40s
pal: 111:02s
15

MPAA R

UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong violence for:

US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:

 

Shopping: The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology...

Only the original offended film censors in the series just released on US DVD and Blu-ray.


Link Here24th September 2014
The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology features:
  • The Exorcist (Theatrical and Extended Director's Cut)
  • Exorcist II: The Heretic
  • The Exorcist III
  • Exorcist: The Beginning
  • Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

The Exorcist is a 1973 US horror by William Friedkin.
With Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Linda Blair. YouTube iconBBFC link IMDb
A video release was informally banned by the BBFC for many years. Later released uncut. A Director's Cut turned up for DVD
Exorcist II: The Heretic is a 1972 US horror by John Boorman.
With Richard Burton, Linda Blair and Louise Fletcher. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb
Shortened for theatrical release but the Original Version was eventually released
The Exorcist III is a 1990 USA horror mystery thriller by William Peter Blatty.
Starring George C Scott, Ed Flanders and Brad Dourif. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb
Passed 18 uncut by the BBFC for cinema and VHS. Then 15 uncut for DVD. Uncut and R rated in the US
Exorcist: The Beginning is a 2004 USA horror mystery thriller by Renny Harlin.
Starring Stellan Skarsgard, Izabella Scorupco and James D'Arcy. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb
Uncut in the UK and US.
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist is a 2005 USA horror thriller by Paul Schrader.
Starring Stellan Skarsgård, Gabriel Mann and Clara Bellar. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb
Uncut in the UK and US.

 

 

Shopping: The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology...

1973 US horror by William Friedkin set for US Blu-ray release on 23rd September 2014


Link Here23rd July 2014
The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology features:
  • The Exorcist (Theatrical and Extended Director's Cut)
  • Exorcist II: The Heretic
  • The Exorcist III
  • Exorcist: The Beginning
  • Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

  • 2014 Warner Home Video RA Blu-ray at US Amazon released on 23rd September 2014
The Exorcist is a 1973 US horror by William Friedkin.
With Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Linda Blair. YouTube iconBBFC link IMDb

A video release was informally banned by the BBFC for many years. Later released uncut. A Director's Cut turned up for DVD

Exorcist II: The Heretic is a 1972 US horror by John Boorman.
With Richard Burton, Linda Blair and Louise Fletcher. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb

Shortened for theatrical release but the Original Version was eventually released

The Exorcist III is a 1990 USA horror mystery thriller by William Peter Blatty.
Starring George C Scott, Ed Flanders and Brad Dourif. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb

Passed 18 uncut by the BBFC for cinema and VHS. Then 15 uncut for DVD. Uncut and R rated in the US

Exorcist: The Beginning is a 2004 USA horror mystery thriller by Renny Harlin.
Starring Stellan Skarsgard, Izabella Scorupco and James D'Arcy. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb

Uncut in the UK and US.

Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist is a 2005 USA horror thriller by Paul Schrader.
Starring Stellan Skarsgård, Gabriel Mann and Clara Bellar. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb

Uncut in the UK and US.


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