Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is an actress working on a movie in Washington, D.C. She rents a townhouse in Georgetown with her twelve-year-old daughter Regan (Linda Blair). The film director, Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran) is also Chris’ friend. Some of the movie is filmed on the grounds of Georgetown University. In the crowd watching some of the filming is Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller). Karras is a psychiatrist whose job is to counsel the university priests. Karras has been going through a crisis of faith himself, especially after the death of his mother (Vasiliki Maliaros), who died alone in New York while he was in Washington D.C. His friend, Father Tom Kanavan (Father Thomas Bermingham) tries to comfort him.
Regan finds a Ouija board in a closet. Chris asks her about it. Regan says that she has been talking to a spirit named Captain Howdy. When Regan begins to have behavioral problems, Chris takes her to see Dr. Harold Klein (Barton Heyman) for a check-up. Dr. Klein puts her on Ritalin. Not long after that Regan begins to show more personality changes. She becomes combative and violent. She also becomes subject to violent seizures. The doctors perform more and more tests but find nothing that would cause her symptoms. Eventually Dr. Klein recommends that Regan speak to a psychiatrist (Arthur Storch).
The psychiatrist believes that Regan may be suffering from multiple personality disorder. Hoping to prove it, he puts Regan into a trance and calls for anyone inside her to come forward. What he gets is a demon. The doctors have no other option but to suggest that Chris talk to an exorcist. They don’t necessarily believe in possession, but they are willing to entertain the idea that, should one be performed, it may help with whatever psychological problem she is having. They think the power of suggestion might snap Regan out of whatever mental illness she is suffering from.
Before they can do that Chris’ friend and director Burke Dennings is found dead at the foot of the staircase outside the townhouse. Lt Kinderman (Lee J. Cobb) investigates. He begins to believe that Regan may have been responsible for Dennings’ death.
Chris contacts Father Karras about an exorcism. Karras visits Regan to assess the situation and is vomited on by the girl. After another visit Karras believes that an exorcism may be warranted but only a specially trained priest can perform the ritual. Karras is willing to do the exorcism, but the church believes that a seasoned exorcist is needed to assist. Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) is brought in. The war between good and evil has begun.
“The Exorcist” was released in 1973 and was directed by William Friedkin. It is an American supernatural horror film. The screenplay and the 1971 book that it was derived from were both written by William Peter Blatty. The film spawned four sequels and prequels as well as a television series.
The book was inspired by the true-life events surrounding the exorcism of thirteen-year-old Ronald Hunkeler in 1949 from Cottage City, Maryland. Hunkeler grew up to be a NASA engineer. He died in 2020 at the age of 85.
The voice of the demon was done by actress Mercedes McCambridge. Additional sounds were provided by Ron Faber. The spider walk was done by stunt double Ann Miles. Linda Blair’s real mother, Elinore, has a cameo as a nurse, as does author William Peter Blatty, as a movie producer. The name of the demon that possesses Regan is Pazuzu. Suspected serial killer Paul Bateson has a bit part as a radiologist’s assistant. Two real priests are also in the film, Father Thomas Bermingham, who plays Father Tom Kanavan, the President of Georgetown University, and Father William O’Malley, who plays Father Joseph Dyer.