The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist

7.8
1998 1 hr 14 min Documentary , TV Movie

A behind-the-scenes retrospective made for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the classic horror film, The Exorcist. Includes interviews with Linda Blair and the other stars of the film, along with commentary from the director and writer on some of the deeper meanings behind the elements they used to terrify their audiences, and previously unreleased footage including make-up tests and deleted scenes.

  • Cast:
    Mark Kermode , Ellen Burstyn , William O'Malley , William Friedkin , Max von Sydow , Linda Blair , William Peter Blatty

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Reviews

WillSushyMedia
1998/06/13

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

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InformationRap
1998/06/14

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

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Griff Lees
1998/06/15

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

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Fleur
1998/06/16

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

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c_price
1998/06/17

'Fear of God' is a brilliant documentary. It was wonderful to see such a broad sweep of cast and crew contribute their insights on this infamous film, and it is a MUST for fans of The Exorcist. Brilliantly edited, it was at times funny at others quite shocking (when it originally aired on British TV, it was the first time footage such as the Spider Walk had been seen in 25 years.)I count myself lucky to have seen all 3 edits of the documentary. The first, the British TV showing, was the best of the three, and with an excellent, if somewhat odd contribution from Mercedes McCambridge. Ironically, she was cut out of the other 2 versions, rather as she was cut out of the actual film credits. The second version I saw was on the VHS release - which had been expanded in parts - but the third, on the DVD, was ultimately the worst cut of a what was still a good documentary. I don't understand why writer Mark Kermode was cut out and imagine he was quite insulted - especially after reading his well researched book to accompany the programme. His absence makes the DVD version seem more disjointed, though some interviews in it are extended. All in all, an excellent watch for any film fan - and funny to see the difference between pragmatic commentators like von Sydow and Friedkin as opposed to McCambridge and Burstyn - who still seem a little shaken by the whole experience!10/10

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Kristine
1998/06/18

It kills me to know what these actors had to put up with. And the excellent special effects. So, people, it wasn't strings that held the bed, it was a machine to those who think it's cheesy. It's disturbing, it's freighting, and just fantastic. The Exorcist, it's more then a scary movie, it's a master piece of history. And anyone who says it's funny or boring, look at again and not as the scariest movie of all time. Just think for a few minutes after the movie. Because you know for a fact that other horror movies have copied so badly off of this film. And it would not be named #1 scariest movie of all time for nothing. And if you watch this making of the exorcist, you'll relize that you were very harsh on the film.10/10

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scifiboyuk
1998/06/19

I saw this documentary when it was first broadcast in the UK and was waiting with baited breath for the DVD release of "The Exorcist" with the knowledge that it was to be included as an extra feature.Unfortunately the version included on the DVD is edited so that it no longer includes the presenter Mark Kermode or the contributions of Mercedes McCambridge. I don't see any reason why these sections were not included, in the case of Mark Kermode I feel his presence was necessary as he led the viewer through the massive back story much better than in the DVD version of the Documentary where sections seem far to patched together.I still believe that the DVD version of the Documentary is one of the best ever but it was MUCH better when it was first broadcast.

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Andrew Devonshire
1998/06/20

This is a well made documentary about the Exorcist. The contributions of all the cast and crew make for a fascinating watch.Unlike the film, the real life events describing the deaths and bizarre events during filming were genuinely disturbing, helped by the cleverly chosen clips and deleted scenes.However, I was disappointed that Mercedes McCambridge's contribution was deleted from the video release.If you liked the film, watch this documentary, you'll view it in a far different light.

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