--- title: "The Exorcist: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-exorcist/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-exorcist" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 6 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Exorcist (1973): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 6 reviews: 5 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics regard The Exorcist as forceful, carefully made horror, with praise clustering around William Friedkin’s direction and the credibility of the performances. The reviews repeatedly identify ordinary domestic life as the foundation of its terror: the disturbing imagery works because the people facing it seem believable. Ellen Burstyn receives particular praise, while the makeup effects, sound and score help explain why critics find the film’s shocks persist beyond the viewing. The spread is wide despite the strongly positive lean. The New York Times supplies the clear dissent, admiring the cast but finding the supernatural material ridiculous and the experience punishing rather than persuasive. That disagreement concerns the film’s whole approach, not a minor weakness. Elsewhere, reservations are scarce; Empire specifically assesses the Director’s Cut, crediting the added footage and improved picture and sound with strengthening the atmosphere. ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 5/5. 21 September 2024. The critic hails William Friedkin’s adaptation as the greatest horror movie, praising how it fuses extreme imagery with everyday suburban life and shoots the story like straight drama. One element singled out is the transgressive crucifix scene as perhaps the most upsetting image in a Hollywood film. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-exorcist-review) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 December 1973. The film is a powerful, technically masterful piece of horror craftsmanship that assaults viewers with raw emotional shocks and special effects. Ebert singles out the convincing performances, especially Ellen Burstyn as the mother, and the way it transcends typical genre efforts. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-exorcist-1973) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 1973. The adaptation is a chunk of elegant occultist claptrap that is practically impossible to sit through due to its spectacular nonsense and ridiculous details. Canby praises the cast, including Ellen Burstyn and Max von Sydow, but criticizes the film's overall approach. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/27/archives/blattys-the-exorcist-comes-to-the-screen.html) ## Empire — William Thomas 1 January 2000. The review praises the Director's Cut for enriching the atmosphere with added footage and an enhanced print and sound design. It notes that the film remains a masterpiece that terrifies when given proper attention. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/exorcist-director-cut-review/) ## Total Film 17 November 1998. The review calls it the horror movie of the century, highlighting Friedkin's skill in rupturing everyday normality with profound fear and ancient clashes between good and evil. It deems it essential viewing for cinema lovers. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-exorcist-review/) ## Collider — Nate Richard Rating 10/10. 27 October 2022. The critic finds the film still deeply disturbing and effective after nearly 50 years, praising its meticulous direction, believable characters, makeup effects, and creepy score as a perfect blend that lingers with viewers long after viewing. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-exorcist-review-william-friedkin/) ## Paste — Jim Vorel Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 December 2023. The piece crowns the film the standout horror release of 1973, highlighting its lasting ability to shock and horrify audiences decades later through visceral imagery, strong performances, and its role in elevating the genre's critical status. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/horror-movies/best-horror-movie-of-1973-the-exorcist) ## /Film — Bryan Young Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 October 2025. The critic, watching the film for the first time decades after its release, finds it terrific and much better than expected. They single out its compelling study of faith, the helplessness of the characters, and strong performances, especially from Jason Miller and Ellen Burstyn. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1985778/the-exorcist-1973-movie-first-watch-thoughts/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-exorcist.md