The Exorcist

By EWAN McDONALD

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Barry Norman, the British critic who retired recently, reckoned The Exorcist was the only film to really scare him in over 30 years of reviewing. Decades after it appeared, The Exorcist remains the most brilliant horror film.

So why do we have this new version, 12 minutes longer than the original? After all, the restored material doesn't come as a surprise; some of it has been seen as outtakes on earlier video releases.

Because they provide an excuse for the cinema re-release; will help to sell the video; and justify the advertising line, "The version you've never seen." You don't really need to.

Running time: 132 mins

Rental: Today