The Exorcist

The Exorcist

Year: 1973

Runtime: 122 min

Language: English

Director: William Friedkin

DramaThrillerHorror

When a young girl begins exhibiting disturbing symptoms that doctors cannot explain, her desperate family turns to religion for help. A local priest believes the girl is being tormented by a demonic presence and requests an exorcism. He then calls upon an experienced exorcist from the church to assist in the dangerous and harrowing ritual, leading to a terrifying battle between faith and an unseen evil.

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The Exorcist (1973) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Exorcist (1973) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the leafy, upscale streets of Georgetown, an ordinary household is slowly eclipsed by an unsettling presence that refuses to be explained by science or comfort. The film opens with a quiet, almost reverent atmosphere that slowly tightens, letting shadows linger just beyond the familiar glow of domestic life. A sense of dread builds not through overt horror, but through the lingering feeling that something unseen is watching, waiting, and stirring unease in every creak and whispered sigh.

Chris MacNeil is a successful actress accustomed to the bright lights of the screen, yet at home she faces a far more private performance—caring for her twelve‑year‑old daughter, Regan, whose once‑cheerful demeanor begins to shift into something puzzling and frightening. Their elegant home, filled with the routine of daily life and the occasional glamorous gathering, becomes a stage where ordinary concerns give way to strange noises, inexplicable behavior, and a growing sense of helplessness that gnaws at the edges of Chris’s rational world.

When the inexplicable becomes too much to ignore, the family turns to the church, where Father Damien Karras, a priest grappling with his own crises of faith and a background in psychology, steps into the picture. He is a man torn between doubt and duty, his skepticism tested by the mounting evidence of an unseen force. Across the world, Father Lancaster Merrin—a weathered, seasoned exorcist whose past has taken him through ancient ruins and ominous omens—prepares to confront whatever darkness may be haunting the MacNeil household.

The film’s tone balances a cold, methodical dread with moments of intimate human drama, inviting the audience to linger in the uneasy space between belief and terror. As the story unfolds, the clash between faith, curiosity, and the unknown promises a gripping exploration of what lies beneath the veneer of everyday life.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:16

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The Exorcist Summary

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The Exorcist Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Exorcist

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Exorcist

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