Fathom Events is giving people the chance to see one of the all-time great horror classics on the big screen this October. Fathom has teamed up with Warner Bros. for a re-release of director William Friedkin’s The Exorcist in honor of its 50th anniversary. The only catch is that this is being limited to a two-night event, so those who wish to get in on the demon-y goodness will have a limited window to do so. Plan accordingly.
The Exorcist will screen in theaters across the country on Sunday, October 1 and Wednesday, October 4 as part of Fathom’s annual Fright Fest lineup. It should also be noted that this is the extended director’s cut of the film, which contains about 12 minutes of additional footage that was not in the original theatrical cut. This includes the famed spiderwalk down the stairs. Also of note, it sounds like this is going to be the new 4K restoration, which is also coming to 4K Ultra HD soon. But getting to see it on the big screen is another thing entirely.
This is truly a film that needs no introduction. Friedkin’s 1973 classic was the first horror film ever nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and remains one of the most respected works ever produced in the genre to this very day. Starring Linda Blair as a girl named Regan who winds up possessed by an unspeakable evil, it’s a shining example of what can be accomplished with genre filmmaking. Fathom also released an updated synopsis for the film, which reads as follows:
“When a charming 12-year-old girl takes on the characteristics and voices of others, doctors say there is nothing they can do. As people begin to die, the girl's mother realizes her daughter has been possessed by the devil—and that her daughter's only possible hope lies with two priests and the ancient rite of demonic exorcism.”
The timing couldn’t be better. Not only is it timed to the 50th anniversary, but Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions are also releasing a new sequel, The Exorcist: Believer, mere days after the re-release of the original. The latest entry in the franchise, directed by David Gordon Green (Halloween) will kick off a brand new trilogy and is firmly connected to the original, as Ellen Burstyn is reprising her role as Chris MacNeil for the first time since ‘73.
The Exorcist returns to theaters on October 1 and 4. To find tickets and showtimes in your area, head on over to FathomEvents.com.
