THE EXORCIST 40th Anniversary Edition

Forty years ago THE EXORCIST enraged and grossed out Americans with its profanity, Christian sacrilege, and vile excretions. The novel, now familiar to millions, is still an engaging horror story still shocking in its explicit descriptions. In reading his own work, Blatty has an intimate understanding of how it should sound, and his delivery feels natural to the overall tone of the book. When he bellows the demon voices from the possessed child, Regan, his enthusiasm for the role is fully engaged. But overall, he lacks a dramatic spark, and the story frequently drags. Eliana Shaskan is credited as a narrator, but her voice is only used briefly, as an audio effect. F.T. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]