The Exorcist Film Analysis

In the 1973 film The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin, Chris MacNeil, portrayed by Ellen Burstyn, and her daughter, Reagan, have special bond. Reagan constantly reminds her mother that she loves her, and her mother frequently checks in on Reagan’s well-being. With time, Reagan begins to act abnormally, frightening her mother, and taking a toll on their valuable mother-daughter relationship. Doctors consistently tell Mrs. MacNeil that the problem is just Reagan’s brain, but in reality, Reagan is possessed by an evil spirit. Fearing for her life, her daughter’s life, and the life of others, Chris MacNeil seeks out the help of two priests, who she hopes can perform an exorcism and save her daughter. The film’s cinematographer, Owen Roizman, …show more content…
Boggs and Petrie state in their text that “a close-up is a shot of a person or object taken at close range,” (113). The use of close-ups forces a viewer to directly see what the character is feeling without allowing them to look elsewhere. In his article, “Cinematography Techniques: The Different Types of Shots in Film,” Timothy Heiderich discusses the purpose of using a close-up shot. He states that during a close-up “the expressions and emotions are more visible and affecting and is meant to engage the character in a direct and personal manner,” (Heiderich 8). The close-up shot wants the viewers to focus in on a character’s feelings and emotions. One scene where a close-up shot is important is when Reagan is contorting because of the spirit inside of her. As Reagan attacks a man, they decide to sedate her in order to stop the contortion. Reagan slaps a man across the face, and the other men rush to hold her down and give her a sedative. The film cuts to a shot of Chris MacNeil. The shot is a close-up of Chris crying and screaming in fear for her daughter. The viewer is forced to see the fear and horror in Mrs. MacNeil’s face. The loving bond the two once had no longer is able to exist because of the possession. A viewer begins to feel sympathy with Chris MacNeil because she wants to be able to help her daughter get rid of the spirit inside of her, but she is not able to. …show more content…
Owen Roizman’s use of close-ups and zoom lens helps reinforce the concept that Chris and Reagan MacNeil share a special mother-daughter bond. Focusing so close on the actions of the two and the emotions of Chris MacNeil’s face allows a viewer to become more emotionally invested in the film and what is happening to Reagan. As Reagan becomes possessed, the use of close-up shots are used to display the fear in Chris’ face and her longing to help her daughter. A viewer begins to feel sympathetic for the two woman, making the possession of Reagan MacNeil that much more tragic. Without the close focus and the zoom lenses, a viewer may miss the deep connection and love that they share, making this film just another scary movie. But with the help of Owen Roizman’s cinematography tactics, a viewer becomes much more invested and is able to experience their connection first

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