A situation much like Apocalypse Now / Redux, essential two different stories with a common background. The alternate Exorcist attempts to tell the tale with a different emphasis, a different perspective. In an effort to make certain points clear, the images have been retooled to make the intent perfectly, painfully clear. Unfortunately the result is much like using a paint spray-gun to touch up a few strokes on an oil painting. Part of the original fear effectively comes from the viewer's mind saying this can't be happening, perhaps it is just a sick little girl until the end of the movie when the horror becomes undeniably real.

A few scenes have been added, some scenes have been digitally modified and one has even been deleted (Regan laughing with the guests at a party). Only a portion of the "famous" spider walk scene has been inserted in the middle of the film. The old documentary provides a longer cut and an example of some of the additional footage not used is captured below (Regan with a snake's tongue). Many of the digital effects are split second events, so seeing them here in still form shows just how obtrusive they can be. The sound has also been baked to try and make a few extra "bumps in the night" happen. It's a shame because the new version has better picture detail on the scenes that remained the same.

The benefit though does not out weight the costs. A new run time and different scenes renders the old commentary tracks out of sync and effectively has to be dropped, a major loss. One of the best audio supplements I have ever listened to is after Blatty's commentary track runs out of steam half way along the original version. The audio track continues on with clips of Linda Blair's voice reading her lines matched up with corresponding line given by Mercedes McCambridge. Try listening to just that track in a dark room. The few new text screens on the alternate DVD version fall woefully short of the documentary that has been dropped.

Perhaps the best use from the alternate version is an example of how to edit and construct a story like the original version that allows the viewers a chance to think and reach a conclusion before one is forced into their lap. Get the new version as a supplement, an example of the fine acting that none the less, should not supplant the original version.