In an interview with Total Film, Paddy Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes, 24 Hour Party People, In America, Hot Fuzz), who’s directorial debut, Tyrannosaur, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to impressive reviews, revealed details of his next project.

Considine plans to write and direct The Learning, a film about a young woman who, after being haunted by a childhood trauma, struggles to form meaningful relationships in her adult life.

The Learning will shoot on-location in the UK, and Considine cites The Exorcist as his inspiration.

In the meantime, Considine can next be seen in Richard Ayoade’s dark comedy Submarine, which opens in the UK on March 18.

His directorial debut, Tyrannosaur, will be released later this year.

Perhaps one of the most notorious horror films ever made, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist will have its Blu-ray debut in October in both the US and the UK. Warner Brothers have put together a very tempting package for the release which will feature both the theatrical cut and the ‘director’s cut’, which was previously released as ‘The Exorcist: The Version You’ve Never Seen’.

The Blu-ray is released in the US on the 5th of October and the UK on the 25th and the only difference between the two Blu-rays appears to be the packaging, the American release comes in a ‘digibook’ rather than a plastic case (although I have been unable to verify the definite specifications for the UK release).

Below you can see the feast of extras on offer in this release (including Blu-ray exclusives) and below that there are screenshots and trailers to get you even more excited.

Disc 1: – Extended Director’s Cut (2000) plus Special Features

• Commentary by William Friedkin
• Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist – set footage produced and photographed by Owen Roizman, camera and makeup tests, and interviews with director William Friedkin, actress Linda Blair, author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty and Owen Roizman (new; Blu-ray exclusive)
• The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown Then and Now – Featuring a tour of the iconic locations where the film was shot (new; Blu-ray exclusive)
• Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist – with director William Friedkin and author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty discussing the different versions of the film and featuring outtakes from the film (new; Blu-ray exclusive)
• Trailers, TV spots & radio spots from the film’s 2000 release

Disc 2 – Theatrical Cut (1973) plus Special Features

• Introduction by William Friedkin
• Commentaries:
  • William Friedkin
  • William Peter Blatty with Special Sound Effects Tests
• The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist [1998 BBC documentary]
• Additional interviews with William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty:
  • The Original Cut
  • Stairway to Heaven
  • The Final Reckoning
• Original ending
• Sketches & storyboards
• Trailers & TV spots from the 1973 version

Thanks to this Exorcist fansite we have comparison screenshots that compare screen grabs from the Blu-Ray trailer to the 1997 DVD and the 2000 DVD. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Check out the green band and red band trailers for the Blu-ray below. I’d recommend skipping to the red band (the second one) as I’m sure that if you want to watch a trailer for The Exorcist you can probably handle the red band.

Trailers and specs sourced from IGN and Blu-ray.com

Halloween is a time quite custom designed for tricks, treats and terror.  In the world of cinema, there is no film as notoriously terrifying as William Friedkin’s The Exorcist.  As a special treat to Orange Film Club members, the tree-lined depths of Tower Hamlets Cemetery came alive tonight with clergy, fog, spirits and curious lights – all leading the way to a cinema screen in a clearing.  The eyes and ears of HeyUGuys were there in the dark, peering down the spooky paths, heart jumping in our dry throat waiting for something to go bump in the night.  And what a night it was!

Before the screening we spoke with Empire Magazine’s horror expert, Mr Kim Newman*, who echoed our awe over the astonishing location.  Kim had no hesitation in accepting Orange’s invite to come along and introduce the audience to their evening’s entertainment:

“I had many offers of something to do tonight” he told us, “this was by far the best – just look at it!”

We couldn’t help but look, it was utterly breathtaking.  There is something extraordinary, in the truest sense of the word, in watching a film outdoors.  To watch with your own personal headset, undisturbed by man, mobile or popcorn is sheer nirvana!  I have always lamented the death of the drive-in, I cannot think of anything more cool than seeing a favourite film under the stars.  Tonight though, aptly, the stars were smothered by a canopy of fog as we sat back to enjoy The Exorcist.

There is a reason The Exorcist still tops horror lists year on year, a reason over and above pea soup vomit and crucifix masturbation.  It is a chilling film – chilling because it is such a human story.  I thought I knew The Exorcist off by heart (indeed I had half considered the audio alternative of listening to the Director’s commentary despite my preference not to look behind the curtain of Oz) - I did not remember the film I watched tonight.  As a teenager I was obsessed by the pitch black bound novels of Stephen King and James Herbert but my favourite by far was William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist.  Time had contrived to make me forget Blatty himself adapted his novel for the screen.  Every heartbreaking human reaction and every regret, and moment of inaction, remains.  The themes of male friendship, pride and defeat are there and, in spite of the demonic melodrama, they still pack an earthly punch. 

This is not to say that pea soup puke doesn’t rock.  It was fabulous to sit among a crowd who cheer when a little girl vomits in the face of a priest.  The laughs of recognition when the-bad-man-who-lives-in-Regan declares: “the sow is mine”, alone were worth the journey!  Halloween is supposed to be a time to celebrate the gross and the ghoulish, it was just nice to find a gem among the gore.  The enthusiastic crowd seemed to agree, the closing credits were greeted with a huge cheer and excited whispers were heard stirring the cemetery long after the people began to disperse. 

When we caught up with Silent Cinema creator Damian Barr he was delighted by the reaction and still buzzing from the film.  It was amazing how much difference the wireless headphones made to the whole experience.  Pesky noisy people factor aside, it gave such a sense of proximity to the characters to hear them speak directly to you.  It made the film personal and I have fallen in love with the story all over again.  As well as turning HUG into something of a diva (who may demand that all our future cinema-going experiences take place in such exotic environs) this evening has reminded us to take time to rediscover the movies we think we know so well.  It seems they, like us, only improve with age!  

*We gave the traditional HeyUGuys question a Halloween spin and discovered that Kim’s favourite ’80s ‘horror’ movie is Blue Velvet.  As if we would forget to ask…

On Friday night in Old London Town, fans of fear are in for a terrorising treat.  A certain East London cemetery is playing slumbering host to Orange Cinema’s Night of Fright.  Over recent weeks a series of clues have been left for members of their Facebook Film Club and now the trail has led to the terminus ““ a once in a lifetime opportunity to see The Exorcist ““ to see it as they have never seen it before!

State of the art wireless headphones, fog and wind effects will offer the audience the ultimate sensory experience while the eerie open-air setting provides a unique aesthetic for the quintessential scary classic.  Orange promise that the immersive viewing experience will be like no other and HeyUGuys cannot help but agree.  In fact we were so impressed we set out to discover how this extraordinary idea came about.

Hattie Magee, Head of Brand Partnerships for Orange UK, comments: “Our Film Club has attracted a great following this year and we wanted to reward our members with an unusual event that will delight true film fans.

“We believe films are better shared and there’s something very appealing about collectively watching a great film together, but with the benefit of pitch perfect sound. By giving our audience wireless headphones it means no distractions from people eating popcorn or talking. With the added 4D sensory effects, and a few other surprises, we hope to create a truly unique cinematic experience that enables film lovers to completely escape.”

As HeyUGuys will be there in person to experience this amazing event (and to report back once our hands have stopped shaking), our fear is that Hattie might be proven right.  We are rather worried that we will literally escape”¦and run screaming up the Mile End Road!   To be on the safe side we decided to sit down with Damian Barr ““ the innovator of the original Silent Cinema wireless screening concept ““ before we died of fright.

Damian Barr

Times journalist and BBC Radio 4 playwright, Damian began Silent Cinema at Liverpool Street’s stunning Andaz hotel (where he has also been reader-in-residence ““ a world first and a role he was able to perform almost entirely in pyjamas!).  He repeated this success with later screenings at Soho House, where he also hosts London’s premiere monthly literary salon, and now Orange Film Fans and HUG are benefiting from his simple yet brilliant (why on earth has no one thought of this before?) idea.

HUG: Damian that is the real beauty of this idea ““ that it seems so perfectly obvious now it exists ““ but how did you first conceive of Silent Cinema? I just thought this would be a great way to enjoy films””immerse you in the soundscape and also free you up from popcorn munching. It’s communal but personal. So I learned about the technology, adapted and came up with the Silent Cinema idea.

What was the first film you screened and what were reactions to it? We showed the Shining in the Andaz Hotel on Halloween. Perfect movie for perfect place! People have seen that movie hundreds of times and it has such iconic sequences. But through headphones everyone was totally into it””it was even scarier. Esp if you went to the toilets and forgot you had them on and found yourself sharing a cubicle with Johnny!!

How did the partnership with Orange come about? They’re constantly innovating and they are particularly active in film””they love creating exciting new experiences for their users. They liked Silent Cinema and saw the potential. I am really happy to be working with them.

Watching The Exorcist in an East London cemetery the night before Halloween sounds like a scary movie fan’s dream come true. What would be your ultimate Silent Cinema night? I think this is it!

Where do you want to take Silent Cinema from here? It’s all under wraps just now. I have been approached by potential partners in NY and Barcelona which is all very exciting!

And finally, the one question we ask all HeyUGuys interviewees – Damian Barr, what is your favourite “˜80s movie? Easy – Dirty Dancing.

Orange Cinema Presents: A Night of Fright will take place this Friday (30th October) in a secret East London location. For the brave members of the Orange Film Club who have been selected to attend (and two lucky HUG winners) it will be a splendid reward, for your intrepid HUG reporter it will be a challenge, for one and all it will be an unforgettable night.  A night we’ll tell you all about, as long as we survive”¦

***This Competition is now closed****

Orange have given us two pairs of tickets for the chance to attend the ultimate Halloween screening on Friday 30^th October. Horror classic, The Exorcist, will be screened in a secret spooky East London location as part of Orange Cinema: A Night of Fright. Kim Newman, Empire Magazine’s horror expert will introduce the film and guests will also be given goody bags with a lucky few offering additional prizes.

To make this a truly unique experience audiences will be given wireless headphones for perfect sound, which include the director’s commentary on one of the audio channels. Special 4D effects during the screening including fog and wind, means movie lovers will be treated to a viewing experience like no other.

To enter, just tell us the answer to the following question:

In minutes, how long is the Director’s Cut version of The Exorcist?

Please send you answer to: orange@heyuguys.co.uk

Please provide a contact telephone number so we can call you if you are a lucky winner.

The closing date for the draw to win the tickets is 29 October 5pm. The winners will be drawn at random. All winners will be notified by 11am 30 October by telephone.

Please click here to view the full Terms and Conditions.

Good luck!