Classic Review: The Exorcist (1973)

1973’s classic The Exorcist, has been considered one of best, if not the best horror movie of all time. Audiences have never seen anything quite like it, delivering a terrifying experience that they won’t soon forget. So much so, many found themselves fainting down the aisles of their local cinemas. What is also notable is that many of today’s horror films today would not have been possible after the game changer that was The Exorcist and its influence on the countless works that came after. Nearly 50 years later, the film more than holds up on the pantheon of the best horror films of all time.

Based on the best selling novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist follows Regan (Blair) a young girl who after playing with a Ouija board, begins to display bizarre behavior. As a result, her worried mother Chris (Ellen Burstyn) turned to a pair of priests named Father Merrin (Sydow) and Father Karras (Jason Miller) who after their examination, conclude that Regan is possessed by a demonic entity.

Meanwhile, it is no secret that The Exorcist is incredibly terrifying after all this time as the film can still frighten just about anyone who watches it. With its terrifying jump scares, horrifying body horror, ghastly practical effects, haunting images and unbearable suspense, the film features more than enough to fill any and every viewer’s dreams with nightmares. In particular, the jump scare with Pazuzu’s face quickly flashing on the screen is iconic, and arguably one of the most haunting scenes in cinematic history.

The Exorcist is one of the earliest movies that helped usher in the phrase ‘elevated horror’. More than horror, the film doesn’t throw in a jump scare at viewers in quick succession, instead its scares are deeper, more meticulous, and less on-the-nose, setting it apart from the other B-movie flare from the time and making it stand out in the eyes of audiences. William Friedkin’s decision to shy away from ‘in your face’ horror makes it feel that much more special, layered, and way more polished thus cementing its status.

At the center of it all, The Exorcist deals with many poignant themes. Noticeably, it tackles such topics as puberty, the class system, and of course faith versus reason. These themes, proves horror can be more than a sensory overload of jump scares by addressing serious issues that a lot of other film don’t even attempt to tackle. Without the undeniable influence of The Exorcist on both a thematic level and through its scares, it is highly unlikely that many of the best modern horror films would exist. Films such as It Follows, Hereditary, The Babadook, and Midsommar, sadly may have never graced our screens.

At the end of the day, The Exorcist is a horror like no other. It is an elevated, authentic and incredibly important horror films that more than deserves the crown of being one of the best horror films of all time. Its haunting imagery is still nightmare fuel, and its poignant themes give the film some much needed depth and add to the overall experience, allowing it to stand out amongst the other films of the time. To this day, one would be hard-pressed to find another film quite like it.

*still courtesy of Warner Bros.*

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Olly Dyche

Journalist, Writer, Film Critic and Professional Nerd. You will probably find Olly at the cinema chomping down on some popcorn and taking in the glorious visuals of the latest theatrical release.