The Exorcist

The nowadays approach to ghosts in horrors is very different from the original Exorcist. I haven’t seen anyone look at the supernatural in such a pragmatic way as in this movie in a while. The contemporary horror movies take ghosts for granted. But in this movie it wasn’t like that. It was quite the contrary; they tried their best to convince the mother of the little girl that she was just sick. Fortunately the fans will be eventually rewarded because after the series of quite confusing cuts which totally ruin what would otherwise be some quite thrilling scenes, the ending scene full of exorcism starts and it is so amazing that it has no equalin the movie industry. It might be because it was one of the first of its kind. After the awkward beginning which in its own way creates the atmosphere of something like an anti-horror it eventually becomes more than a solid experience. (26/08/2019)

"I think I've lost my faith..." The book itself caused such a public commotion that Warner Bros snapped up the movie rights to it almost immediately. As well as the author, they chose a rising star in directing. William Friedkin. The Exorcist was everywhere in the press and on all people’s lips, mostly in a negative way. Which, as we know, is the best way of advertising. And the crowds just kept coming, the box office takings were huge. But for all the controversy, the bans, the movie theater operators’ arrests for unauthorized screenings, people fainting in the audience, moralist outrage and tales about the director terrorizing the crew at the time, they forgot about the movie as such and what it brought (not only) to the genre. The wide range of Academy nominations change nothing about that. Although in today’s world The Exorcist has aged in terms of shockingness, but it still works perfectly on the worrying basis of “what if". Chipping away at the certainty that nothing paranormal in our world exists. The five years younger, no less phenomenal Medusa Touch works with very similar “fears" of a direct encounter with the irrational. Or at least, that’s what I think... The best moments? Apart from the very well known ending, the muted dream sequence got to me most. But I was very disappointed by the absolute refusal to exploit the ingenious main musical theme. I simply can’t think why it was used so little in the movie. The Exorcist is proof that you need “just" three things for a good horror. A director with a skill for building up and gradually thickening the atmosphere, a good screenplay and, primarily, good actors. It’s a shame that such a conjunction occurs in this genre once in a blue moon. If you’re lucky. It’s good that The Exorcist at last received recognition from a filmmaking point of view. Both the movie and Friedkin certainly deserve it. (10/02/2008)

Well, the filmmaking is undoubtedly excellent and the atmosphere is quite unpleasant in some moments, but given that this is considered the scariest film of all time, I was not extremely tense while watching it. It moves pretty slowly and the director seems to be unhurriedly strumming on the viewer's nerves. Things get a lot more intense as time goes on, Linda Blair's face becomes less and less likeable and her horrific actions move the story along at lightning speed. Unfortunately, after the premature climax, when Linda runs down the stairs in an absolutely insane position, the film couldn't surprise me anymore and all the tension vanished after the door to Satan's room was opened, just as user Tosim writes. The strongest and most suspenseful horror film for me remains Kubrick's The Shining. 75% (06/11/2011)

Superb film, flawless horror. There’s no need to praise the details, the rating speaks for itself (I actually don’t know what I would reproach). This film didn’t feel as old as it really is – time has left a deeper mark in much younger films – The Exorcist could meet even the stricter standards of today. (22/05/2008)

This film is incredibly bold, atmospheric, and intense for its time. What couldn't be achieved with visual effects is resolved with brilliant camera work and the constant feeling of escalating tension, culminating in the literally heart-stopping exorcism sequence. It is an exceptional thing, but very difficult to watch. (29/11/2004)