The Exorcist (1973)

My mom saw this movie when she was in high school, and she was so afraid of it that she wouldn't even let me bring the DVD into the house once I was old enough to see it. So I didn't see this movie until I was in college. And let me tell you, when I saw it, after years of hearing how terrifying it was, I was underwhelmed. I mean, any horror movie made in the 1970s seen in the late 2000s is going to be less impactful than it was in theaters, but still... it seemed very silly to me. However, even though it wasn't that scary to me, I can appreciate its impact on the genre.

This movie follows the possession and subsequent exorcism of a preteen girl named Regan. She transforms from a normal 12-year-old girl into a demonic monster that screams vulgarities and breaks the laws of physics. In come the priests, to save the day and free Regan's soul. However, the job is much harder than it may seem on paper.

The film is cheesy by today's standards. Most of the effects don't hold up fantastically, and what may have been shocking (a little girl screaming profanity, etc.) in 1973 certainly isn't all that horrific now. I think one of the best parts of this film, to me, is the commitment to acting. The actors invested in their roles so strongly; it's easy to believe that this is a real possession and exorcism, and they are fighting for the soul of a young girl. This film pushed Linda Blair into cult icon status, and her performance given her young age will always be remarkable.

So, despite the film not being quite as frightening as it may have been in the '70s, it's a well-made and well-acted film that will forever be a horror classic. The same can not be said about its sequel, which is neither well-acted nor well made. It barely even understands basic storytelling and film making. But we'll get to that another time.

Netflix available: No

Hulu available: No

Xfinity available: Yes, for a fee

Amazon available: Yes, for a fee

Rating: 3.5/5