How The Exorcist Took the Oscars by Storm

Although the horror genre is frequently ignored at the Oscars, The Exorcist managed a whopping ten nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture. In this video, I explore William Friedkin's enduring 1973 masterpiece and discuss why this particular horror film took the Oscars by storm. #horror #oscars #academyawards #thexorcist #williamfriedkin #horrormovies #horrorfilms #theawardscontender
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Watch My Full 30-Minute Conversation with Andrew about The Exorcist!
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WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY BRIAN ROWE
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[@c.w.8200]

For me the exorcist really works because the mother is so credible, I always feel terrible for her. Ellen Burstyn definitely deserved an Oscar.

[@bev9708]

AGREE!!!

[@joannepinnow6929]

100% !!

[@paradigm_shift]

Anyone that bobs their head with ear buds is definitely possessed by the gay demon.

[@mauriceortiz8817]

Yes, but, also, the Father Karras conflict of faith was a great plot vehicle. Just a brilliant film.

[@Mirror1973]

Yes! And they gave it to Glenda Jackson for Touch of Class, the least deserving of all the nominees that year, by far

[@samgrosky575]

I love the performances in this movie, I still feel like Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair were robbed at the oscars

[@giovannyespinoza6013]

Ellen Burstyn should have won for sure, but Tatum O'Neal was magnificent in Paper Moon but Linda Blair's performance as Regan McNeil is so iconic in part for the makeup and the voice of Mercedes McCambridge

[@RobertPagano226]

I think what hurt their chances of winning an Oscar, was the academy wasn't ready to award performances in this kind of a movie.

[@RobertPagano226]

@@giovannyespinoza6013 What was so phenomenal this year was that two child actors under the age of 14 were even nominated in a competitive category. Many people thought Tatum's performance was a lead which is probably why she won in supporting.

[@giovannyespinoza6013]

@@RobertPagano226 in my opinion Tatum O'Neal should have been nominated (and won) as best actress for Paper Moon, but the Academy wasn't (and still isn't) ready to reward actors under 20 years old in the leading categories, they only do occasionally in the supporting categories but nowadays they don't even recognize them. Example: Jacob Tremblay for Room, he deserved to be nominated for best actor but everybody were talking about Brie Larson's performance

[@RobertPagano226]

@@giovannyespinoza6013 Good point, but Keshia Castle-Hughes was 12 & Quevanzhane Wallis was 8 when both were nominated for Best Actress in their respective movies. There may have been a few more as of late, but unfortunately I can't think of them.

[@EnglishActor]

Definitely one of the greatest horror films ever made

[@Tricki_Woo]

“The Exorcist" should have won the Oscar for best picture in 1973. This film was the true standout, a fright-fest masterpiece about faith and innocence. Undoubtedly, It’s the scariest movie of all time.

[@kidwithaphonecamera]

Id say Cries and Whispers should;d have been Bergmans moment

[@craigshields8806]

It's definitely close. I love The Sting also and can't count how many times I've seen it. You may be right, though.

[@dacrimsoncurse]

Linda Blair's performance still gives me chills It's a crime how she wasn't awarded at the oscars I know most of the voters that were in charge of the acting branch were afraid to even watch the film

[@whatsup4825]

I think Mercedes McCambridge voicing the demon threw some voters off Blair’s mesmeric performance.

[@melgrant7404]

@@whatsup4825 funny .I think it worked together really well. Each playing their part.

[@kevinbutler1955NYC]

I hope and pray that Linda will win an award for her efforts in the movies.

[@blondiesaband]

she did win the Golden Globe though but I agree and Ellen Burstyn should've won also

[@TheRealDarrylStrawberry]

The seen when shes getting ready to go to sleep and mom is talkin about her birthday is hands down one of the greatest performances by a child actor. ACTOR in general. Sometimes kids dont even know what the movies about that their in. With labor laws and graphic material being a factor... Its very common for a kid to show up. film a scene and have NO CLUE. Linda seems to have understood that role better than...i dont know, Pazuzu itself. Let me ask you. Who do you think is the main character? i think i've made up my mind that Dimi, the mother and linda and Merric are the main characters in that order. not many movies even attempt to have 4 character arcs that all come from the same incident.

[@DeltaSixDJ]

I definitely think wins in Best Picture, Actress and Supporting Actress would have aged tremendously. This film is still so highly rated, effective, and incredibly well made and acted.

[@DeltaSixDJ]

Director also, of course.

[@Jared_Wignall]

It’s cool to see how a horror film like this was able to get nominated for a slew of Academy Awards. Thanks for the video Rob, keep up the great work and take care!

[@isaacmartinez6904]

The Exorcist inspired future horror movies to gain Oscar nods from Carrie to Get Out.

[@aliensoup2420]

It may have also paved the way for Star Wars to receive a Best Picture nomination, being a Pop Science Fiction/Fantasy movie. The only other prior movie coming close to that category would be 2001.

[@JohnWesleyDowney]

I saw it that first weekend. Hadn't read the book. Didn't know what an Exorcist was. It hit me like an earthquake. I'll never forget that afternoon. Coming out of the theatre was like re-entering reality.

[@arcampbell9485]

Once again, had a blast talking with you, Brian! So glad I had another reason to revisit The Exorcist 🖤

[@nope5445]

Without a doubt... Jason Miller was robbed. He was by far the best supporting actor that year. His performance in The Exorcist was extraodinary.

[@kevinmarcus5125]

Thanks for this video, I really enjoyed it. The Exorcist is a brilliant film in any genre and it’s one of my all time favorite films. I produce the Saturn Awards, which has honored the best in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films (and television) for over 50 years. William Friedkin attended and won several Saturn Awards over the years and he was truly a masterful director and great guy. It’s our mission to give Horror films as well as sci-fi and fantasy the respect and recognition they deserve. Our 50th Anniversary Saturn Awards was live streamed last October 25, 2022 and the show was opened by Linda Blair!

[@Dennisanyone-]

I saw the Exorcist Beliver today. Better than I thought, but the 1973 version will never be replicated. I cried a little at the very end (no spoiler here you have to see it). The Exorcist was such a well produced, directed, acted and written masterpiece. It’s a film that completely works on multiple levels. It’s really a love story at its core and the mysteries of hope, faith, love and God and overcoming the most depraved evil. It’s no surprise it cleaned up nominations wise. Probably a lot of members felt it was a glorified horror film, but the more enlightened voters saw it for what it was and it at least got a writing and sound award. I’m convinced Burstyn came in second. Rumor is the lead actress vote was so tight less than 10 votes separated everyone. Blair might’ve won, but the Dietz McCambridge thing siphoned off her votes. In the end voters went for the safe choice of the Sting. Blatty was pissed it didn’t win best pic and said the Academy should fold up its tent and go bake Apple strudel, and he won that night!

[@daviddoran9552]

Believe it or believe it not,TERRIBLE movie ,David Gordon Green can't direct a movie PERIOD, don't fool yourself or others

[@gill.5116]

Exorcist believer is a woke pile of garbage

[@andyd3447]

This is probably my favorite film of all time. Ive just cant get over how REAL the entire thing feels. Its almost like a documentary and never once do you feel like its patronizing or even trying to entertain you. It definitely deserved best picture.

[@BFA100]

I would have chosen The Exorcist for Best Actress for Ellen Burstyn, Best Director for William Friedkin (although he had just won 2 years earlier for The French Connection) and Best Cinematography among it's 2 other Oscar wins that went to Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.

[@caliinthevalley24681]

Timeless. This movie transcends time and impressively does so without CGI. Still terrifies me to this day. One my top ten movies of all time.

[@isuriadireja91]

The disrespect this movie got at the Oscars, was similar to 2008's The Dark Knight...but, at least, it got a best Picture nod...

[@laurajones1773]

The Dark Knight is more remembered than any of the Best Picture nominees that year including the winner. I thought Slumdog Millionaire is a horrible Best Picture winner. The Dark Knight should have won Best Picture. That’s coming from someone who don’t watch a lot of comic book movies.

[@isuriadireja91]

@@laurajones1773 while you might be right on TDK, i gotta disagree on Slymdog Millionaire being a horrible Best Picture winner. As a matter of fact, compared to the other "predictable" nominees, The Reader, Milk...SM actually gave a breath of fresh air to the Oscars that year, especially since they failed to even nominate TDK. It's energetic, stylish and felt.. current, at the time.

[@laurajones1773]

I agree that Frost/Nixon is a typical Oscar bait biopic. However, I cannot stand Slumdog Millionaire because it depicted India negatively as if it’s a country of the slums. Not to mention the story is not interesting. I thought that film is lame.

[@isuriadireja91]

@@laurajones1773 oh well... you got your opinion, i got mine. ✌

[@haintedhouse2990]

the Academy is a joke. The Exorcist was in a swarm of controversy due to the subject matter so Ellen Burstyn was snubbed in favor of Glenda Jackson?? please - nobody remembers A Touch of Class.

[@jonathandooley5872]

Great video! I’m old enough to remember the Oscars for 1973. What a year! “The Exorcist” was all we talked about at school. My parents wouldn’t let me see it, so I read the book. No cable or video. When I did see it eventually, I was floored at the filmmaking! Still scares me today, but it’s more than a horror film. The characters make it work. I appreciate that you two found it as amazing as we did in 1973! 😎

[@ehipwell21]

The book terrified me. I read it when I was 16 yrs old. I snuck it, so ended up reading it alone late at night when everyone was asleep….left the lights on for weeks when I went to sleep and had to put on my shelf with the spine turned in so I couldn’t see the title. Saw movie when I was 18, unfortunately on cable cuz I was too young when it came out (8 yrs old). Mom watched it with me as support…lights on again for weeks. For years, if I came across it when I was channel surfing, I couldn’t change channels fast enough and avoid that channel. Now I’m older and appreciate it for the documentary style film making that makes it seem so real, the absence of music to enhance certain parts to make the dead air terrifying, the amazing acing, and on and on…

[@RadioLaPrincess]

The Exorcise was probably the scariest film I ever saw. Every time I hear Tubular Bells I get goosebumps. I like the Sting too but think the Exorcist holds up better. Ironically both had instrumental songs that were hits.

[@MuhammadAhmad-oj6mf]

I would also classify Sunset Boulevard, 40s Phantom of Opera and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane as horror movies. All of them win at least one Oscar.

[@jhhone]

"Sunset Blvd." is difficult to categorize. The are so many elements Noir, dark humor, romance. I call it a psychological drama.

[@MuhammadAhmad-oj6mf]

@@jhhone Kind of, but the movie is literally about loosing the sense of reality. So many horror movies nowadays are about that.

[@laurajones1773]

Sunset Boulevard is a film noir.

[@samuelbarber6177]

That’s actually a very interesting way to interpret Sunset Boulevard. I’d probably take the popular route of calling it a noir and even a comedic drama, but it’s certainly an interesting new way to look at it. I guess I’d probably give the edge to horror if I thought it was more frightening rather than tragic. But then again, what classes a horror movie is always somewhat in flux. Psycho for instance is called a horror movie, but that movie starts off very much as a noir, and it’s only really horror because of the then unprecedented violence in the murder scenes. And something like 2022’s The Batman also has some sequences that feel taken out of horror films, especially in how Batman is introduced and how the film treats the Riddler.

[@aliensoup2420]

I would qualify those movies as Suspense/Thrillers. Horror typically involves some form of hyper-reality, not necessarily supernatural, but pushing the limits of perceived possibility.

[@MemorablePopCulture]

I was born 20 years after this movie was made, and I still watch it from time to time. It’s still considered one of my top 10 movies.

[@jdenino6022]

My son was born in 1993 and he doesn't think it was scary, I saw it at 13 in the theater and it scared the h*ll out of me.

[@brettdarling1178]

Horror Month!!! At the Oscars! Please make this a thing! I know Rebecca and Suspicion are considered “Phycological Thrillers” but suspense films are a type of horror genre that lead into the more supernatural or gore films we think of when we hear horror today.

[@user-iq6cc3df3l]

I saw “The Exorcist” movie first then read the book later. It’s actually quite remarkable that Blatty was chosen to do the screenplay adaptation because it seems studios never want the book author to write the screenplay. But Blatty did a great job adapting it as he had to prune so much from the book. At any rate both the book and the movie are obviously excellent.

[@menippean1]

That's a good point and very interesting. Perhaps it was because Blatty had worked so much in TV and film writing before writing the book, though interestingly mostly in comedy, I believe. Maybe the studios trusted him more as a result, but I could still see them thinking it would be better to go with someone who hadn't written the original. Another element of it that is interesting is that I've heard Friedkin say that at the very beginning of the project Blatty wrote a whole screenplay and brought it to him right away, but Friedkin (always blunt) said it was no good, departing too much from the book's narrative structure, and he and Blatty started again from scratch, figuring out where to follow the book and where to make changes.

[@menippean1]

And like you, I saw the movie and then read the book, loving both.

[@rayarena879]

The best argument against the Sting winning the Oscar for Best Picture and not the Exorcist is that NOBODY remembers the Sting, whereas the Exorcist is still remembered, still imitated, still talked about. Life Magazine just came out with a special edition honoring the Exorcist on its 50th anniversary. Does any publication honor the Sting?

[@zakharrison1244]

The Sting is absolutely still remembered. It’s Robert Redford and Paul Newman staring together in their prime. It has one of the coolest and most clever endings in film history. That being said I prefer The Exorcist.

[@rayarena879]

@@zakharrison1244 Perhaps its remembered by Redford and Newman fans, but its not remembered by the average person. The level of interest that the Exorcist garnered in spin-offs, rip-offs, documentaries, books, toys, theme park attractions, etc.. is simply not matched by the Sting.

[@keithliebenberg6947]

Never seen The Sting, but have watched Exorcist countless times. A great movie, still scarier than anything made today!

[@pascalmanuel3]

It is my favorite film of all time

[@jamesmichaelhughes7692]

Burstyn's performance is the life force of THE EXORCIST. She is motivated by her love of her only daughter.

[@menippean1]

So true! As a younger (child, teen, young adult) viewer I always identified with Regan or Fr. Karras, but as I got older, I responded so much more to Ellyn Bustyun, and in many ways she's the center of the movie, and her performance is perfect.

[@gregyear201]

The Exorcist is so much more than just a horror film. It is not only a masterpiece ,it’s also a suspense/drama film that depicts horrific events. It is uneasy suspense with a buildup that emotionally explodes. Its great story telling with incredible raw performances by all. It's horror/drama that is serious, relentless, and powerful. It's about doubt, faith, guilt, sacrifice, desperation, love, redemption, heartbreaking loss and science versus the human condition. A mother who has no religious beliefs, desperately seeks help from a guilt ridden priest who has lost his faith. The movie won the Oscar for best screenplay for good reasons.

[@noahjr1654]

The Exorcist is the one & only magnificent horror movie ever made! No other horror films will ever compare to this one!👊🏼

[@RA-hx9uc]

It's overrated and not scary at all.

[@bev9708]

WHAT A TREAT!!! Thank you dear Brian, I played your video twice in a row I enjoyed it so much!!!

[@elizabethk007]

Would you ever go over Silence of the Lambs? I know it’s more of a thriller than a horror but I was always fascinated by how such a horror-adjacent movie could win so many awards at the Oscars

[@williamking8033]

Great video! According to what I've read about filming "The Exorcist," the priestly technical advisors chose to "bless" the sets, instead of carrying out a formal exorcism.

[@spaceo8568]

The fact that horror as a genre isn't a category is an enormous injustice. Whenever Hollywood starts to tank, it's always horror films that save it. The amount of work and sh*t people get for making horror movies alone deserves the recognition.

[@nyimwangkonyak5716]

This movie should have won everything at the Oscar like best picture, best actor and supporting actor etc etc

[@jimmydaves]

I clearly remember this Oscar race. Everyone thought Barbra Streisand was going to win for "The Way We Were" and everyone was stunned that Glenda Jackson won for Best Actress. "The Sting" has long been forgotten but the "Exorcist" still holds up. I remember a famous movie reviewer said he watched "The Sting" and said - "I got stung". Also, Linda Blair's performance got called into question right before the Oscars when Mercedes Mccambridge came out against her - saying she had felt "robbed" of recognition since she did the possessed voice of Regan and received no credit for her work. I believe this cost Linda Blair the Oscar.

[@navidhudson7065]

This movie was such a phenomenon, something like this wouldn't happen to a horror film again until The Sixth Sense. My mom grew up during that time and she didn't see it in theatres but at home. She literally hid behind a wall as my grandparents were watching the film in the living room, she could hardly watch the film in its entirety and same goes for me now. I'm glad the film received all the noms it got including three acting noms for the sensational Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair and Jason Miller. William Friedkin would have been a better choice to win director again and Linda Blair was my choice for best supporting actress. Ellen Burstyn would win best actress later for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. This was still the best picture of the year no matter what, it remains such a masterpiece. And at least it got two Oscars in the end.

[@bryanalstoncoxing]

So glad you’re going to be talking about Carrie!

[@DanCrowleyNYC]

Fantastic job on this video! The Exorcist has always been the scariest and most nightmare-inducing horror film of my life (I'm 42), but I also love film overall and Oscar-nominated films. So you did GREAT here buddy!

[@ryanscott8243]

Okay - So this made me want to do a deeper dive into Ellen Burstyn, which made me realize that she won her Oscar for "Alice doesn't live here Anymore" agains what myself, and quite a few others consider to be one of the greatest perfomances ever committed to screen - Gena Rowlands in "A Woman Under the Influence." Looking further, I noticed Rowlands only other nomination in 1980 for "Gloria" - Another BRILLIANT Performance - was also nominated against Burstyn (They both lost to Sissy Spacek for "Coal Miner's Daughter") This is all a long preface to my request: We need a "Gena Rowlands and the Elusive Oscar" Video like STAT please.

[@Dennisanyone-]

Ellen herself said Genas performance was Oscar award material, but I always felt Ellen won for the one two punch of TE and Alice.

[@whatsup4825]

Ooh, do a Gena Rowlands/John Cassavetes double-combo video. ❤

[@andyanderson3628]

I'm loving all the new content! I'm watching every night.

[@timothypolanco8622]

It's a shame that the Exorcist wasn't getting the silence of lambs treatment, especially since the movie impact can still be felt in today's movie culture 💯😤

[@zakuraiyadesu]

Love the videos, man. Keep it up!!!

[@jeffersonborges9932]

There is some movies that are unique and have a huge influence in the popular culture. This is one of these movies. William Friedkin makes a hell of achievement in directing. The first horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. This is movie history

[@flmlvr]

This is how I remember it: the book was a big bestseller for a couple of years. I couldn't walk into one store or drug store that didn't have a copy of the book on it's paperback rack. The movie opens in Westwood, California in only one theater. The next day it was "Wow, did you hear about "The Exorcist'?" "No." "OMG. All these people fainted and threw up." "REALLY? COOL!!! NOW I WANT TO SEE IT!!" And then it seemed like half of California flocked to the theater resulting in unbelievable lines. The book shot up on the bestseller list again, and the libraries had MANY requests. By the time I got to it, it was the following March, I had read the book, so the movie, well, didn't quite have the shock effect I imagine it would have if I had seen it on opening day. But it's still a favorite of mine. And BTW, I thought I was the only one who wish he could get in a time machine, go back in time, and see "Psycho" on opening day. The younger generation like the movie, but they can't understand what was so scary about it. But to see it in 1960, wow.

[@gjmay78]

Thank you. I love your channel. You a smart , young man. Great insights.

[@finnsterling6514]

Not only is THE EXORCIST the best horror movie ever made, it's one of the best films ever made--period. The performances, the special effects, the sound (did it ever look like there was ever any lip syncing happening?), the editing, aside from literally a second here and there, THE EXORCIST is an incredible motion picture experience from beginning to end.

[@Clouden3]

Hope you do one of these for Get Out as well.

[@laurajones1773]

Get Out should have won Best Picture imo. The Shape of Water I thought was just okay. I’m glad that Jordan Peele won for Original Screenplay though.

[@BH-gc5wl]

Doing the lords work - thank you for this video, et. all

[@DarHilton]

I watched this in the cinema when it was released for the 30th anniversary. this came out on my Birthday in 1973. love it. here i am turning 50 the same year.

[@keithbenson2627]

This is the best movie of all time ! Everyone involved in the making of this masterpiece should’ve received an Oscar Award across the board ! No other movie has never come close to this masterpiece ! The Academy Awards can still make things right and present Academy Awards for all involved !

[@mikep5335]

I think Linda Blair should have won best supporting actress

[@mikep5335]

Also Tatum Oneal was amazing in Paper Moon, to be fair. That was a fluke year; with two children being nominated.... Im not sure that's ever happened again...

[@B.Arthur]

Can’t wait for Carrie! I’d have voted for Ellen Burstyn in this category every time.

[@gabrielcastaneda9700]

Carrie should of won supporting actress for piper

[@nope5445]

I was 13 in 1973... my mom forbade me to see this. People then were terrified of this film. There has never been a film since, that has created this level of mass hysteria. It was a cultural phenomenon. I had read the novel and I have never viewed this masterpiece as a "horror" film. For me... it was and still is a deeply religious film that depicts horrific events. As an aside. My dad finally took me to the theater, in 1974, to see it. My wife and I saw it at the theater 3 weeks ago for the 50th-anniversary screening. It is still just as disturbing as it was in 1973.

[@vinmorabito3362]

Jason Miller was nominated for an Oscar and should have won for his great performance as Father Karras.

[@nickcerezo8162]

Thank you for acknowledging Whatever Happened to Baby Jane as a horror movie

[@richardherdman2121]

Thanks for another insightful post. I have to correct you on one thing though, only because it's very significant for conveying how enormously popular this film was. I don't know the exact figure, but I'd say The Exorcist grossed somewhere around $150 million in 1973 dollars - which is about a billion dollars today. Whatever the exact figure, it easily made The Exorcist one of the top 10 highest grossing films in North American history (the only barometer back then, before international grosses were even reported). I suspect you might have inadvertently used the distributors' rentals figure (studio's cut of the gross, as I'm sure you know) rather than the actual theatrical gross. That would make sense since it was the only figure released by the studios back then. I even remember trying to calculate a film's true gross based on the distributors' rentals listed in Variety each week, since that was the only information provided - unlike today when we have Box Office Mojo and The Numbers reporting accurate weekly grosses. So again, the reason I'm pointing all this out is so your viewers realize just how big this film was at the time. $300 million in today's dollars (which you mentioned as its inflation-adjusted gross) is generally still a big hit today, but it doesn't nearly represent the monster hit that The Exorcist was. And that far-reaching viewership is why it had such a huge cultural impact, similar to Jaws a couple of years later (and the beginning of Spielberg and the blockbuster film....but that a whole other topic :).

[@klaus472]

I hope the Oscars give recognition to Talk to Me this year. Even though it's probably not in the running for anything, it is one of the BEST horror movies I've ever seen, from the performances to the cinematography to the fact that it was a directorial debut!! It was just a great movie and it'd be awesome to see it get at least a few nominations.

[@keatonbanta]

I thought the same thing, people bring up Toni Collette being snubbed in hereditary but we really need to talk more ab that, I really hope Sophie Wilde gets an acting nod.

[@siddharthnaagar7028]

Its shocking that Mia Farrow wasn't nominated for Rosemary's Baby

[@CreativeCreaturefx]

Honestly her performance was good for the part but it wasn't Oscar worthy. 😅

[@marrmart7690]

Thank you ♥♥♥

[@andreford5979]

Toni Collette not being nominated for Hereditary was ridiculous

[@johnedwards7088]

What's The Matter With Helen? got nominated for Best Costume in 1971. Also Barbara Stanwyck got nominated for Best Actress for Sorry Wrong Number in 1948.

[@siddharthgaur2205]

So watched Beliver This weekend have to say I got emotional When i saw Ellen and Linda reunion at the end 😊

[@tomtalker2000]

This film is absolutely ICONIC. It's often viewed as a "horror film". But i would rather look at it as a religious piece a thriller if you will. Sure there are horror elements. But i don't look at it as true horror such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Halloween. It set a bar so high that very few films have come close to touching. I would say a film that didn't get as much recognition that it deserved but was similar in it's theme. Would be The Exorcism of Emily Rose. That was VERY well done and acted and deserved far more accolades then it received.

[@eleanorbwells]

I saw this movie when I was 13 years old, and I haven't rewatched it since. While it isn't as personally meaningful to me as a movie like Psycho, I still have a lot of respect for it. I still remember it in vivid detail, it's stayed with me in ever since. Considering there are some movies I forget days/weeks after watching them, I think that speaks to the movie's power!

[@edreid7872]

I saw it in the theater, and it was incredible.. You can feel and smell the fear in the audience.. Literally and figuratively..😮

[@jamikatechaos9972]

So jealous! What a cool movie to get to see in theaters!

[@edreid7872]

@@jamikatechaos9972 It was creepy..which added to the scary aspects of the film.. People were silent, looking around in suspicion.. Knowing they were preparing for the ride of their lives..

[@jamikatechaos9972]

@@edreid7872 I bet! Did you happen to get to see The Shining in theaters, as well?

[@edreid7872]

@@jamikatechaos9972 Funny you mentioned it.. I saw The Shining in the theater.. Not as intense.. It was such a slow burn until the climax, it lost its steam halfway through.. For me at least.. Frankly, I was bored and couldn't wait for it to end.. Remember, Jack’s big blow-up was only 10-15 minutes.. Not much for 2.5 hours.. The other scary parts were just moments..

[@mckeldin1961]

Great piece. I was 13 in 1974 and wasn't allowed to see the movie despite my pleading (my reasoning being, if my parents didn't object to my reading the novel the year before why bar me from the movie?). My memory of the reviews were that it received almost entirely negative write ups... but I had a limited sample -- magazines and newspapers my parents subscribed to (notably THE NEW YORKER and THE NEW YORK TIMES, both of which eviscerated the film). So when the Oscar nominations were announced I was gobsmacked that The Exorcist had done so well. All these years later, I recognize the supreme craft of the movie and just how much better it is than The Sting (which even at age 13, I enjoyed, but hardly loved). But I think part of the reason The Exorcist was underrepresented in actual Oscar wins was the tenor of the negative reviews: that is many of the naysayers objected to the exploitation of a child and the graphic sexual stunts which even some of the positive reviews thought warranted the movie an X rating rather than an R (at the time X hadn't quite become synonymous with pornography). The other objection -- and one I partially share these days -- was what was seen as the hypocrisy of couching such a lurid tale in the cloak of religion. So despite the film's superiority in almost every way to its competition I think this overall squeamishness about some of the legitimate controversy it raised cost it the award for Best Picture (though, that theory is partially negated by the fact that Blatty did win for his screenplay). Anyway the upshot is that in October 1975, during a "special" return engagement, my mother relented and took me to the movie. I loved it... but wasn't really scared as by then I had re-read the novel and there were no real surprises for me. Today I think the movie is a masterpiece (in its original form... I loathe the "Version You've Never Seen," now misnamed a "director's cut" -- it's a writer's cut, Friedkin made the changes in 2000 to appease Blatty). But I'll always be a little wary of a movie that promotes the denial of science and exalts the Church to such a high status. But damn! it's so well-done and holds up so well!

[@pophector]

Awesome video on an all time classic. I don't begrudge The Sting's best picture win as that really is an entertaining crime drama picture but The Exorcist would have made an all timer of a win. Would have loved for Ellen Burstyn to have won Best Actress, a much better performance than Glenda Jackson in A Touch Of Class and would have aged way better as a win. Though that may have affected Ellen from winning Best Actress for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. I love Tatum O'Neal's win for Paper Moon but Linda Blair would have made so much more of an all timer as more of a supporting performance. Love Jason Miller's performance as well and Max Von Sydow deserved a nomination as well. The Carrie video will be interesting to watch. Thanks again, Brian ❤

[@dillon9016]

Ellen Burstyn better get some recognition award before she leaves us. She’s leagues beyond Streep.

[@haintedhouse2990]

agree. Streep is good but i'm always aware that she's 'acting'. Ellen Burstyn's performance in the Exorcist shows authentic desperation that the viewer could identify with.

[@luvbasses5487]

I’m off-topic here and I apologize in advance but…the TV movie Salems Lot scared the hell out me in 1979! I was of course young and Barlow just terrified me - as did James Mason’s’ character, Mr. Straker!

[@user-xp9ce1vw5p]

You aren't alone; it frightened shit out of TV audiences [mainly kids!] like never before

[@screamingtima1318]

I don’t understand why Linda Blair’s Nomination was in question because her real voice wasn’t used once she was possessed. That little girl did a phenomenal job acting and should have revived the award IMO!

[@amr_12_]

"No shit" - Ellen Burstyn after hearing Glenda Jackson name lol

[@TheBadtzmaroo]

Please create the Elusive Oscar for Directors as well starting with Alfred Hitchcock.

[@doncasto8520]

I agree that on so many levels the Exorcist is an amazing movie. I wonder if the critics darling "Talk to Me" which did well at the box office will get an awards attention this year?

[@FLE22P]

Love this

[@TheRealDarrylStrawberry]

Something i just caught. When the mom walks home from the movie shoot, you see a street sign N.W.30th or some number. Welll, Pazuzu is said in the novel to be "of the S.W. winds!!" you can almost imagine Pazuzu just floating North.

[@ChowDownDetroit]

Toni Collette in Hereditary should’ve been nominated for sure. Probably should’ve won

[@laurajones1773]

I think she should’ve won. I think that’s the best performance of 2018. A chilling performance and her best performance imo. Although, that movie is not my cup of tea. She’s the best thing in that movie though.

[@danadesimone9322]

The opening and crowds were something you had to be there to believe it..

[@menippean1]

Great video! I agree that The Exorcist was unfairly snubbed at the Oscars. Burstyn, Miller, and Friedkin should have won their categories. Best picture to The Sting over The Exorcist? In retrospect, that's pretty ridiculous.

[@haintedhouse2990]

so is Glenda Jackson winning over Ellen Burstyn. A Touch of what? Glenda who?

[@jhhone]

Another amazing video! I like how you are starting to have guests providing another point of view. I don't know if it was you or another person but were dismissive of Burstyn's performance saying she absent in the third act. Her performance is the emotional center of the entire film. If her performance fails the film would have no credibility! I feel very strongly against Jackson's Oscar win. She didn't deserve a nomination much less the win. It would have been epic if O'Neal won Best Lead Actress instead of supporting. Given the choices Burstyn was the rightful choice!

[@JK-kv1xl]

Hope you guys know that the best picture award presentation in 74' is still one of Oscar shows top 5 moments. Liz Taylor was still the biggest star in the world even though her 7os film career was problematic. she was the one o n the cover of every newspaper after 74 show!

[@moontheloon5]

Having also read the book..which is one of my favorite horror genre books of all time, I can say without a doubt, Ellen Burstyn nailed her portrayal as Chris McNeil. As a parent, her performance as Regan's tormented mother, is gut-wrenchingly real.

[@HMcQ7891]

Great video series subject. Mia Goth in _Pearl_ was another Oscar caliber performance unjustly ignored for genre bias.

[@stevenstanley3157]

Why is no one else commenting on how much hotter your channel is with Andrew as your guest! You definitely know how to pick'em. (Great video in all other respects, too, and even though horror is one of my least favorite genres I did see the movie in a theater when it came out and remember liking it.) That being said, I think perhaps the main reason horror gets overlooked is that many Academy voters, like myself, just won't watch horror movies. I don't find any pleasure in being scared by a movie, nor am I interested in watching stabbings and other bits of gore. So no matter how great the reviews, these are movies I skip.

[@stevenstanley3157]

But that doesn't stop me from watching your videos about horror movies. (And I did love Carrie, so go figure.)

[@mycatlovesme159]

That movie was a real head turner. Get it?!

[@hansmir5443]

The movie and the cast didn’t need that stupid statue! Now everyone knows the movie is still number one in the horror genre. Many times we have seen actors getting Oscars and disappear from the industry. This movie has its own energy and life. Will never get old. Great program 🙏🏼

[@ManorHQ]

Let us not forget to mention who the possessed Regan/Pazuzu's voice belonged to: Oscar winner Mercedes McCambridge (Best Supporting Actress, All the King's Men, 1949). And Blair's stunt double Eileen Dietz performed many of the crazy moments. But that still doesn't take away from Blair's superb acting performance, so yes, Blair still deserved the nomination and possible win.

[@branagain]

I definitely think there was genre bias by the Academy towards the Exorcist but I also think there was serious competition that year. I would argue that 1973 was the best year in cinematic history. The only turd in the bunch was Touch of Class, which it's ridiculous that Glenda Jackson still won over Ellen Burstyn, but I already commented about that on your other video. So many great films in 1973. I do think that Jason Miller was really the heart of the film. It was Father Karras' journey that I found most compelling. I can't believe Miller didn't have more of a career. I also find it interesting that actor Jason Patric is his real life son.

[@adrielayson749]

I feel like when we look back we see the winners of representing "classic Hollywood". So Touch of Class and The Sting are products of the posh and refined Hollywood of the 30s and 50s. Along with the winners of Tatum O'Neal and Glenda Jackson opposite of shouting and eyes going into shock Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair play a possessed girl who goes 110% on the craziness.

[@cathytrottier8944]

Everyone forgets Jason Miller aka Father Damien Karras , but yes a great cast all round.I was born in late 1973 and it's the most terrifying movie ever, right up to now it still terrifies me.

[@jesustovar2549]

I was thinking about watching The Exorcist again because of the Halloween season, I'm 19 years old and I already watched the film two times this year, the 2nd time I did, next day William Friedkin passed, I was also wishing about seeing it in theatres (I have no faith in the new movie, from what I hear, it is terrible), I think the movie has aged well, including special effects there are several scenes that look like it was shot yesterday but better) it's probably "The Godfather" of horror movies, what can I say that hasn't been said yet? The Exorcist probably approached the horror genre in a more artistic and mature way. I'm not saying that there weren't horror films with artistic contributions before (there have been a lot since Nosferatu was filmed back in the silent era), but this was something that maybe critics and voters could take seriously, something of value, a serious plot in a horror movie, maybe because of pressure, , maybe also because they saw that William Friedkin was the director (because of The French Connection). Furthermore, I consider a real injustice that Max von Sydow was not nominated for best supporting actor, because I am sure he would have won. C'mon.

[@burthuffman2802]

The Exorcist should have made a clean sweep for all it was nominated for. The movie did what it was supposed to. I was one of those people waiting in line around the block in Westwood Los Angeles twice, with the same effect both times. I didn't sleep right for a long time.

[@witchingbrew3]

I remember being a kid when the Blair Witch came out. People said it was the new Exorcist by audience. But now looking back, wasn't even close.

[@khoohockleong7585]

Yes, as a child hear about supernatural hoongs on on the production pace. By the way is Andrew Mohin. I see him wiggling his head. 😊😊

[@khoohockleong7585]

If I remember correctly. some scenes from The Exorcist was censored for Singapore viewing.

[@narinderchonkaria7558]

The only way to judge is which movie is remembered more? The exorcist clear winner.

[@TayWoode]

My mother went to see it and said there was nuns blessing people and sprinkling them with holy water outside the cinema

[@daddygrace253]

I had hope, the Exorcist would come out in 4K Prime on Amazon videos.

[@eddiedaniels5034]

Masaki Kobayashi's "Kwaidan" received a Best Foreign Language Film nomination in 1965. Criterion's Blu-ray is the only way to see that masterpiece. Ingmar Bergman's "The Virgin Spring" won Best Foreign Language Film in 1961. It's a drama with horror overtones. Bergman's masterwork "Cries and Whispers" was nominated with "The Exorcist" (those two films remind me of each other) in 1974. They would have been a more worthy Best Picture winner.

[@rustincohle2135]

0:57 I see you incorporated my comment on your PSYCHO video into this one in how the film should also have been nominated for Best Original Score and Best Film Editing (as well as Best Picture, Screenplay and an acting nod for Anthony Perkins, in supporting actor I feel, not lead).😄

[@Gregorius24]

Nancy Kelly, Eileen Heckart, and Patty McCormack all deserved Oscars for “The Bad Seed.” It was the first of its kind (horror/suspense) film to feature a child antagonist who turned out to be a serial killer.

[@singstreetcar5881]

The sting, I have never heard of that film before.

[@ericryanyawl9401]

I just realized I saw this when I was 7 or 8. No wonder I spent the majority of the time in the lobby crying.

[@PhilMoskowitz]

Odd the studio didn't think much of the movie before its release. The book was a massive hit and much talked about book. It was the same with "Jaws". One of the reasons we don't have great movies anymore is because we don't have great books as source material.

[@wsidechris]

04:18 Ha, "including Regan and Burstyn", not sure if that was intended. Maybe that's how good Linda Blair really was in the role! It is still wild to think that the likely 2 contenders for Best Supporting Actress Oscar that year were ages 10 and 14.