*THE EXORCIST* is SO MESSED UP!! | First Time Watching | (reaction/commentary/review)

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Less jump-scares than I had thought but incredibly disgusting moments that I don't think I'll be able to unsee. Incredible film.
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THE EXORCIST is SO MESSED UP!! | First Time Watching | (reaction/commentary/review)
*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Less jump-scares than I had thought but incredibly disgusting moments that I don't think I'll be able to unsee. Incredible film.

[@erinpowell941]

The thing about the Exorcist is context; when it came out in the early 70s, people had never seen something like this before and it caused hysteria and terror on a never-seen-before scale. People were passing out in the theater and having nightmares from having seen it. My own mother read the book and had nightmares for months afterwards, vowing to never see the movie because the book scared her so badly. The shocking scenes of self-abuse with the cross and the foul language, and other memorable scenes were unlike anything ever put on screen before. Now, we have seen many moves with shocking scenes, but in 1973, this was terrifying, horrific and damaging to people's state of mind. There is always a terrifying link with religion and evil, such that it can penetrate people's fears far better than a creature or alien horror movie. Thanks to religion, we have a visceral and deep-seeded fear of the devil and evil that few other horror genres can reach.

[@josephmummerth2516]

read the book before I ever saw the film , I was 16 when i saw the film ! few of the people in the theater went kinda pale during some parts of the film , but surprisingly no one got sick or walked out ! the book is better , but that`s usually true of and film based on a novel !

[@NSnicket]

Karras was listening to the tape of Regan talking to her father to hear the difference from how she had been pre-possession. He had never met her so he had no idea how severe of a change it was until he heard that tape.

[@JC-rb3hj]

The author of The Exorcist, William Blatty did not consider The Exorcist a horror story. He considered it a story about a spiritual crisis.

[@gmunden1]

I understand what he meant because everal of the characters were scarred spiritually or emotionally: Burke Dennings, Father Karras, but Regan was vulnerable because of her broken family and the fact that there was no attachment to God and her never being baptized was an open door for the demon to corrupt her being. Regan and her family weren't bad. They were just broken.

[@joaoluizfonseca6914]

Yeah, I've seen him talk about it..... he called it a "romance", because a spiritual crisis can mean anything, in this case, it happens to be related to religion....

[@macarmenv]

Such a great movie. Imagine the impact it had back in the 70's...

[@ceji566]

..i don't have to imagine ...

[@campbellthomson252]

I was in high school in Edinburgh when this came out. I remember my school's cinema club rented this in early 1974, I think it was. So I sat and watched this at about age 14! It's seemingly tame compared to today's offerings but it was a totally seminal film and spawned lots of similar films afterwards. There was also no CGI in it whatsoever, everything being done with practical effects. Can't wait for it to come out later in 2023 on 4k Blu-ray.

[@djfabianfontes]

Almost 50 years after being released, "The Exorcist" to this day still remains the measuring stick to which all other horror films are compared. That is legendary.

[@GilbertMartinezHarpsichord]

An interesting touch: in the early bedroom scene Reagan says "the SOW is mine". Jesus healed a possessed man by casting the demonic spirit into a flock of wild pigs, which then ran into the sea and drowned themselves. I wonder if the Damian's death references the same, - taking on the demon and sacrificing himself.

[@KurtAnderson812]

There are videos online showing people passing out and being carried out of theaters when this film was released. It was that shocking at the time. Today we have become almost immune to this level of fear.

[@edp5886]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/goS5eaOOZqh3hJo

[@sathvamp1]

I STILL haven't seen anything like it... BUT I'm not talking about "showy, flashy special effects" etc... I just remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. One SPECIFIC realistic aspect of one scene that I always notice is how, when the 2 priests were repeating "The power of Christ compels you," the repeated phrases went on for a LONG TIME. That went on for SO long that probably most viewers, like myself, start to get a strange combination of bored and tense, and then EXTRA-tense because one's subconscious starts thinking that this is an actual documentary just because producers of movies USUALLY keep repetitive scenes short enough to hold the attention of the audience, LOL! I mean, if one really notices all the subtle realistic oddities about this film, it's insanely impressive to me.

[@Knightowl1980]

I’d say this and rosemarys baby from 1968 really reinvented the horror genre, kinda came out of the “campy” and hitchcock era. It’s just shocking but not for the sake of being so. Just an iconic film. And the fact you recognize the famous lamp post shot and lines “power of Christ compels you” just proves how the film holds up 53 years later. It’s just wonderfully done

[@globextradingsystemsllc1740]

Rosemary's baby was nothing like exorcist

[@Knightowl1980]

@@globextradingsystemsllc1740 didn’t say they were sir

[@JeffMeyers-zm2lh]

Knightowl it's 50 years. This came out in 1973. I was 9. And this is an extended cut from original theatrical release.

[@crescentfreshbret]

@@globextradingsystemsllc1740It paved the way for The Exorcist, though. There’d never been anything like it before. It was the first horror movie that was really built around Satan and the occult, as far as I know, and it was one of the first horror movies in decades where it was more focused on quality filmmaking than scaring the audience (the fact that it was based on a very well-written book and directed by one of the most gifted directors of all time- his despicable actions nine year later notwithstanding- definitely affected this). The scary aspect of it was more a slow-building, below-the-surface, psychological thing, which hadn’t been done before and was definitely the way the Exorcist did things (although in the case of The Exorcist, that was punctuated here and there by very graphic, over-the-top scenes. And whereas in Rosemary’s Baby, it climaxed in a brief, big reveal that’s only visible to the main character and then ended right away, The Exorcist gave us a completely insane final 20 minutes that assaults the audience’s senses on every conceivable level).

[@marcmainville7873]

The scene where the priest hears his confession at the very end is part of a Catholic practice known as the last rites. Among other things...it includes an opportunity for any Catholic who is near death to receive absolution for the sins committed during their life or "get right with god" as you accurately put it.

[@mrkennethj7232]

So glad that you mentioned loving Burstyn's performance. She is really incredible and had such an extreme range of emotion to portray.

[@joaoluizfonseca6914]

In addition to her Oscar nomination, and the injuries she sustained during filming this; Ellen Burstyn said in an interview "it would have been carzy not to do" this movie. She knew how impactful and how serious this would be....

[@richardwoodjr5435]

See her totally own the screen in Requiem for a Dream.

[@magicbrownie1357]

First 10 times I watched I thought this is the scariest horror movie of all time. Now I think it's an incredible drama about a priest who loses and regains his faith, with a few horror elements thrown in.

[@traceyharris4310]

I also feel like it’s about a mother who will do anything for her daughter as well

[@magicbrownie1357]

@@traceyharris4310 Point to Tracey!

[@sathvamp1]

That might either be the effect of desensitization (although I personally tend to hold onto "titles" I give my favorite movies, lol).... ...or another possibility is... have there been movies you've seen after this one, that stole the "scariest" title? For me, it could be Hereditary. Although... regarding "Hereditary", I am sorry to report that I had spoiled myself by watching reactions of it (and still haven't had access to the full movie). I think there may have been a big chance of a full [UNspoiled] watch of Hereditary legitimately freaking me out the most compared to any horror movie, especially since after watching my first mere reaction of it, I was slightly hesitant to go to sleep that night, JUST from a reaction :)

[@magicbrownie1357]

​@@sathvamp1 As I became familiar with the film, I just felt like I could look past the shock elements to find the core of the story. When I considered the title, and the climax of the story, I felt strongly the film was not about a possessed little girl, it was about Father Karras.

[@sathvamp1]

@@magicbrownie1357 Oh I see, yes definitely, I can see that! :)

[@sca88]

I snuck into this film with my friend and his older brother when I was 8. It was pretty intense seeing this as a kid. I didn't sleep well for quite a while. I got to meet Linda Blair in 2018 and got an autographed photo of her as the demon. I got to talk to her pretty long and she's really sweet and tiny. Doing so well as Regan hurt her career. Film companies didn't want to hire 'Regan the possessed girl' so she resented for many years being in Exorcist as child until she came to terms and embraced her part in one of the most iconic and influential films of all time.

[@sathvamp1]

Oh man! Seeing this at only 8 years old must have been so tough! I myself saw it at 14 years old with my dad but was already a seasoned horror movie fanatic (started off at about 8 myself but with mild ones with some comedy, strategically picked by my mom who was a horror enthusiast herself!) But when I saw THIS film, my dad had hyped this movie up SO MUCH that I was already freaked out by the time he and I watched it, together, LOL. I did reasonably well afterwards - not having very much trouble falling asleep that night, etc (UNlike my mom... she didn't even watch much of it WITH us, and still wanted to watch cartoons for herself before bed!

[@sca88]

@@sathvamp1 I saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre a year later. The made for t.v. movie 'Trilogy of Terror' probably gave me just as many nightmares, the last story. I was older too.

[@sathvamp1]

@@sca88 Hmm... I haven't seen the Trilogy of Terror... I gotta remember that one :)

[@sca88]

@@sathvamp1 3 different stories starring Karen Black. The 3rd story is pretty famous and the 'doll' from the film was under a glass case at Universal Studios for many years. It may still be there.

[@sathvamp1]

@@sca88 Oh my goodness- do you mean Universal Studios Florida? If so, I may have seen it (without realizing it though!)

[@aroraborealiss77]

This was a good reaction. Well edited and showing the important parts of the movie. And paying attention to the whole movie and not trying to overreact for a youtube video. 👍 and also you caught onto parts of the movie that even I had to watch multiple times to learn.

[@thecocoacouch]

Really appreciate that thank you.

[@stephanieclark9849]

*Imagine never seeing a movie or TV show about the paranormal, the devil, possession, etc.. because nobody had ever made anything about these types of things before. Now imagine this movie being your 1st exposure to all of that in one shot. It was disturbing and terrifying. People who watch it today don't see it as scary as other movies because they're almost desensitized to it. You've seen it a thousand times by now. But if you'd never seen anything on this topic in your life and this was your 1st experience?.. it's horrifying.*

[@sathvamp1]

There are SOME things that most "modern horror movie enthusiasts" are NOT desensitized to though that this movie HAS, for example: I remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. One SPECIFIC realistic aspect of one scene that I always notice is how, when the 2 priests were repeating "The power of Christ compels you," the repeated phrases went on for a LONG TIME. That went on for SO long that probably most viewers, like myself, start to get a strange combination of bored and tense, and then EXTRA-tense because one's subconscious starts thinking that this is an actual documentary just because producers of movies USUALLY keep repetitive scenes short enough to hold the attention of the audience, LOL! I mean, if one really notices all the subtle realistic oddities about this film, it's insanely impressive to me.

[@e.s.9080]

This movie is not jump-scary, but a psychological and theological suspense supernatural crime thriller. The "jump scares" are what it leaves in your mind for the rest of your life, what you saw, what you think you saw and what it ultimately means to you. A movie both feared and revered, studied and admonished. Never a book and film like it before and never since with such gravitas. Now...for a completely different and unexpected reaction, watch Exorcist 2 The Heretic (1977).

[@jimbearone]

The ‘IDOL’ was the demon Pazuzu as was the large statue at the dig site it was used in ancient times to drive away lesser demons and evil spirits. It was why the man referred to the piece as “Evil against evil” People used to sacrifice to Pazuzu to keep other demons away. Father Marin had a Heart Condition that required him to use Nitroglycerin.

[@daytoncharitychicken]

I appreciated you pointing out that the characters don’t know they’re in a horror film, so don’t take the precautions or behave as we would… too many seem to lose sight of that.😂 Glad you survived despite all the “I don’t like this” reactions.😉

[@eddietucker7005]

I lived in a rural area in the woods. We could only get 2 television stations, so not much to do except work in the fields and not many people to talk to. Everyone acted as if this was a documentary instead of an adaptation of a book. My sister snuck in with my oldest sister to see it. She looked so much like Linda Blair it made it scarier. She spent 2/3 of the film hidden under her seat and became the most religious person in our family and still is today. It had that much of an effect on her. I borrowed the book from someone I knew and read it. To me, it was ok. A little blasphemous, which made me uneasy, but I knew a demon could enter my body at any given moment so I prayed harder. So, this book and film mixed with rural hysteria made you feel like you were living “The Village”!

[@garyedwardgray7549]

I love how everyone has such a visceral reaction to the Ouija board. It’s such a circular reaction. That is, the fear or Ouija boards and thinking they’re so evil actually stems largely from this movie. So, your negative reaction to it is actually because of this movie in the first place.

[@xen0bia]

It's odd how excorcisms (and intrinsically, demon possessions) weren't a thing at all anymore when this movie came around, but it pretty brought it to back into common conscisousness. Not unlike Jaws, it caused a lot of harm, as people believed themselves or a loved one possessed and turned to exorcisms as a remedy instead of proper medical/psychological care.

[@josephmummerth2516]

the novel the film was based on ,was itself based on a real exorcism of a 14 year old boy in 1947 , look it up

[@joaoluizfonseca6914]

Over 20 years prior to the movie, and book, an exorcism of a boy took place in the same area where the author/scriptwritter lived; its intense; the markings, like the "help me" were all over his body, his voice was very dry.... to this day, even though the family moved away, and other people took care of the home, everything rots in there in a matter of minutes, and no life survives, and the plants died, and nothing grows within the property. Possession is definitely real. It's not like this movie portrays, exactly, but it is real. And you don't have to be a Christian to believe it in terms of the Devil possessing people; evil takes a hold of anyone in bizarre ways, and the most surreal things can happen.....

[@xen0bia]

@@joaoluizfonseca6914 "Possession is definitely real" - Citation needed.

[@stevenjump8234]

They made a sequel called Exorcist II The Heretic. Linda Blair reprises her role as Regan. It's not very good, best skipped. Exorcist III is very good and is actually based on the real sequel book Legion. It's even directed by the actual author of both books. Make sure if you do watch it, to watch the theatrical version and not the "Directors Cut". I won't go into why because it would spoil things. Linda Blair would spoof her role in a parody movie Repossed! It's very funny and has Leslie Nielson, from Airplane & Naked Gun, playing the Merren character.

[@darryl1373]

The Exorcist is one of those rare movies that can stand the test of time, and still holds up today. It was fun watching along. Your reactions reminded me of myself when I first watched this film. Great video!

[@sathvamp1]

I STILL haven't seen anything like it! And I'm not talking about "showy, flashy special effects" etc... I just remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. One SPECIFIC realistic aspect of one scene that I always notice is how, when the 2 priests were repeating "The power of Christ compels you," the repeated phrases went on for a LONG TIME. That went on for SO long that probably most viewers, like myself, start to get a strange combination of bored and tense, and then EXTRA-tense because one's subconscious starts thinking that this is an actual documentary just because producers of movies USUALLY keep repetitive scenes short enough to hold the attention of the audience, LOL! I mean, if one really notices all the subtle realistic oddities about this film, it's insanely impressive to me.

[@darryl1373]

@@sathvamp1 100% agree with you. Sometimes music/soundtrack can make a movie truly exceptional (for example "Halloween", "Jaws", "Psycho", and "Insidious ". But sometimes its the lack of any music that pulls the viewer into the scene and makes it all that more real.

[@xephrenata]

It always blows my mind that these were all practical effects. Still haven't seen many movies that are this disturbing to date.

[@sathvamp1]

YES and also just little things that make this movie so different are so significant: I just remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. One SPECIFIC realistic aspect of one scene that I always notice is how, when the 2 priests were repeating "The power of Christ compels you," the repeated phrases went on for a LONG TIME. That went on for SO long that probably most viewers, like myself, start to get a strange combination of bored and tense, and then EXTRA-tense because one's subconscious starts thinking that this is an actual documentary just because producers of movies USUALLY keep repetitive scenes short enough to hold the attention of the audience, LOL! I mean, if one really notices all the subtle realistic oddities about this film, it's insanely impressive to me.

[@robovike]

All I can say about this film is that, for me, it's still very effective, 50 years sown the road. I would say that Grease and The Wizard of Oz still hold that kind of sway on me, so many year later.

[@sathvamp1]

I STILL haven't seen anything like it! And I'm not talking about "showy, flashy special effects" etc... I just remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. One SPECIFIC realistic aspect of one scene that I always notice is how, when the 2 priests were repeating "The power of Christ compels you," the repeated phrases went on for a LONG TIME. That went on for SO long that probably most viewers, like myself, start to get a strange combination of bored and tense, and then EXTRA-tense because one's subconscious starts thinking that this is an actual documentary just because producers of movies USUALLY keep repetitive scenes short enough to hold the attention of the audience, LOL! I mean, if one really notices all the subtle realistic oddities about this film, it's insanely impressive to me.

[@anthonymiele4320]

"I've seen The Exorcist about a hundred and sixty-seven times, and it keeps getting funnier every single time I see it!" - Beetlejuice

[@amuck123]

There is not one single modern film that is scarier. Jump scares do not make a film scary. Nobody walks away from a jump scare freaked out 50 years later. The psychological aspects of this film is the scare. Today people use the word disturbing to describe what is truly frighting. There are some great modern horror movies today, but most of what I see now quickly leave my thoughts as soon as the credits roll. The Exorcist has lingered in my mind for my entire life. That's the difference to me.

[@shaneencalade4988]

For 50yrs this film has held up. No one before this film had never seen anything like it. People didn't know how to respond because they had never been exposed to this type of horror. Being scared is questionable but being uncomfortable is a guarantee.

[@sathvamp1]

I STILL haven't seen anything like it! And I'm not talking about "showy, flashy special effects" etc... I just remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. One SPECIFIC realistic aspect of one scene that I always notice is how, when the 2 priests were repeating "The power of Christ compels you," the repeated phrases went on for a LONG TIME. That repetitive scene went on for SO long that probably most viewers, like myself, start to get a strange combination of bored and tense, and then EXTRA-tense because one's subconscious starts thinking that this is an actual documentary just because producers of movies USUALLY keep repetitive scenes short enough to hold the attention of the audience, LOL! I mean, if one really notices all the subtle realistic oddities about this film, it's insanely impressive to me.

[@carlesmacuaid]

I love horror movies but there are only a few I could put in a list of the greatest movies generally of all time. The Exorcist would be of them.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

A young child actress named Jamie Lee Curtis was considered for the role of Regan. Her mother, Janet Leigh of Psycho fame, objected to the language and content, so she declined. Other actresses who auditioned or were considered included Brooke Shields and Eve Plumb (Jan from The Brady Bunch).

[@selenawolf2466]

The backwards down the stairs scene sends a MASSIVE chill down my spine EVERY TIME. And all the goosebumps. Even this time, yeesh.

[@carlesmacuaid]

The thing I love about this, and 70's movies in general, is that there are no tropes. There's none of the usual convention of building up tension to a climactic moment, things just happen suddenly and without warning. Also, what this movie does really well is it doesn't allow the audience to experience a resolution. In horror movies now the general theme is to have a scary moment but then it's resolved in some way before moving onto the next scene. In The Exorcist there's never really a moment of resolution, they frequently jump cut to a new scenes which means the tension just keeps building.

[@JonInCanada1]

The thing about horror is that, for it to have a real effect, it has to mess with your mind more than give you a quick jump scare. Many horrors today rely on gore and jump scares whereas this film, like another classic Rosemary's Baby, gets into your head and stirs it about. Another way to put it is like this: Horror today scares you in the cinema and it's done, Horrors like the Exorcist linger in your mind long after you left. That all said, Horror is subjective, so this is only my opinion.

[@sathvamp1]

SO TRUE.. I remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. One SPECIFIC realistic aspect of one scene that I always notice is how, when the 2 priests were repeating "The power of Christ compels you," the repeated phrases went on for a LONG TIME. That went on for SO long that probably most viewers, like myself, start to get a strange combination of bored and tense, and then EXTRA-tense because one's subconscious starts thinking that this is an actual documentary just because producers of movies USUALLY keep repetitive scenes short enough to hold the attention of the audience, LOL! I mean, if one really notices all the subtle realistic oddities about this film, it's insanely impressive to me.

[@TheKiddo2468]

Max von Sydow, who played Father Merrin, was on 44 when this movie came out. The SFX team did such a good job at aging Sydow up for the role that he looked pretty close to Merrin when he started get on in age

[@richardwoodjr5435]

The detective and the priest at the end are the main characters in the TRUE sequel Exorcist III. Both actors died so they were recast but one of the actors is the amazing George C. Scott (someone who's movies you should check out on the channel, like Hardcore and Rage, & Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb). Equal to the original but a whole new genre.

[@pendorran]

The director William Friedkin had started out working in documentary films, and he brought that realistic focus to his best movies.

[@DaMurphyBeat]

It's probably been said in the comments already, but this was based on an actual case that the writer William Peter blatty heard about while in college. And much later on, he had actually got his hands on a journal that was kept by one of the priests involved in the exorcism. He changed the sex of the victim as it was a young boy in maryland. And it was started there and finished in St Louis as the first priest was seriously injured when the boy used a piece of metal from the bed box spring and sliced his arm causing the priest to need a whole lot of stitches and he bailed out of the exorcism. And it was taken up by another priest in St Louis and finished there. It took months. There's a good book on it called American exorcism that was very in-depth.

[@portugalgamermanel3404]

this also based on a true story. that's the most scary part :p The demon seems to want Merrin in the recording tape backwards. The girl and the exorcism are a trap to kill Merrin who was investigating the demon. A very interesting scene of this movie was the look of the little girl when she saw the throat of the priest in the end, it was the throat swollen? she knows something? is the king of demons really gone? Muahaha

[@cherylsims5636]

I saw this movie in '73 when it first came out. You must understand before this movie there was nothing like it. There were protestors walking with signs out front protesting the movies graphic language and violence. During the show people got up, screamed and ran out. One guy got up vomited right in the isle and the movie was banned in many citys and towns. Its based on a true story but the vicitim was a boy. The Vatican has sealed the record so not much more is known. This movie had many strange events while filming. A person died and fires broke out. Your reaction was pretty good. I see it affected you a lot...

[@nilsfearon1]

Your nervous giggle is just delightful!

[@lees1328]

Great reaction. One of the greatest films ever made. While the first sequel is considered one of the worst films ever made. The 3rd is a very underrated film but a well made sequel, the 2 versions of the 4th one is just a ok prequel. The next film in the franchise should be interesting.

[@mmsizzlak]

"it would bring us together." The demon foreshadowing the merging with Damien at the end of the film and the answer to "Why this girl?"... I've always wondered if Regan being possessed was a part of the plan all along, in order to take over a priest...

[@mikemorrison4125]

Happy you got to check this one out. Still a classic but still disturbing lol . Have a great day Oscar. 😊 Great job.

[@conductenor]

Great video! I’m glad I found your channel. Having seen this brilliant film many times, I have to say your reactions are adorable! 😅

[@nickkiriakou9100]

Subscribed to your channel based on your reaction to The Exorcist mate. Excellent reaction and picking up little things that others miss. Most of all you respect the movies and you respect your audience with your reaction by keeping them real and not just doing it for show. Good stuff mate!!

[@jamesmarciel5237]

What makes this movie even more terrifying is that… it is based on real true life events. It took place in the 40’s/50’s in St. Louis. The child that was possessed was a boy and not a girl. He was close (possibly too close) to his aunt, who introduced him to a quija board. The family changed their religion to Catholicism to allow for the exorcism. It took place over a longer period of time and occurred in a church associated hospital. The Vatican has announced that they will never release the boy’s or even the family’s name. He went on to become an airline pilot. There is another movie that stars Timothy Dalton that more closely follows the actual events.

[@donniehagy5125]

Just some info for you: That statue is the demon Pazuzu. Merrin had a previous battle with it in Africa where "it almost killed him." The book was even more frightening than the movie and went into depths of misery for the characters. The butler Karl was affected because he was a survivor of the Holocaust. Father Karras was "attacked" because the demon accused him of being a homosexual (which I think he was). Watch his interactions with the other priests, and he said he had "lost his faith." In the crucifix scene, Ellen Burstyn (who played the mother) was severely injured. Production had wires attached to her so when Regan slapped her, it appear Regan had super strength. The people were supposed to pull her back across the room, but they pulled too hard and her back was severely injured. To give the appearance of the room being cold, the director had refrigeration units attached to keep the temperature (I think) like 34 degrees. Vax von Sydow (who played Merrin) was only 42 when he did the character! Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, and him should have won awards.

[@garybassin1651]

Linda Blair did win a Golden Globe as supporting actress.

[@donniehagy5125]

@@garybassin1651 The three mentioned should have won Oscars.

[@garybassin1651]

@donniehagy5125 The movie was extremely controversial at the time so it didn't win as many awards as it should have. I agree that Burstyn should have gotten an Oscar for the role. She won what many agree was a "carry-over Oscar" the next year for "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". Jimmy Stewart won a "carry-over Oscar" for "The Philadelphia Story" when everyone said he should have won the previous year for "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington".

[@AzayBae]

At the time this movie came out exorcisms were pretty not done anymore. To contrast that to now, a few years back the Vatician began to train more exorcists than usual due to higher demand. I like how the movie itself mentions it was super rare and even them the church wanted them to confirm it wasn't due to mental illness or anything. I'm glad that is a thing. Adding more context: In quite a few possession cases there are multiple demons in a person. This happened in the Bible as well. Exorcisms tend to not take after one sessions. Sometimes they are performed regularly for years with little success. I like that they said Marrin took months to do it.

[@JD_ATX]

It's a real testament to the makers of this film that 50 years after its release, it can still shock and un-nerve folks. And doesn't Ellen Burstyn give a phenomenal performance? Her character's inner turmoil is palpable. And Mercedes McCambridge's vocal performance as Pazuzu is Oscar worthy. - - - - - Max Von Sydow was only in his 40s when the played Merrin. When he returned as a younger Merrin in 1977's EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC he didn't need the makeup to look older. - - - - - In the novel, Lt. Kinderman showed up at the McNeil house to arrest Regan for the murder of Burke Dennings, right as Kerras threw himself out of the window. After he saw Regan, he pieced together what occurred and actually ended up covering up the details for Chris and Regan's privacy. - - - - - Also in the novel, whenever Regan's head would "spin", it was described as an illusion that the demon would project at people in order to elicit shock and fear. When Chris saw this, she was so jarred that she fainted. - - - - - I hope you do reaction vids to the other films in this franchise ... EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (1977) [a total shit show ... couldn't decide if it was horror film or a sci-film] THE EXORCIST III: LEGION (1990) [my favorite sequel] DOMINION: PREQUEL TO THE EXORCIST (2004) [decent prequel] EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING (2005) [idiotic prequel]

[@blanewalker5512]

Fun Facts: The opening of this film was shot in Northern Iraq. They filmed it in Mosul, Iraq. The dig site was filmed in an ancient city of Hatra, Iraq.

[@goke8456]

Two fun facts - #1, the book was based on a real case about a boy in Maryland, it wasn’t just straight fiction. #2 in one of the medical scenes, one of the medical staff wound up being a convicted murderer. Something with exorcisms that doesn’t often get mentioned in movies that cover the topic is that you have to have solid, strong faith to even be in the room for an exorcism. If there’s any part of you that doubts, you should be as far away as possible because otherwise the demon will exploit that weakness, as we see it do with Fr Karras. So many movies have the entire family in the room, camera men, etc. (of course that’s the Hollywood way). That always makes me cringe when I watch because Karras never should’ve been allowed near that situation in the first place - however, him regaining his faith helps bring about an end to it.

[@joek468]

Back in 2016 I worked as a courier for the entertainment industry. My dispatcher called me with a pick up from William Friedkin the director's house.but on my way there my dispatch rerouted me to another pickup instead. I was bummed because I wanted to tell Mr. Friedkin how is movie freaked me out when I saw it in my early teens.

[@w1975b]

The actresses portraying mother and daughter both sustained injuries from making this movie.

[@djfabianfontes]

The story is really about Father Karras. He's a guilt ridden priest who is questioning his faith. But then he is presented with something he can't explain with logic and in the end he commits the ultimate act of love by sacrificing his life to save someone he never met. Remember, he never met Reagan, he only met the demon.

[@melthebell33]

Me and the missus once watched this at the cinema at a midnight showing then had to walk halfway over town to get home in the dark

[@sathvamp1]

Oh my GOSH. That is rough! It reminds me of one time when my then-boyfriend and I in college once explored (starting in the daytime) a really famous and supposed-to-be-really haunted (and really LARGE) cemetery near town, and when the sun started to set and we needed to start walking home, we had a hard time finding the exit of that (again, LARGE) cemetery!!! It was very freaky and he was more freaked out than I was! :D

[@christined6321]

Saw this when I was 8. I couldn’t sleep for weeks! 😂This and original Carrie will forever be the scariest films for me. Great reaction, your looks of horror thru out were hilarious!

[@sathvamp1]

WOW there are a LOT of people in these comments who saw this at only 8 years old!! I myself saw it at 14 years old with my dad but was already a seasoned horror movie fanatic (started off at about 8 myself but with mild ones with some comedy, strategically picked by my mom who was a horror enthusiast herself!)

[@christined6321]

@@sathvamp1 Yes, it was the ‘80s 😆!

[@sathvamp1]

@@christined6321 HAHA ahh so that's what it was :D

[@kellyjene77]

I don't know if someone mentioned it, but the young actress broke her back during the scene where she's being flung back and forth on the bed when the activity first begins. Also, all the horrific parts were acted by the adult body double.

[@dqan7372]

For me it ramps up empathy more than fear. Definitely shocking, but mostly makes me feel bad for everyone involved, watching them all get to the point of breaking.

[@sathvamp1]

GREAT point. For me, empathy definitely adds to truly "horrific" elements... for example, many scenes in the movie "Hereditary" involving mentally torturous family interactions definitely do that. I've been a seasoned horror movie enthusiast since about age 8 (and saw the Exorcist at age 14)... but I lost my interest in them for at least a DECADE after my grandmother died (when I was in college). What she went through with the disease she had was quite traumatic to just watch and of course even worse for her... so after that, any horror movie that involved injury / disease-implicated human death or appearance of such (MOST horror movies)... just triggered far more depressive sadness compared to the usually-endorphin/adrenaline-releasing fear that I had originally gotten conditioned to. One of the most gruesome scenes I can think of, related to that, is the scene from "The Mist" when the giant insect stings a huge amount of venom in one of the character's neck, and it swelled up a horrific amount (BUT, IF there actually DID exist venomous insects that large, that amount of swelling would probably be realistic). I'm not sure if that scene was meant to be more scary than sad, but for ME it was just horrifically SAD. I've recently sort of gotten back into horror movies, especially since watching my favorite reactors react to them. I DO get endorphins out of certain fear-inducing stimuli (I'm also a thrill ride enthusiast), and seeing reactors' reactions have reminded me of that thrill :)

[@Nekogatari93]

18:02 The reason why the tap water hurt Regan is because Karras turned that vial into holy water unknowingly. With enough faith and conviction, a priest can actually make holy water from any water source.

[@dansiegel333]

I really appreciate your willingness to watch a movie that you dread for the sake of cinema. If you’re looking for another classic horror in the same vein (more religious eeriness than jump scares) Rosemary’s Baby is another excellent film. And “The Witch” is a modern one that goes into such religious themes. Thanks for your friendly presence! It made it easier to rewatch this!

[@aquatadevore9335]

I love this movie ❤ I don't know why but I've always adored horror movies, you've got to see The Howling

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Every Halloween I go and “fall down “ those stairs in Georgetown…I live about 5 miles away from there…those stairs really are dangers hell though…really steep and slick

[@leeyaferguson9019]

Messed up?!!! I was 16 in 1980 . My mother was not happy!!

[@williamjones6031]

1. I was 13 when I saw this in the theater with friends. What rating system they had at the time wasn't really followed that closely. By word of mouth, I was aware of the head spinning, vomiting and language but what freaked me the most were the demon flashes.😱 2. When the doctor is looking at Regan's skull x-ray and says, "Nothing in there" I always 🤣 3. The spider-walk down the stairs was NOT in the original release. 4. The loud banging with the medical equipment is for our benefit. 5. Father Merrin and the demon had a previous encounter where he almost killed the father. Merin doesn't acknowledge the receipt of the note and tells Karras there's no need for analysis. 6. Chris MacNeil/Ellen Burstyn actually her coccyx was fractured when the demon makes her hard fall. 7. The demon doesn't kill Merrin. From the beginning we know he has a heart problem most likely brought on by the previous encounter. 8. Karras doesn't kill the demon. He does manage to draw it out of her and sacrificed himself for her. 9 Karras is confessing and asking for forgiveness for his loss of faith

[@janabraam7963]

On the recording, the demon said "Merrin. Fear the priest!" I didn't know if you caught that. This was 1973 & there weren't movies like that out there back then. This was a first. We were traumatized when we saw this at the theater when it was first released. Especially because it had to do with faith & the church. Horror movies have not had such an impact on audiences since this film.

[@donbergeson6771]

I love this movie. Master storytelling and filmmaking. Always thought it was funny that the biggest jump scare is a phone ringing. And to me, the scariest thing about the movie is the medical technology of the 70s. Horrifying!

[@johnhales8824]

Been waiting for you to do this. This film is nearly 50 years old and still has the power to shock. My sister still won't watch it. I highly highly recommend Exorcist 3. It's sooooo good. Also I'd love to see your reactions to The Babadook and Lake Mungo. Both breakout horror movies from your wonderful country. Maybe for October - Halloween month. Keep it up Oscar. Amazing as always.

[@ITSAHARDNUGLIFE]

I'd say check out Repossesed next. Linda Blair came back to reprise her role sort of. A great comedy spoof and Leslie Nelson as the old priest. Very underrated and inspired the spoof in Scary Movie 2

[@peterphilly4148]

We thank you for your fortitude. I bet you'll never look at pea soup the same way ever again. William Peter Blatty based his book on an actual possession in the Maryland and Missouri areas in 1949. The movie became famous because of the intensity of the audience reactions - i.e.fainting, vomiting, fleeing the theater. Possession tends to be a gradual process. Mercedes McCambridge, who voiced the possessed Regan, was an Academy Award winning actress with an extensive background as a radio actor. I got to know her in the 80's when I had a retail job and she came in to shop. She was associated at the time with a local alcohol rehab. The actor playing the police detective was another renowned actor from the 40's and 50's, Lee J. Cobb. You would almost certainly enjoy one of his films - 12 Angry Men. Wuthering Heights mentioned at the end is another worthwhile classic starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier.

[@jujubegold]

When you mentioned the dogs fighting that was very good insight on your first time seeing it!

[@195511SM]

I saw this in the late summer of '74. Went into the theater completely blind, because I had been in boot camp when it was first released. There are several documentaries on the making of it. The original cut completely freaked me out & left me traumatized.

[@sathvamp1]

Oh wow, at the going into this completely blind! That reminds me of how I saw the movie "I am Legend" in grad school in their on-campus theater, and since I lived in campus, I had to walk 15 minutes back to my place IN THE DARK on UNcrowded sidewalks ALONE, lol. That was quite a freaky walk!

[@pendorran]

Real-life serial killer in this hospital scan scene. Real technician, real murderer. Seriously.

[@heidos7]

The film was adapted by William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel of the same name. Aspects of Blatty's novel were inspired by the 1949 exorcism performed on an anonymous boy known as "Roland Doe" or "Robbie Mannheim" by the Jesuit priest William S. Bowdern. The true identity of the boy was revealed in late 2021. His real name was Ronald Edwin Hunkeler, who grew to be a successful NASA engineer. He contributed to the famous Apollo missions of the 1960s, and helped to put humans on the moon in 1969 by patenting the technology that helped space shuttle panels withstand extreme heat. He never discussed his experiences and always feared exposure. He died in 2020, just before his 86th birthday. The debate over whether it was a genuine possession or mental illness is still ongoing, however. The Exorcist is the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. The movie's director, William Friedkin, insisted on realism, filming the prologue in political unstable northern Iraq, using live special effects and casting real priests and medical personnel. Crew also recalled that he was temperamental, often firing people without warning. He also deliberately made the cast uncomfortable and went to great lengths to manipulate the actors to get genuine reactions. Like putting the set where the exorcism scenes took place to temperatures down to −20°F (−29°C) to make their breath visible, and slapping them or firing blanks without warning to generate a shaken reaction. This behavior led the crew to call him "Wacky Willy". Ironically, Friedkin's office was at 666th Fifth Avenue in New York. Also, a fire destroyed most of the set (except for Regan's bedroom), some crewmembers and their family members died (along with the assistant cameraman's newborn child), Linda Blair (Regan) & Ellen Burstyn (Chris) suffered accidental long-term back & spinal injuries and actors Jack MacGowran (Father Dyer) and Vasiliki Maliaros (Father Karras's mother) both died before the film was released. Production took twice as long as scheduled and cost almost three times the initial budget. The accidents and deaths have made some people belief that the film was cursed. The scene where Regan projectile vomits at Father Karras only took one take. The vomit was intended to hit Jason Miller in the chest, but the plastic tubing misfired, hitting him in the face. His reaction of shock and disgust while wiping away the vomit is genuine. The film's sound was notable for its bizarre sound effects and, in some instances, a complete lack of sound. A disturbing fact is that many of the demonic sound effects used were actually recordings of animals being killed in a slaughterhouse. The infamous spider-walk down the stairs scene was not in the original version. Friedkin apparently cut it believing it was too early in the film for such a drastic effect on Regan to be visible and because there was no way to hide the wires from the harness. The scene is often miscredited to Linda Hager but the stunt was actually performed by Ann Miles. The voice of the demon was portrayed by Mercedes McCambridge, who went to extreme lengths to perfect the distorted voice. An alcoholic, she actually gave up sobriety and drank heavily, she chain-smoked cigarettes, ate raw eggs. She was also physically bound to a chair with torn sheets. McCambridge ended up suing Friedkin and Warner Bros because they didn't credit her for the voice of the demon. Additionally, Linda Blair’s double, Eileen Dietz, also sued for not being credited for the vomiting sequences. Linda Blair received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Oscars before it was known that she didn't actually provide the voice of the demon. The rules said once she was given the nomination it could not be withdrawn, but the controversy about Blair being given credit for another actress' work probably ruined her chances of winning. Once the film was released, many people in the audience fainted, vomited, ran out of the theater or had to be be carried in a stretcher. This was in mainly two scenes; when Regan undergoes a carotid angiography/arteriogram, in which a needle inserted into Regan's neck spurts blood, and the crucifix masturbation scene. The angiography scene caused audiences the most discomfort, most likely because they could identify with that more than being possessed by a demon. This procedure entails cerebrospinal fluid being drained to a small amount from around the brain and replaced with air, oxygen, or helium to allow the structure of the brain to show up more clearly on an X-ray picture. Medical professionals have described the scene, to reflect changes in medicine, as a realistic depiction of the procedure. Friedkin even claimed that the scene was used to train radiologists for years after the film's release. In the angiography scene, the blonde bearded man who assists the doctor is Paul Bateson. He was an x-ray technician at NYU Medical Center where that scene was shot and got to be an extra. In 1979, he was convicted of the murder of Addison Verrill, a film critic, and was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison. Bateson ultimately served 24 years and was released on parole in 2003. But he also became the prime suspect in what were known as the "the bag murders" from 1977-1978, in which six male victims were mutilated and dismembered, their remains wrapped in black plastic bags and dumped in the Hudson River. He actually bragged how he picked up men in gay bars, had sex with them and then murdered & dismembered their bodies and put them into plastic bags "for fun". Although investigators believed his story, he was never officially charged and those murders have never been solved. These murders were the inspiration for another one of William Friedkins films, Cruising from 1980, starring Al Pacino. There are several sequels/prequels and a TV show, none of which I have seen though. But Blumhouse is making another franchise which is supposed to be a "direct sequel" to this one. Ellen Burstyn will reprise her role as Chris and Leslie Odom Jr. will be starring in it too. A theatrical release for the first film, The Exorcist: Believer, is scheduled for October 13 this year.

[@sathvamp1]

1) I agree regarding how LACK of sound is significant: I remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. 2) OMG regarding the getting many of the demonic sounds from a slaughterhouse. I will never look at this movie the same way again. 3) Yes, far too many of us can relate to horrors related to angiography. Not just the procedure itself, but the potential consequences. A published anatomy & physiology book I've studied from even mentions that some dyes used in that procedure are so toxic to kidneys, that IF someone already HAS a DIAGNOSESD kidney problem, they are given kidney-protective drugs for the procedure. BUT the REALLY disturbing thing to ME is... they DON'T give such protective drugs if the patient does NOT already have a diagnosed kidney problem. And I am sure there are some sub-clinical, even possibly UNDIAGNOSABLE kidney problems that STILL spell a concern, because... one of my older family members suffered [I think NOT-so-coincidentally] ACUTE kidney failure right after such a procedure. And my DAD, after the same procedure, got a slower, more chronic kidney disease that eventually (an of-course-unprovable decades later) took his life by predisposing him to sepsis. So yes, inclusion of medical procedures in a movie is a good way to induce uncomfortable feelings in the audience, for sure.

[@thequietrevolution3404]

(4:51) "Go to church." You'll have to review "The Omen" (1976) to see that scene. Highly recommended.

[@nicolem376]

In cased you missed it father Merrin wasn’t performing the exorcism that lasted for months..he was having this demon exorcised from him.

[@Georgina1138]

I first saw this with a friend at the cinema when it came out. There were people outside begging us not to go in and handing out leaflets with details of where to go for help after...

[@sathvamp1]

3:25 - "Love the music". Yup, there isn't much of it though, but I think it's the lack of music through most of the film that makes it seem so realistic (and hence more disturbing). 3:42 - Yup, "mature sounding" discussions of topics tend to happen even with young people if they are REALLY interested in the topic... I've had personal experience with that with animal classifications my whole life, hehe. Like you said at the end, I too was desensitized by the time I watched this one (even though I was only 14 at the time; I was already a huge horror movie fanatic) BUT that didn't matter very much because my dad had hyped this movie up SO MUCH that I was already freaked out by the time he and I watched it, together, LOL. I did well afterwards though- not having any trouble falling asleep that night, etc (UNlike my mom... she didn't even watch much of it WITH us, and still wanted to watch cartoons for herself before bed, lol). But I still subjectively think (and in many ways, objectively, such as the realistic / acting elements etc. that you mentioned) think it was the scariest horror movie I myself have seen. One more-recent exception may be Hereditary, but I am sorry to report that I had spoiled myself by watching reactions of it (and still haven't had access to the full movie). I think there may have been a big chance of a full [UNspoiled] watch of Hereditary legitimately freaking me out the most, especially since after watching my first mere reaction of it, I was slightly hesitant to go to sleep that night, JUST from a reaction :) Side note: I think I'm getting more sensitive, because... when you particularly noticed the scene when the priest who sacrificed himself had communicated his last rites with finger movements, I teared up, even though I've never done that before in all the times I've seen this movie. I usually say it's literally impossible for me to cry at a RE-watch of ANYthing, but I guess that only applies to scenes where I've already cried the first time, lol. OR maybe it's when my attention to a scene gets enhanced by a reactor's comments... that happened with a different movie / reactor, too.

[@joannepinnow6929]

I love this movie! I saw it as a tween at a drive through theatre in a small town, with my best friend's family. Her mama probably wasn't expecting this level of horror LOL. Thanks for reacting to it. You had some good and insightful comments, and I like that you appreciated the movie.

[@crescentfreshbret]

It’s interesting that we never learned what made Karras forsake boxing and professional psychiatry and pursue the priesthood. I don’t think it even even goes into that in the book (which is something I should remember, as I’ve read it several times)

[@jyesucevitz]

great catch. I've seen this multiple times and I've watched all the documentaries about it and i never caught that.

[@joshuah9109]

3:18 (She's an actor?) That's an interesting skill set for our main character. I think it's skilled writing. We know Chris has a decent level of success (being invited to the Whitehouse, something that's reserved for the "elite"). So we can assume Chris has money which can explain where she has the money to afford the healthcare Regan's given. She's privileged and money's no object.

[@thecocoacouch]

Yeah in hindsight it was the logical choice from the writers.

[@hegstad9]

6:30 : You just met Captain Howdy ~ later ~ better known as Bazuzu !

[@ef445]

Since you're going into the industry, please skip over part 2 (It's not good) and react to The Exorcist 3 from 1990. Part 3 expands on the relationship of Father Dyer and Lieutenant Kinderman formed at the end of this masterpiece. The role of Lieutenant Kinderman is portrayed by the legendary award winning actor George C. Scott. Exorcist 3 is a must watch after experiencing the original.

[@karimhicks8376]

Linda Blair was 12 years old, in 1973. A very mature actress!!!!!

[@jeremiahrose4681]

What a classic, great movie. The story told. I believe people in the theater was passing out and throwing up during this movie and people were disturbed when seeing this in the theater when it first came out. It would have been a sight to see. Considering I was 2 when it came out, I didn't see it until the 80's when I was a teen.

[@tomstanziola1982]

That face is Captain Howdy.

[@tbnobs]

The movie is base on a possession event in Chicago in the 30s it took 3 preists 7 days to remove the demon from a young boy

[@LifeWithHeather818]

This movie was so freaky, even more scary because it is real. My first church I attended the senior pastor has done several exorcisms.

[@paulklenknyc]

When Chris walks home past nuns and trick or treaters, the motorcycle in the background growls just like the demon.

[@ValyTraveler]

This is an awesome movie - and a great reaction. To bad so many modern horror movies have taken away the ability to think and deduce what's happening. Same with Game of Thrones - everyone gets one nugget of a false narrative and runs with it. Meaning - the priest stole from a tomb and Pazuzu wanted his spoils back... AKA - stop looting tombs and there won't be any consequences to pay in the end...

[@edp5886]

Pazuzu didn't want anything back - he wanted a rematch with Ft Karris. Finding the statue's head was Pazuzu leaving a calling card. The white and black dog fighting viscously near the full Pazuzu statue was Pazuzu telling Ft. Karris what was about to happen. Ft. Karris isn't called away but leaves as "there is something I must do". The full lore behind this movie is fascinating. A really cool bit of cinematography is the wind gust when Ft. Karris pulls the Pazuzu head from the hole. Pazuzu was the king of the demons of wind.

[@deenormus1975]

Hahaha so excited u watched this! Saw it when I was 5(!) in 1980 - back when parents didn’t GAF what their kids watched & if we had nightmares for weeks - it was our OWN fault. Lol. I still love this movie.

[@sathvamp1]

OMG! FIVE! You beat ME there.... I myself saw it at 14 years old with my dad, and was a seasoned horror movie fanatic (started off at about 8 myself but with mild ones with some comedy, strategically picked by my mom who was a horror enthusiast herself!) So yeah... THIS movie at age 5, you definitely beat me :P

[@deenormus1975]

@@sathvamp1 I’ve loved horror movies since I was LITTLE. My dad, like ur mom loved horror, too. Apparently he was watching Jaws one night & said I heard the (John Williams) music & refused to leave the room. I sat down next to him & was glued to the tv for the entire movie. I remember my sister & I acting out the opening scene in the pool the entire summer. She was 9, I was 4 1/2. Watched the Exorcist the next Halloween (dad again) & for that movie - I remember watching it 100%. He did too for a few weeks bc I kept my mom & him awake.🤭 But then mom threatened to not let me watch any more horror movies so I used to hide in my closet instead😂. True story.

[@gregyear201]

I absolutely enjoyed you reaction and especially your recap. The movie truly is timeless and you are a smart reactor with many insights that I have missed. You are also easy on the eyes.

[@thecocoacouch]

Really appreciate that! Made my afternoon!

[@garybassin1651]

Father Marrin was taking nitroglycerin tablets for a bad heart. Before this movie, no one thought twice about Ouija boards. Afterwards, most people became very leery of them. There was a doctor who was making sure that the medical procedures were done correctly. After the movie, he became a serial killer murdering gay men in New York. The director, William Friedkin, went to visit him in prison and interviewed him. Those visits became the inspiration for Friedkin's next movie, "Cruising". The demon was Pazuzu, the Mesopotamian demon of the west wind. According to myth, Pazuzu was so evil that even other demons were afraid of him. The novel's inspiration came from the actual exorcism of a boy back in the 1940s. The hospital where it took place has since been torn down. Allegedly, the boy went on to work at NASA though no one knew about his past story. It is interesting to note that religion didn't win in this. Other than not killing Reagan, Pazuzu accomplished what he wanted i.e. kill both Merrin and Karras.

[@randysmith7045]

the guy playing the piano in the piss scene is a real priest. In real life.

[@shewolfsiren]

I really like his idea of Heaven. I share that desire: being the sold-out headliner for all the best hotels and casinos of the world for the rest of eternity, and everybody LOVES me!

[@BlackxPegasus]

I have always heard that this movie is based on the true story of "Anneliese Michel". There are insanely creepy voice recordings of her exorcism that are very similar to the character of Linda Blair.

[@EdithCardellini]

Not true. You might be thinking of the film titled The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which was based on the case of Annelise Michel. The Exorcist was actually based on a supposed real exorcism of a young boy who was given the name "Ronald Doe" to protect his identity. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcism_of_Roland_Doe

[@BlackxPegasus]

@@EdithCardellini Oh, thank you. I mixed it up a bit 😊 good to know

[@jsapcakrrow]

This isn’t a scary movie like a horror movie but it’s more disturbing & has scenes that once you see them you can’t unsee them. Such a classic!

[@sathvamp1]

"Disturbing" could be considered scary though. There are all different types of horror movies too, classified in the same genre. There's definitely a lot of unique things about this one... in particular, I remain impressed with how the LACK OF certain things (like LACK OF music throughout most of the movie) makes it seem all the more realistic, and hence more scary. One SPECIFIC realistic aspect of one scene that I always notice is how, when the 2 priests were repeating "The power of Christ compels you," the repeated phrases went on for a LONG TIME. That went on for SO long that probably most viewers, like myself, start to get a strange combination of bored and tense, and then EXTRA-tense because one's subconscious starts thinking that this is an actual documentary just because producers of movies USUALLY keep repetitive scenes short enough to hold the attention of the audience, LOL! I mean, if one really notices all the subtle realistic oddities about this film, it's insanely impressive to me.

[@isoldejaneholland8370]

Hard to believe today, but in the early 1970s, Ouija boards were sold in every toy store in the country, sitting on shelves next to Candyland and Parcheesi! 😮 Ironically, Magic 8 Balls have a very similar function, when you think about it, but nobody regards those as sinister. 🤔 That's because after this movie, and others that followed, "spirit boards" were kaput. Plus, all of those popular ghost hunting tv shows often have a beleaguered victim confessing to the paranormal team, "Well, I played with a Ouija board once when I was ten, so naturally I've been stalked ever since by legions of the damned.". 😱 😏. Of course.

[@watermelon..baby12]

My mom hates scary movies but the random faces appearing throughout make it even worse for her when she watches this

[@ruth2141]

I saw this in a theater when I was in high school the first weekend it was released. We had to wait outside on a chilly evening for around 90 minutes. The theater was full and we had to sit way up front. By the time we left the theater the girl who was driving was shaking so hard she couldn't start the car until she had a cigarette. I barely slept that night; what really got me was that someone you love could change into a monster overnight. And I think the medical detail makes you feel queasy before any of the real horror stuff starts. Anyway, I refused to see another horror movie in the theater for years.

[@TheAerovons]

If you saw the original version, you saw a classic. This is a total cash grab version made decades later to appeal to a "younger audience"....filled with dumb scenes not used in the original theatrical version.

[@sathvamp1]

Good point about the medical scenes- that type of queasiness can facilitate fear later on by sensitizing the nervous system, lol. They soooo did that on purpose I bet :P

[@TheAerovons]

@@sathvamp1 I believe at one point it was said that those scenes were to show that modern medicine was no more effective than spiritual solutions and was putting the girl through as much distress as the exorcism would.

[@alisonscott1469]

The exorcist was banned in the UK and i had to wait 25 years to see it for the first time. I was born in 1969. Take care 😘🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@iceprincess2134]

Reagan wasn't possessed suddenly. The film was only able to cover so much in the novel, and it showed how Reagan's morale was degraded by being from a broken home with an absentee father, a dead brother, an athiest mother that exposed her to a lot of profanity/drinking/loose sexal morals, a babysitter that was involved in occult practiced, and she was socially isolated. The possession was the culmination of all this.

[@Dave-no6tv]

can you imagine what this was in the '70's? No one could get away with that now..