While this film is currently classified as horror, that's actually not the case anymore. Back in 1973, this movie would no doubt be classified in that genre. It presented things never before seen in film. Words and actions coming out of a young girl that would shock and offend you. Imagery that would linger in your mind long after you went to bed...these were the reasons why this was absolutely horror. Those qualities that were unheard of 43 years ago are all over the place in today's world, which lessens the impact of such "terrifying" scenes. People forget that those aforementioned qualities only present themselves in the last half hour of this two-hour-long film. The first hour and a half dealt with a lot of really interesting things.

In the first 90 minutes, we are introduced to all of the characters and their own backstories. Each individual had a reason to be there, and it wasn't just because they were a priest and that's their job - no...they had deep, emotionally driven past that led them to that point. Regan's mother, being a famous actress, had connections and money to get her child the help she would need if she really was just mentally ill - but she knew it was more than that. Also, Regan's transformation was a slow build-up that would be incredibly boring if you exclusively look at this like it's a horror film. Don't. It is a character-driven drama with a paranormal kick that comes to a head in the end.

The only, I repeat, only issues I had with this film came down to translation and the basic plot that has been butchered in other projects since. No, I have never seen this movie, but I've seen countless films that also dealt with exorcism, and it's always the same basic routine, changed up a little. The Exorcist had that same routine without the extra condiments. It's relatively basic because it kept things simple. That's great if it is 1973, but it's been 43 years since it has been out. We are quickly approaching its 50th anniversary. There's no way anyone can watch this with a fresh and unaltered mind anymore, and that's really too bad.

If you've never seen The Exorcist, get out there and give it a try. You'll be surprised at the fully-developed plot it has, and all the care it took to tell a story without just making a "scary movie". Check it out!

Watching this for the first time at 30, I have no nostalgia for it whatsoever. I was told this is supposed to be scary and it traumatized people... I don't know what to think of that. Not scary whatsoever. It's definitely drama oriented and the whole journey of "let's investigate to see what Regan has" prior to the good stuff happening is interesting. The biggest thing it has going is the characters, they're well-established in the very slow first two acts.

The tone felt completely off for me. When Regan isn't on-screen it's a serious paranormal horror with depressing subjects (especially when Chris is present). The opposite of that is when Regan is on-screen it's 100% camp, funny and ridiculous—and it never fully commits to that tone until the final 25 minutes. But even then, it's on and off with these two tones depending who's on-screen. And so, the fun I had was on and off too!

The makeup for Regan... she looks like a clown with snake eyes and i'm certain they used animal noises for the sounds she does (very clearly heard a bear at some point).

I know this is a classic but it just didn't click with me at all, I still respect it for everything it inspired.

There's no reason for me to try and explain this movie to anyone who hasn't already seen it. Instead, it would be best to mention the effect this movie had on me over the years. I first saw "The Exorcist" as a 10-year old. Me and a friend weren't entirely truthful when we told our parents what movie we were seeing and the person who sold us tickets didn't care that we weren't old enough to see it, either. I remember hearing stories of how someone had died watching the movie and that others had gotten sick. I didn't know if those stories were true, but I think I remember believing them at the time.

Over the years, my mind could only recall flashes of my initial viewing. The green vomit, the "Help Me" scarring on little Regan's stomach, the bed rising and falling. I'm sure I spent 90% of the movie with my eyes covered, but the horrible sounds were enough to make the experience the most frightening thing I can ever recall. This movie really hit me hard and as a kid and as a person of faith, it tweaked my nerves even more. I remember not being able to sleep through the night for months after I saw it. This had such an effect on my little kid brain, I had never re-watched it until last year.

That's when I decided that I was grown up enough to finally watch it again. And you know what? It's still damned scary. This time though, I was amazed at the disturbingly grainy look of the film, the desperation of Chris MacNeil and the decline of her daughter, Regan. Friedkin's direction during the exorcism scenes is suffocating and the battle that Father Merrin and Father Karras have with the demon is incredibly intense. It's nearly overwhelming in its horror.

This is one of the rare occasions when I'll state that my opinion is the correct one. "The Exorcist" is the best and scariest Horror film of all time.

It's difficult to give an honest and fair appraisal of this movie, since it's 50 years old. This wasn't my first time to watch it (I think it's the third?) but it's been so long since I've watched it, it was like watching it for the first time: the only scene I remembered was the "split-pea soup" scene and the head spinning around backward. I suppose, in its day, this was probably considered truly "scary" or terrifying but by today's standards... well, it hasn't aged well. Kudos to whomever did the makeup because they did a bang-up job on Linda Blair's character of "Regan". Some scenes, however, (as in the "Help Me" shot) were far too obviously fake (again, by today's standards) so it cheapened that particular scene a bit. I don't remember - and don't understand - the lead-in story at all; how the excavation in the middle East tied in to the main movie; the film doesn't even give an explanation at any point other than to casually mention that Father Merrin was overseeing the excavations "so he must be healthy". The ending also didn't make a lot of sense to me either...not even the third (or fourth?) time around. In any event, it would be difficult to put this one at the #2 spot of _The 20 Best Horror Movies Ever Made, According to Redditt_ but then, I'm not a part of Redditt. Of course, our next stop is the #1 spot on that same list, and that just proved - before I ever started my journey through this list way back at #20 - that Redditors obviously have no sense of taste when it comes to movies. _The Exorcist_ was plenty.... well, it was probably plenty scary back in its day, but its best runs are far, far behind it. Love that theme song, though.

**Shocking rather than frightening.**

Friedkin's The Exorcist is a film that shocks rather than scares. A well made film that achieved notoriety via pea soup. A slow and intelligent film with strong performances - yet also a mostly disappointing one for those who dare to go beyond the hype and actually _experience_ it for the first time.

For a film that _does_ succeed in frightening the audience and with none of the hype - I recommend The Changeling starring George C Scott. Now **THAT** is a scary movie.