The Exorcist

[cdubya17]

After hearing all the hype about this being the scariest movie of all time I thought about checking it out myself. After watching a hour and a half of gut wrentching, eye cringing, mouth dropping horror I have to say one thing; the movie lived up to its reputation. This was a very disgusting and disturbing film at this point in time so I can't imagine what it was like four people in '73! Jason Miller and William Friedkin were great as the two excorcists, and Ellen Burstyn portrayed exactly what she was supposed to: a protective parent who is concerned about her daughters health. Just one question who in the world would let there child play with a oujie board (excuse my spelling) , in front of there face too!! There was a scene in this film (if you've seen the movie then you know which one I'm about to describe) where the mother hears screaming in her daughters room and she runs into the room to see what is going on, to find her daughter stabbing herself with a crucifix she then proceeds to slap her mother and push her face in the girls crotch VERY GRAPHIC!! Overall this film has lived up too be one of the most disturbing and shocking films of all time.

[LuDiNaToR]

ive never seen this movie. :rolleyes:

[Nausicaä]

Overall this film has lived up too be one of the most disturbing and shocking films of all time.

Maybe during the time it was released. But now, for me anyway, it's relatively tame for the most part compared to other films and I'm not disturbed by demonic possession because I don't believe in it. I respect the film but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would after hearing it's a classic horror and so on.

I prefer the third film actually. :p

I recommend the German film Requiem:

http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/emilyrose/reqpost.jpg

It's not a horror but it's a more realistic take on demonic possession in the direction of is it possession or is the woman suffering from mental illness. It's based on the real life person Anneliese Michel. A sad story.

[honeykid]

The Exorcist is based on a true story too. The Exorcist is one of the best horror films of all time. Excellent film, brilliantly made, acted, written, etc.

[Deadite]

Yeah, the Exorcist is a win.

[Nausicaä]

The Exorcist is based on a true story too.


Very loosely.

[Nausicaä]

I thought you were not allowed to see films with strong language... :nope::rolleyes:

[Deadite]

The end was great actually. It proves that the Devil can beat up Yahweh any day. Hail Satan. :rolleyes:

[Nausicaä]

When you are older, see it for yourself and make up your own mind.

[iamwill]

Yep, I've watched this one when I was 18. Crept the jeepers out of me.

[MovieMan8877445]

The Exorcist just isn't scary, at all.

[Deadite]

What is your idea of a scary movie, bub?

[ash_is_the_gal]

The Exorcist is scary.

now someone negative rep me.

[Sexy Celebrity]

Just one question who in the world would let there child play with a oujie board (excuse my spelling)

I played with an Ouija board several times as a kid and I'm fine.

[Deadite]

I did too and I think I turned out rather w I'LL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL :furiousdevil:

[Sexy Celebrity]

Sorry -- my soul's already been swallowed.

[Nausicaä]

I made a nice polished wood board for a friend who wanted one. :yup:

[ash_is_the_gal]

they're just toys, and they really don't work. unless you have a little pansy for a kid, let them try it out if they want to.

[Nausicaä]

I tried once but it spelled out **** off, so I didn't bother again, it was so rude to me.

;)

[Sexy Celebrity]

unless you have a little pansy for a kid, let them try it out if they want to.

That wasn't very nice.

[ash_is_the_gal]

it made me laugh.

[Sexy Celebrity]

Then I'm not mad.

[Redux]

I thought The Exorcist was a solid and effective horror film but, it can't be found on my favorites.

[MovieMan8877445]

What is your idea of a scary movie, bub?

To be honest, nothing in a movie has really scared me. The only movie that comes to mind right now is The Strangers, and that was only because I watched it late at night alone at my house.

It's just dated, and isn't scary anymore because society has changed so much since it first came out. The idea of a devil living inside someone just isn't scary, and I'm not religious at all on top of that.

I'm sorry you feel that because I don't really like a movie that you do that it deserves some neg rep. I guess I know now in the future that when you say something bad about a movie I like to give you some neg rep.

[Redux]

The scares and creepiness of The Exorcist are nothing compared to the film's portrayal of good versus evil.

[MovieMan8877445]

The scares and creepiness of The Exorcist are nothing compared to the film's portrayal of good versus evil.

But the portrayal of good versus evil isn't scary. All I said was that it isn't a scary a movie. I don't think it's as great as everyone makes it out to be, but it's not really a bad movie. It just doesn't do much for me.

[Redux]

I also believe it to be overrated but, a very great film at the same time. Not close to being one of the scariest movies of all time.

[TheMightyCelestial]

I played with an Ouija board several times as a kid and I'm fine.

I played with it once.
I remember asking the "spirit-demon" that we managed to conjure up
"How do you spell 'Ouija'?"
It responded with the letters
W T F.

Since this was before the internet, I didn't know that meant & just concluded that demons were bad spellers.

[Nausicaä]

^ Ha ha, loved that.

[ash_is_the_gal]

I'm sorry you feel that because I don't really like a movie that you do that it deserves some neg rep. I guess I know now in the future that when you say something bad about a movie I like to give you some neg rep.

don't feel bad, man; my own boyfriend just dinged me in this very thread. my boyfriend. the one i share my bed with.

i thought he loved me.

[urkillinmesmalls]

I did too and I think I turned out rather w I'LL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL :furiousdevil:

haha

[Sexy Celebrity]

I played with it once.
I remember asking the "spirit-demon" that we managed to conjure up
"How do you spell 'Ouija'?"
It responded with the letters
W T F.

Since this was before the internet, I didn't know that meant & just concluded that demons were bad spellers.

Wow. A time traveling ghost.

[Deadite]

To be honest, nothing in a movie has really scared me. The only movie that comes to mind right now is The Strangers, and that was only because I watched it late at night alone at my house.

It's just dated, and isn't scary anymore because society has changed so much since it first came out. The idea of a devil living inside someone just isn't scary, and I'm not religious at all on top of that.

I'm sorry you feel that because I don't really like a movie that you do that it deserves some neg rep. I guess I know now in the future that when you say something bad about a movie I like to give you some neg rep.

I'm not religious either but I have an imagination and the ability to suspend disbelief and enjoy a story for what it is.

I'm sorry that you were so hurt by the neg-rep. I hope someday you will be able to get over it and move on. :(

[Deadite]

Wow. A time traveling ghost.

His name is Frank.

http://bestuff.com/images/images_of_stuff/210x600/frank-donnie-darko-9237.jpg?1173302150

[Yoda]

Yeah, I don't think you have to be religious. And I'm not sure if that would necessarily make it more or less scary. Wouldn't it be kind of freakier to encounter that if you didn't believe in anything like it, since it deals in a horror you had completely written off, rather than one you might have at least believed in on some level?

Anyway, everything you use to describe why it isn't scary could be used to describe why anything involving ghosts or supernatural isn't scary. Which is fine: some people just don't find scary movies scary. But that's more a statement about their own posture towards horror films, and not whether this one or that one is better or worse, no? If you say only one film has ever scared you, and even then your fear was probably due to circumstance, then saying you didn't find The Exorcist scary, either, isn't really a statement about The Exorcist.

[Sexy Celebrity]

His name is Frank.

http://bestuff.com/images/images_of_stuff/210x600/frank-donnie-darko-9237.jpg?1173302150

Oh, him. Shoot him on sight - he's after my man. Wants him dead, even.

[Deadite]

http://www.ncbeerguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/20105elmer_fudd2.jpeghttp://bestuff.com/images/images_of_stuff/210x600/frank-donnie-darko-9237.jpg?1173302150

[Yoda]

...right.

[Sexy Celebrity]

But the difference was stark with my friend Adam; when I saw it with him, he was absolutely terrified and bit a hole in his shirt on the drive home.

What the hell... is Adam a rabbit?

http://bestuff.com/images/images_of_stuff/210x600/frank-donnie-darko-9237.jpg?1173302150

Is he related to this guy?

[Sexy Celebrity]

The Exorcist is a really good movie, but movies dealing with possession are stupid. Why would an evil demon want to possess a little girl? What is the point? Why hang around in some woman's body on her bed? ... I realize I may never know. It's not really scary because it doesn't seem to me like a good reason to experience horror (though, a lot of people seem to like possession movies.) Zombies are understandable -- getting up and walking around and looking for people to eat has got to be more fun than laying in the ground for all of eternity. Aliens are looking for a new planet or for a new species to snack on. Devils inside women's bodies don't make much rational sense -- seems like it's just a metaphorical thing, a commentary, a farce. Ghosts are somewhere inbetween -- which is, naturally, what ghosts are supposed to be, inbetween life and death.

[Deadite]

I think the idea, sexy, goes to the heart of what the Devil's role is supposed to be: It has been said/written here and there throughout fiction and nonfiction that the Devil seeks to cause people to lose faith, to use psychological warfare in order to break them.

The reason for choosing a young girl to possess is symbolic. Remember, the Devil is supposed to be engaged in war with God. His possession of the girl (symbolizing innocence corrupted) is supposed to be a mockery of God and meant to spiritually demoralize the people who witness it.

[Yoda]

Alrighty, with your permission, ladies and gents, I'm gonna find that old thread and revive it with a few of these posts, if that's cool. :)

[will.15]

The Exorcist is a really good movie, but movies dealing with possession are stupid. Why would an evil demon want to possess a little girl? What is the point? Why hang around in some woman's body on her bed? ... I realize I may never know. It's not really scary because it doesn't seem to me like a good reason to experience horror (though, a lot of people seem to like possession movies.) Zombies are understandable -- getting up and walking around and looking for people to eat has got to be more fun than laying in the ground for all of eternity. Aliens are looking for a new planet or for a new species to snack on. Devils inside women's bodies don't make much rational sense -- seems like it's just a metaphorical thing, a commentary, a farce. Ghosts are somewhere inbetween -- which is, naturally, what ghosts are supposed to be, inbetween life and death.
It wasn't until The Exorcist possession movies were about the devil taking over a body. Before that it was ghosts, The Innocents, Tomb of Ligeia, one of the stories in Dead of Night, etc. That is scary in a more subtle way, the person you knew is not an obvious monster, but suddenly a stranger.

[ash_is_the_gal]

Alrighty, with your permission, ladies and gents, I'm gonna find that old thread and revive it with a few of these posts, if that's cool. :)

you do not have permission from me. sorry.

[Deadite]

bahaha

[will.15]

You have my permission.

[Deadite]

I actually liked Exorcist 3 better than the first one.

[Yoda]

Boom-bam. Here's the thread I was talking about:

Which is scarier: reason, or obsession? (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=13262)

And here's the third page, where all the moved posts went:

Page 3 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=13262&page=3)

[ash_is_the_gal]

I think the idea, sexy, goes to the heart of what the Devil's role is supposed to be: It has been said/written here and there throughout fiction and nonfiction that the Devil seeks to cause people to lose faith, to use psychological warfare in order to break them.

The reason for choosing a young girl to possess is symbolic. Remember, the Devil is supposed to be engaged in war with God. His possession of the girl (symbolizing innocence corrupted) is supposed to be a mockery of God and meant to spiritually demoralize the people who witness it.
let me just say as a person who grew up very religious and believed wholeheartedly in things like demon possession, movies like The Exorcist were extremely frightening. i was taught that Satan and other demons would mess with humans, their faith and spirituality, by possessing not necessarily other humans, but objects. the place of worship i went to preached that partaking in "evil" things was another way of inviting demons into your home. this was always a sure-fire way to keep god-fearing folk in line, trust me on that!

it's really easy to let your mind run away with this **** once you plant that seed of doubt.

anyway, now that i'm older and wiser, movies like The Exorcist just don't do it for me. this might have to do with no longer having my childlike suspension of belief anymore; but no longer "endorsing a belief in the occult" (as Michael Jackson put it) is a strong indicator.

[mark f]

Most all movies (including "documentaries") aren't "real" and thus can be seen as fantasies, so I don't see why what the subject matter is should have any impact on how well a film is done and how suspenseful or watchable it is. As always, suspension of disbelief is in the eye of the beholder, but any true film buff would certainly meet a movie halfway, especially if it's as well-made-and-acted as The Exorcist. Religion should have absolutely nothing to do with your appreciation of the film, although it could obviously affect you physically and/or "spiritually", the latter at least if you're open to the concept that humanity is capable of some understanding of its own best characteristics.

[Deadite]

I don't see how any person could enjoy movies and not have at least some of that "childlike suspension of disbelief".

I mean, it's practically all make-believe.

[ash_is_the_gal]

i do, but not in the same way as i did when i was, say, a seven-year-old, for example.

[Deadite]

Hmm, I guess I'm luckier than most, then.

[ash_is_the_gal]

or just a little retarded. :D

[Deadite]

:(

[ash_is_the_gal]

tehe!

[Deadite]

;)

[Nausicaä]

A negative rep urkillinmesmalls just for recommending you watch The Exorcist when you are older so you can form your own opinion on it?

[urkillinmesmalls]

u gave me a negative rep for standing up for my beliefs :mad:

[Nausicaä]

Not for your beliefs actually.

[urkillinmesmalls]

what...? I don't need to watch the darn movie to know what I said is true. I don't get all my freaking life lessons from movies like some people.

[Yoda]

What are you even talking about? Your comment ("The end is stupid. God always wins over demons") makes no sense, because the movie isn't about whether or not a demon will win out over God, it's about whether or not it will win out over the girl and the Priests. Which you'd know if you saw the movie. That's why you do need to "watch the darn movie" to talk about it.

I dunno what the comment about life lessons means, but chill out. There's nothing wrong with people telling you not to rip on some movie you haven't even seen, particularly when it's widely regarded as a classic, and particularly when your complaint makes no sense to anyone who's seen the movie.

[ash_is_the_gal]

who cares, anyway? it's just a button.

besides, those little red minus 1's are... beautiful! it's like a risqué little, "ooh, i got to somebody". it makes me feel all giddy like when Jeannie's belly button would become exposed for a half a second in that sassy little outfit of hers.

[Nausicaä]

"ooh, i got to somebody".


Indeed I must have. :yup:

[Deadite]

Let's all have a rep war. God, it feels so damn good to live dangerously.

[ash_is_the_gal]

Deadite, if you even care about my online persona at ALL, you'll do that for me.

heh heh.

[Deadite]

Sure, there ya go. :)

[Yoda]

Hey, we've got, like, profile comments and post comments for this kinda stuff, people.

[ash_is_the_gal]

make rep in profile comments.

[Yoda]

That's kind of a non-sequitur. You can give random, pointless rep on any post without having to post off-topic things, and you can post suggestions about it privately, too.

So: The Exorcist. Go.

[ash_is_the_gal]

okay.

from now on, in every thread.

[urkillinmesmalls]

okay okay.

Yoda- You're right. I have not seen the movie. I was going on what I knew about real life exorcists. They use the power of God, but, like you said, I haven't seen the movie, so I don't know if that's what's implied. Sorry. I get a little over zealous about some things.

Nausicaä (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=67172): Yeah, you did get to someone...me...:yup: but lets not forget you complained first. Truce.

ash is the gal: Yeah, you're right.

Deadite:...uh...never mind. :rolleyes:

I shouldn't have gotten involved in this one. Imma gonna go look for another forum...maybe there's one about the sandlot.

[Yoda]

No worries.

Love me The Sandlot. That movie single-handedly turned me into a baseball fan. Though it's pretty much the polar opposite of The Exorcist. I'd kill for a trailer mashup, though.

[Nausicaä]

I shouldn't have gotten involved in this one. Imma gonna go look for another forum...maybe there's one about the sandlot.

I think that would be better.

Nausicaä (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=67172): Yeah, you did get to someone...me...:yup: but lets not forget you complained first. Truce.

(http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=67172)
I didn't complain. But whatever, truce...

[urkillinmesmalls]

I think that would be better.


I didn't complain. But whatever, truce...

kk sorry

[urkillinmesmalls]

Incidentally, I just looked up the exorcist on imdb. It looks pretty darn interesting. There is a heck of a lot of strong language (even though most of it is spoken by a demon), but otherwise it is intriguing.

[Deadite]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmzdeVkeoTE

[urkillinmesmalls]

oookay.

[Deadite]

Whoah, whoah, that's not for you! :eek:

It's full of curse words!

[urkillinmesmalls]

is this the real movie or a parody? by the way it sure is full of curse words.

[Yoda]

I zapped a bunch of the off-topic posts in this thread. You are all free to think of me as a big, anti-fun meanie as a result of this if you like, but c'mon, I asked nicely.

They are not completely deleted, so if someone wants me to restore them and move them to some other frivolous thread, I'd be glad to do so. :)

[Sexy Celebrity]

I love that scene. I love that movie (Scary Movie 2)! My biggest problem with it, though, is it's too short - they deleted a lot of good scenes (found on the DVD.)

Originally Marlon Brando was gonna be the priest in that scene. It's disappointing that he wasn't.

Dammit, I really liked my Kirstie Alley cake comment.

[Deadite]

It's a parody, but I don't think you should be watching it.... :nope:

[Deadite]

I zapped a bunch of the off-topic posts in this thread. You are all free to think of me as a big, anti-fun meanie as a result of this if you like, but c'mon, I asked nicely.

They are not completely deleted, so if someone wants me to restore them and move them to some other frivolous thread, I'd be glad to do so. :)

You'd do that after all the positive rep I gave you?:(

[Yoda]

Call it rep inflation: you gave out so much it was heavily devalued.

Now China's message board is going to overtake us.

[Deadite]

I love that scene. I love that movie (Scary Movie 2)! My biggest problem with it, though, is it's too short - they deleted a lot of good scenes (found on the DVD.)

Originally Marlon Brando was gonna be the priest in that scene. It's disappointing that he wasn't.

Dammit, I really liked my Kirstie Alley cake comment.

It's probably the best part of the movie for me, far as I remember...

Good parody, of THE EXORCIST, so it was.


Yes, it's a shame we're being censored but nonetheless THE EXORCIST is one of the best horror movies ever.

I've read that the soundtrack to THE EXORCIST had subliminal sound fx of stuff like pigs being slaughtered put into it. I wonder if that's true...

Regardless, I like THE EXORCIST and think it's a damn creepy movie. However, I like THE EXORCIST 3 somewhat better.

[urkillinmesmalls]

i zapped a bunch of the off-topic posts in this thread. You are all free to think of me as a big, anti-fun meanie as a result of this if you like, but c'mon, i asked nicely.

thank you!:)

[Sexy Celebrity]

Regardless, I like THE EXORCIST and think it's a damn creepy movie. However, I like THE EXORCIST 3 somewhat better.

I never saw Exorcist 3... never really seen any of the sequels, to be honest. I think I watched 2 but I barely remember it.

All I know is do NOT buy the Blu-ray of The Exorcist at Wal-Mart -- you only get the 2000 "never before seen" version while every other store gives you that and the old version (for the same price!) G-DAMN WAL-MART! I am still pissed about this.

[honeykid]

I've not seen The Exorcist 3 for a very long time, but I remember thinking it was very interesting. I wouldn't recommend the second, but I'm sure you'll have seen worse.

[ash_is_the_gal]

I recommend the German film Requiem:

http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/emilyrose/reqpost.jpg

It's not a horror but it's a more realistic take on demonic possession in the direction of is it possession or is the woman suffering from mental illness. It's based on the real life person Anneliese Michel. A sad story.

watched it last night. pretty good, not comparable at all to The Exorcist. 3.5

[Nausicaä]

^ Indeed, very different.

[Deadite]

I saw the 2nd Exorcist waay back, but I can't remember much besides being extremely bored.

[honeykid]

I'm much the same. Saw it long, long ago and was very bored by it. It's nothing like The Exorcist, anyway. There again, nor's the 3rd.

[Deadite]

I vaguely remember the 2nd having her (Regan) in a hospital wired to an EKG or something like that. And there were locusts...

I really liked the third one, though. Haven't seen it in a long while though, so maybe my memory has been forgiving. But I thought the story was more interesting than the first one, and the actors too: George C. Scott and Ed Flanders as the cop/priest friends; Brad Dourif, who I like, was especially effective in it, and I think it's one of his best performances and maybe the best...

The film had a very unsettling mood, and a bizarre dream sequence involving angels and a dead boy really stands out in my mind. As well as the possessed woman, the giant scissors, the bottles of blood ( a very disturbing and sad scene), and so on...

Overall it just seems more interesting in its scope and relationships compared to the first one.

[ash_is_the_gal]

wow. i've never bothered with the sequels but i might watch the third one now.

isn't there a creepy scene in one of the sequels (the third?) involving a nun, a hospital ward, and the ceiling? i seem to remember an old old old thread called "scariest scenes" or something, and that was a much talked about scene.

[Deadite]

wow. i've never bothered with the sequels but i might watch the third one now.

isn't there a creepy scene in one of the sequels (the third?) involving a nun, a hospital ward, and the ceiling? i seem to remember an old old old thread called "scariest scenes" or something, and that was a much talked about scene.

Yes, that's another good visual I recall from the third film.

There's the woman I was talking about, who is possessed. She crawls around on the ceiling at one point. She's also in another very cool scene involving the giant autopsy scissors.

[ash_is_the_gal]

i was going to mention scissors! Pretty good memory for someone who's never seen the film, eh? eh!?

[Deadite]

In fact, I think I will watch it again soon, and see how it holds up for me. :)

[urkillinmesmalls]

so, uh, what say in about 3 yrs. we all go to my place eat some pizza and watch the EXORCIST!!! ;)

[Maxine Taurus]

one thing that does ring true, The Exorcist is a very scary and disturbing film. However, I would never try to tempt fate with a Ouija board.. Truth holds true with the chinese fortune cookie, "Be careful what you wish for, you just MIGHT get it".

[ollanik]

Cult classic.

[mark f]

Do they have a "Gong Show" in Serbia?

That's "Gong", not "Bong".

[Deadite]

*bump in the night*

This is why we NEED neg rep back:

who cares, anyway? it's just a button.

besides, those little red minus 1's are... beautiful! it's like a risqué little, "ooh, i got to somebody". it makes me feel all giddy like when Jeannie's belly button would become exposed for a half a second in that sassy little outfit of hers.

Anyhoo, I did indeed rewatch Exorcist 3 and it held up very well to my memory of it; underrated film, best sequel in the series.

Totally ignoring the boring sequel Heretic, Exorcist 3 continues the first film's story by expanding on it in interesting ways. I actually prefer Exorcist 3 because of its greater variety in locations and its characters. I liked all the performances in the film and especially the friendship between Lieutenant Kinderman (George C. Scott) and Father Dyer (Ed Flanders). Visually compelling and somber, the film recaptured and sustained the mood of genuine lurking evil from the original. Thumbs up.

[Hit Girl]

Warning: this post may contain spoilers!

I remember watching Exorcist 3 years ago and enjoying it. Big scare with the scene with the scissors! I'll have to put it on my re-watch list.

I watch the original on a regular basis and, while I'm not religious, find it a very unsettling and effective horror movie. I feel it really centres around Regan's mother, Chris. This poor woman who has what she believes is a very sick child and no power to do anything to help her. The doctors can't find the problem and just about write her off. She even goes outside her own beliefs looking for a solution. I think the scene that drives this home is where she learns that Burke Dennings has died, turns around to see her daughter 'walking' down the stairs and spewing blood at the bottom. Her reaction to this is brilliant, the woman has almost hit rock bottom.

A very good horror movie. Bonus: Lee J. Cobb. I love his performance. :)

[Gideon58]

THE EXORCIST is a classic that broke all the rules and changed film making forever...the film features a perfect marriage of gross-out graphics and genuine terror that has never been so effectively fused in one film. Friedkin's in-your-face direction is more than just a special effects supervisor and the acting throughout is first rate...Ellen Burstyn was robbed of a Best Actress Oscar IMO.

[Mesmerized]

I just thought I'd point out that today, December 26, 2023 is the 50th anniversary of this movies release.


Ronald Hunkeler was the boy possessed.

[Brody At Amity]

The Exorcist is my favourite horror movie. Such a unsettling piece of work that gave the genre a seriousness it hadn't had much of before. Because it's about a mother who is trying to save the life of her daughter, a mother who is desperate having run out of ideas, you have this great theme running beneath the supernatural stuff that can be appreciated by audiences who wouldn't ordinarily go for horror. You've also got this priest having a crisis of faith. Aside from the more outlandish paranormal activity - the levitation, the head spin, the jumping bed, the furniture flying around the room - you've got a very human, very atmospheric, very chilling story that's told with a lot of intelligence (courtesy of Blatty's screenplay) and realism (thanks to Friedkin's approach).