PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I’ve seen a great number of films. Horror, while not the only genre I mingle in, serves as my favorite genre to watch. From my time as a young boy walking up and down the horror aisle of the local video store, to me writing these words right at this very moment, I have never stopped appreciating a good horror flick. The classics, modern horror masterpieces, underrated gems that slip through the cracks and live forever in cult status… I love all of it. There has only ever been one film to truly scare me though. Now, I don’t mean scare as in that it made me jump or maybe gave me a nightmare or two. I mean scare as in it chilled me to the bone and wouldn’t allow me the comfort necessary to fall asleep in the first place. Scare as in it still makes me uneasy to watch even after all these years. Scare as in it never really leaves me. That film, widely considered to be the scariest ever made, is The Exorcist.
The Exorcist was directed to perfection by Academy Award winner William Friedkin (The French Connection) from a script by William Peter Blatty, who also penned a novel of the same name two years prior. The story follows Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), an actress, who is living on location in Georgetown with her pre-teen daughter, Regan (Linda Blair). After playing with a Ouija board, Regan becomes possessed by the demon Pazuzu. Chris turns to Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller), a psychiatric priest who lost his faith in God after the passing of his mother, to help save her daughter’s soul. Seriously, how many movies can you count that have recycled that plot in one way or another? You don’t have the time or patience it would take to do so, I’m sure. The Exorcist is THE ultimate possession film and it’s been inspiring fiction, be it cinema or written, for many years now. But why do so many works strive to emulate The Exorcist?
Because there’s never been anything better.
From where I sit atop this golden throne (and by “golden throne” I mean “mildly uncomfortable computer chair”), The Exorcist is the greatest film ever made. You’re allowed to disagree, but let me plead my case. The Exorcist operates on an entire level above most horror fare because, not only is it horror, but it stands as an effective, gut-wrenching drama as well. There are many different elements that make this such a successful drama film besides the fact that it’s scary as hell, particularly the trials of Chris MacNeil and Damien Karras.
Chris MacNeil, as portrayed by Ellen Burstyn in an Oscar-nominated role, is a single mother who is trying to make ends meet for her and her daughter. When her daughter begins to exude disturbing behavior, Chris takes her to therapists and doctors who run tests on her. As Regan’s condition worsens, Chris’s mental health deteriorates as well. Upon learning that her daughter is possessed by a demon, she must face something in which she doesn’t truly understand if Regan is to survive.
Father Karras, played by Jason Miller, also in an Oscar-nominated performance, suffers deeply when his mother dies. He allows himself to feel guilty over her passing and he confesses to losing his faith in God. After taking on Regan’s case as a psychiatrist, he realizes that her possession is real, and he must once more find his faith to help save her from the demon. The performances by Burstyn and Miller are top-notch, and are widely considered to be two of the greatest performances in horror history. The powerhouse performances help The Exorcist stand as a compelling drama, as well as lend credibility to the provided scares.
There is an uneasy feeling that lingers within me throughout The Exorcist. From the screechy violin opening until the final shot, the sense of dread and unmitigated fear carry a weight unlike any other film has managed. Why is the film so damn scary, though? Perhaps it’s the rumors of how the film is cursed. The rumors of different accidents that happened on set and how several people attached to the production died while/shortly after the film was being made. Then again, maybe it’s because the movie lacks even the faintest glimmer of hope. Regan is a sweet young girl before the possession, and the things that happen with her are truly disturbing and feel all-too-real. Seeing something so truly evil happen to a child is horrific beyond comparison. According to this video, I’m not the only one who thinks so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkIqFK3KoZ4
The Exorcist is not an enjoyable film. It’s bleak, it’s dark, and it casts an emotional weight unlike any film I’ve ever experienced. Those things, however, are the very reasons that The Exorcist remains my favorite film after all these years. There’s never been another film to elicit such a response from me and force me to remind myself that it’s just a movie. The subject matter is horrific, and it’s executed in a perfectly horrifying manner. Hundreds of films have tried to be The Exorcist, and I have no doubt that hundreds more will follow suit. The Exorcist is truly the holy grail of horror films, and I’m sure that it will continue terrifying audiences until the end of time. What an excellent day for an exorcism.
