Review of The Exorcist (1973) by Joshua F — 29 Oct 2014

'Poltergeist'...okay. 'Nightmare on Elms Street'..meh. 'Halloween'...overrated. Returning to the horror "classics" of the 70/80s has so far proven to be a waste of time due to their inability to withstand the tests of time. May have been good back in their day but all I experienced was outdated painful-to-the-ears horror music and now clichéd scare tactics. Lucky I did not stop with them three cause 'The Exorcist' is indeed an excellent piece of spooky cinema which distinguishes itself from your common slasher horror.

Often rated as number one on scariest film of all time polls and I gotta say it is a strong contender on my list. There's not really any gore per se, only the powerfully chilling atmosphere created around the bedroom of this possessed child. From the decaying appearance and perfectly toned demonic voice right to the 360 head turn, everything about this girl will give you goosebumps. Despite being used numerous times in American films for comedic effect, this movie even makes hearing a child shout obscenities and vulgar phrases extremely disturbing. Could nitpick about the slowness of earlier scenes or a few minor narrative ambiguities but it shouldn't take away from the fact that I was overall impressed.

Through successful implementation of flashing imagery, quick frights and its sinister supernatural concept, 'The Exorcist' is one of the few horrors which, while creating a constant state of unease, is something you can't bear to take your eyes away from for a second.