Review of The Exorcist (1973) by Hunter M — 23 Apr 2014

A must-watch classic horror film. The Exorcist has aged well, and is still sending chills up audiences' spines today. The gruesome transformation of the little girl is not the highlight of the film. The demon chooses a psychological war against everyone close to the girl. It doesn't want to cause them physical damage as much as emotional damage. The central characters are Chris and Damien, as they are Pazuzu's (the demon) main victims. Chris is tormented as her daughter's soul is trapped inside a body controlled by a powerful perverse demon, and Damien deals with the guilt he pushes onto himself for the death of his mother. The demon uses these weaknesses to get into their minds. My favorite part of the film is the opening scene which takes place in Iraq. Father Merrin witnesses a series of omens that foreshadow Pazuzu's awakening, and realizes he must battle the demon once more.

Similar to other great horror films, The Exorcist uses effective visuals with little or no narrative exposition. This leaves the audience to infer what is happening. The Exorcist is a very powerful film that will leave you sleeping with the lights on.