Review of The Exorcist (1973) by Jake S — 11 Dec 2012

The Exorcist is, without a doubt, one of the most shocking and powerful horror films ever made. Director William Friedkin perfectly blends scenes of gritty realism with surreal elements, straight from a nightmare.

Part of this perfect combination is due to the brilliant cast, which includes Ellen Burstyn, Lee J. Cobb, Max Von Sydow, and Linda Blair in her most iconic performance. The other element is author William Peter Blatty's Oscar nominated script, which is probably the cornerstone of the film's success.

While the film bombards the audience with many scary and shocking scenes like the infamous crucifix scene, it also has several moments that present the characters in very powerful way. The whole first act is spent showing the relationship between the mother and daughter, making the viewer feel a part of this family. So that when the little girl gets victimized by this outside entity, it becomes all the more disturbing. Anyone can show something for shock value, but the human interaction is what makes it scary. Both the writer and the director knew this and show it perfectly in The Exorcist.