Most people who know me realize that I am not a fan of the horror genre. I think it started when I was a mere six-year-old child, and my mom allowed me to watch Abbott and Costello’s version of Frankenstein. Oh, the weeks of nightmares that haunted my dreams. I swore off being frightened out of my wits forever, but forever is a long time, and I have tried over the years to put my big girl pants on and watch a couple of scary, popular flicks. In 1971, I innocently picked up the novel THE EXORCIST by William Peter Blatty. Little did I know that this book would scare the crap out of me for decades to come. It was such a graphically descriptive book.
In 1973, the movie premiered. I thought long and hard about stepping into a theater, but it was such a popular film, and everyone was talking about it. I will never forget that night. I was 23… not a baby anymore, yet I was still frightened shitless, even knowing the entire plot. It rattled my world for months. I remember being a part of THE EXORCIST phenomenon that caused some viewers to scream out loud, faint, and even vomit while watching. There were actual medical personnel standing by in the theater lobby. It was a memory for a lifetime.
THE EXORCIST cost eleven million dollars to create. It was supposed to be completed within 85 days but expanded to 280. It has grossed half a billion dollars over the years and won two Oscars for Screenwriting (Blatty wrote the script as well) and Sound. It was the first horror movie to ever be nominated for a Best Picture award. This was a huge step forward among the terrorizing cult of making scary movies.
William Friedkin (THE FRENCH CONNECTION) directed the film. He and Blatty saw it from two different angles: evil vs. a world filled with scientific and religious theories. They worked hard to blend it all together, but in the end, they both agreed on the use and power of pure evil. The idea fostered two sequels and two prequels. Friedkin turned down directing any other Exorcist films. He said in an interview, “Once was enough.”
Ellen Burstyn played Chris, the mother to her demon-infested daughter, Regan (Linda Blair). Chris was an actress and often left her daughter alone for long periods of time. This was said to be the reason why the demon chose a twelve-year-old to torture. Regan was lonely and vulnerable. Her father was never shown in the entire movie. Being a child of divorce and interested in an Ouija board was her introduction to the depravities of our world. It was indeed a different time with impossible standards. The chemistry between mother and daughter hit a bullseye with many broken families. Their innate bond was always present.
The entire ensemble was superb as well. It included Max van Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Jason Miller, and William O’Malley. Father Merrin and Karras (Sydow and Miller) were the dynamic duo of exorcism. Watching them shout, “The power of Christ compels you,” was riveting. Their pacing of prayer recitation was mesmerizing. There were so many nail-biting moments.
Make-up played a brilliant part in the making of THE EXORCIST. It took three hours to turn Regan bloody every day, and Sydow had to be aged thirty years as well. It was brutal for both. The cinematography was inspiring. Who will ever forget Father Merrin’s pivotal entrance standing by the shadowed, foggy streetlamp carrying his black satchel, coat, and hat? Toss in the unforgettable Exorcist musical theme, and most will still feel tingles up and down their spines. This was great artistry within the cinematic world.
The special effects and creepy sounds boggled moviegoers. To this day, I can’t stand looking at pea soup and I love peas. The cold air scenes were real. The head-turning made everyone cringe. The use of foul, profane language was just not heard of yet in public. THE EXORCIST took everyone to their coping edge.
I know that times have changed, and there are much more chilling films, but THE EXORCIST was the first. It opened the horrifying gateway and showed filmmakers that audiences wanted to be terrorized to death. This supernatural film is perhaps one of the most influential horror classics of all time. Fifty years later, it is still eerily disturbing and one of the scariest.
It is available on TCM.
