What is the Allure of The Exorcist??!

by Darren Samuels
(Maine)

Really more of an opinionated question... but still!

I've seen The Exorcist twice and can never, EVER get into it! I've seen it on hundred's of "Best Horror Movie's" lists... and I seriously wouldn't even put it in the top one hundred... and I haven't even seen a hundred horror movies!!!

So, I just want an honest answer from all of you "Exorcist" fans out there... what do you like about this boring, overly-religious/pretentious film?

It might just be my teenage struggles with religion talking... but seriously I don't get the hype! Someone help me understand!!!

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What is the Allure of The Exorcist??!

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Jul 28, 2010
Rating

It scared the heck 'into' me
by: Anonymous

In a nutshell this movie came out in 1973 and nothing like it had ever been done before unless you include Rosemary's Baby which I thought was a little hokey. Religious or not this movie gives me nightmares over 35 years later. Was it a demon, the devil himself, or the girl's own mind? That alone makes it a classic. One million cans of split pea soup cant be wrong.

Jun 20, 2010
Rating

My Opinion...
by: Brittainy

Honestly, I'm not overly keen on The Exorcist. I enjoyed the book, and I love many horror films from that era, one being The Omen which is outstanding and in my personal opinion infinitely better than The Exorcist and my favorite 'serious' horror film of all time.

Somehow I never really thought The Exorcist deserved all the hype it got. To me, it has none of the more subtle terror of The Omen.

However, while I don't rank it as a great horror movie, I still take it down from the shelf now and then to watch it. And I'd certainly rather view it than the boring fluff around in the horror world today.

Definitely not a 'gem'...not for me, anyway. But to each his own.

Jun 25, 2009
Rating

Honestly
by: Anonymous

The way she looked and talked just scared and creeped the heck out of me.

I bought the DVD in 2004 and I've only watched it twice since then. It's just scary! Not your typical horror movie.

Feb 18, 2009
Rating

try to get your head around this
by: Lois

I am not a religious person. However, The Exorcist impacted me like no other movie and continues to even now. There are people in this world whose actions spell out pure evil, so we know some form evil does exist. Now imagine, if you would that there are entities and demons of the worst kind just waiting for a portal to get into your body and overtake you. They are in full control and make you do unspeakable things. They inflict wounds not only on you, but your family. They turn you into a murderer. I have a tremendous fear of not being in total control and that to me is what makes The Exorcist the horror film that it is today.

Aug 14, 2008
Rating

get that little girl away from me!
by: Iris

I guess, as with any horror movie, if you think of it as putting yourself in the characters shoes, then it really does make the situations in a movie A LOT scarier.
I personally wouldn't ever want to be in a room with this little girl on a bed with a loud booming-demonic voice, twisting her head around, floating off her bed, etc.
Her mother and the priests react as i think most people would pretty much react in that situation. Utterly shocked and terrified, but trying to keep their cool.
I think maybe you allowed the hype of the movie to ruin it for you. It's #1 on a lot of lists because the story was the first of its kind. It will always have a unique sort of creepiness to it.

Jul 31, 2008
Rating

Response...
by: Darren

Yes, but they were still actually played in the nineties...until this new millenia fucked everything up!!!

I hate this generation!!!!!!!!

Jul 31, 2008
Rating

Exorcist
by: Watchman de profundis

Well, I do like The Exorcist but it isn't my favorite horror film. I think that some people say they love it just because it IS considered an icon of horror cinema. Monkey see, monkey do or some bullshi* like that. I, personally, prefer the books. ("The Exorcist" and it's sequel "Legion", which is what Exorcist III is based upon, both by William Peter Blatty). In fact, I think that is why I am ambivalent about the film. Seriously, read the book(s). "The power of Christ compels you!" By the way, the glory days of t.v. and film ( and music for that matter) were the 70s and 80s.

Jul 31, 2008
Rating

Response...
by: Darren

If you must know...I was born in the early 90's, when T.V. and movies was still in their glory days! And despite being brought up with "Torture Porn", I have never seen Hostel...and I've only seen bits and pieces of the first Saw movie! I don't like current anything! The music, the movies, the videogames totally suck in this generation! I love the old movies and T.V shows...and although some people say this without really meaning it, I truly should have been born in the sixties, when everything was new and golden!

I love old horror movies...any kind of horror movies...the classics, the slashers, the psychological horror...but I still can not pin-point why I don't like The Excorcist...it just bored me! There wasn't really any suspense, everything just sort of happened...and the acting was sub-par, and then there's the religion issue!

But the reason why I asked this question, is so that I might pinpoint the direct reason I don't like the movie! And that's why I want people to continue to comment...I really want to know why everyone thinks this is such a good horror movie when I still give it two thumbs down!

Please help me, understand!

Jul 31, 2008
Rating

Teen Angst?
by: Watchman de profundis

How old are you exactly and what kind of horror films do you like? It could be that The Exorcist is to slow paced for you. If you grew-up with films like Hostel, Saw, etc. (i.e. Torture Porn) The Exorcist might just be boring. I suggest you read the book. If that makes you cringe than well, I guess I proved my point.

Jul 30, 2008
Rating

Exorcist Opinion
by: Nikki

I feel that the Exorcist really scares some people based on the fact that they are religious and anything satanic scares them. Being a religious person myself, it does creep me out.

I do not think it has a very high gore level or very high monster-like level..but it does scare. A lot of people are die hard Exorcist fans. It's been talked about forever. If you could take out most of the walking and church parts of this movie--and focus more on the internal character Miss Blair..then I think it would hold more value for ya. :)

I tend to love more gory stuff, but I still love this classic because that's what it is...a true classic. You've gotta love that head spinning!

Jul 30, 2008
Rating

I'm back!
by: Darren

I don't know what to say here! Really I don't...but I believe that all of you(except the first commentor) are at least half-right...but, maybe, like I said before, it's because of my teenage struggles with religion but what you all find scary about the movie, is what made me dislike it! I'm not a devoted christian and I haven't read the bible...so the sacriligion you have all talked about isn't as effective on me because I don't know what's considered sacriligious or not(except abortions, but even I'm for that...and I'd really not like that to be commented on, cause it's my choice to believe that it may be the only alternative or right thing to do in a certain situation)!

And the psychological aspect doesn't scare me again, because I don't know anything about religion(and DON'T want to, matter of fact) so I don't really care about Father Karras(I think that's the priest's name) struggles with his own faith, cause I don't understand his faith!

So I may not be able to pass a fair judgement on this movie...just because it delves into a conformed Catholic/Christian world that I don't believe in, in any way, shape, or form!

Please continue commenting people, I just want to hear your opinions! Because my rating for this movie is two thumb's down!

Jul 30, 2008
Rating

Wow
by: The Horror Czar

Hmmm...

Not sure why that first commenter chose to go straight to that "bigot" and "Bubba" crap that is so common among today's lot of ultra-fragile, defensive and weepy political-correctness obsessed crybabies... but they did. And because of disagreement about a movie?

I will say one thing... if this post becomes a soapbox for the anonymous flamers club that slinks around the seedy underworld of the Internet the whole damn thing will be deleted because I hate that...

Whew... okay...

So, to Darren... I must say that I don't really get people that don't like The Exorcist... of course because I personally think it's so good and scary. Bet you don't like beets either, huh? Lima Beans?

Like Crypticpsych I think the religious elements are a part of the picture that make this film so good. Fact is, even if one doesn't subscribe to the religious basis of the film it is still a thrilling dramatization of the situation at hand. And the pretentiousness? I guess I like that too... don't know what to say about that.

Since you specifically mention teenage struggles with religion I have to imagine that that has something to do with your rejecting the film on those grounds without noticing other elements... but of course that could be completely off base. Maybe you just think the movie is not good.

Well, if you think that The Exorcist is "just not good" then I'm going to be forced to launch a personal attack against your character and moral fiber, because this is the Internet and I don't have to leave my name... oh, wait... I already wrote my name down... okay, I guess I won't do that.

Don

Jul 30, 2008
Rating

Not Everyone's Cup of Tea
by: Crypticpsych

Really? 1 star? Just because you disagree with the question is no reason to rate it 1 star...but I digress.

Personally, the overly religious aspect you decry is why I like it. There's a psychological aspect to it that makes it chilling enough on its own, sure, but the actual process and occurrences during the Exorcism are outstandingly well done and Regan's various sacriligious acts are effective because they hadnt been seen before and are effective now because while other things may have come afterwards, there's still something disturbing about a girl stabbing herself there with a crucifix no matter what.

That said, I showed The Exorcist to a roomful of people once and most of them didnt find it scary because they were turned off by how slow the movie developed, which is their prerogative. I'll be the first to admit that the movie is a bit slow to get going. Also, if you want or need gore in a movie for it to affect or scare you, you might never appreciate The Exorcist simply for its lack of that. Again, that's your opinion.

I felt the same way about The Omen and Texas Chainsaw. It took 3 separate viewings of The Omen for me to A)get into it, and B) actually like the film and understand what all the fuss was about. I still don't get the fuss over Texas Chainsaw, but I can see that, now having seen it twice, I'm warming up to it and looking forward to the chance to see it again.

My advice, since you mention your teenage struggles with religion, is that you should wait a while, til maybe that's settled more, then try it again.

Jul 30, 2008
Rating

Eyeroll times ten
by: Anonymous

The fact that you call The Exorcist "overly-religious" and "pretentious" tells me all I need to know. You see, in the world of the bigot, not even a movie that is expressly about religion is allowed to be "religious."* It's "pretentious," don't you know, for Christian belief to be more or less accurately portrayed. Christianity, if it had any manners, would excuse itself and go cower in the corner, right, Bubba?

I'm not going to answer your question, since you very obviously don't care about the answer. You're just trolling.

(*) Blatty's story, while considerably exaggerated, is based upon a true, documented case. Still, even if it weren't, it's impossible to separate the office of the exorcist from "religion," since IT ONLY EXISTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

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