The Exorcist

So this is it. The apparent 'scariest movie ever made' is seen by me, finally. The film that had viewers fainting in the cinema, so much so that a doctor would often attend viewings. The film that various countries banned on counts of blasphemy. The film that has induced upon us many unbelievably bloated sequels, reboots and re-imaginings (whatever that's supposed to mean). And my verdict is that it's a miraculously intrepid, yet strangely forgettable and rather bland film. The story takes place in Washington DC where a young looking Ellen Burstyn is getting increasingly worried at her angelic daughter Regan's increasingly off-colour behaviour. Subsequently, after a dig in Iraq, a priest played by Max von Syndow finds remains looking worryingly like Pazuzu. This scene was genuinely one of the most terrifying scenes in the film, which despite its legacy, in my opinion, is disappointing scare free. After doctors deem Regan beyond help, with her increasingly religiously and sexually violent behaviour, Burstyn recruits a pair of  priest to exorcise poor Regan. I will not reveal any more as the plot will be ruined if I do, but I was supremely disappointed with the sheer lack of scares . I don't know, maybe I've been deadened by endless PG-13 horrors. With that said the acting is impeccable and Mercedes McCambridge is creepy as the voice of Regan. However, the ending is too sloppy and the story too poor for it to be an absolute classic.

3/5

Teo