To me this movie IS the scariest horror movie of all time. I still remember the first time watching it, i was like 10 yo, and no movie after that scared me not even remotely like The Exorcist did because it really sucked me in, i mean i was so compenetrate that i felt i was in the room with those priests battling the devil and the chilling from the cold was real. It was mind blowing. Great video Lee!
The Exorcist is still my favorite horror movie of all time. The use of atmosphere, the acting, and special effects still hold up to this day. I got to go up those steps back in 2019. It's eerie how quiet everything gets when you're going up those stairs...
Hereditary is the only film since to compare in my opinion. Exorcist and hereditary both are more story/drama based films that have horrifying imagery they don’t try to be scary like most others.
This is the best review of The Exorcist I've ever seen. Well done, dude! I don't get legit scared from watching movies, but The Exorcist probably is the most chilling movie I've ever seen. The atmosphere is just perfect. It feels real and I can't give a bigger compliment than that to a film from 1973.
I saw this for the first time on British TV in the 2000s, watched it a few times since and it remains deeply unsettling in a way that very few other films are. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why but it has such a gritty grimy feel and McCambridge's voice acting is so on point, really gives me the feeling of a genuinely tormented and desperate being. Definitely one of the most powerful films ever made. Never fails to disturb.
So much can be said about this movie, it’s just incredible. I think the moment that stays with me the most is the Father Damien dream sequence, it’s very haunting and powerful and the most realistic depiction of a dream on film that I’ve ever seen. William Friedkin has made some truly amazing movies, i admire him a lot and think that his tough, no nonsense attitude really shows in his work. He’s made some pretty ballsy movies. I think that’s why The Exorcist is still so powerful is because of his style of directing, it almost has a documentary feel at times and whenever i watch it i feel like I’m watching something I really shouldn’t be. The evil in the film feels genuine.
Linda Blair was nothing short of amazing in this film, to only be 12/13 and completely kill this role is pure acting/talent, also talking about this movie with a friend of mine and we were saying how incredible this movie is shot for ‘73
Back in 1973 when my parents were dating back then, they've both called in sick for work after watching it. Fast forward to the director's edition, I invited them to watch the film with me again and they politely declined and said: "Son, this version is your 'Exorcist' now" and it has been my number 1 scariest film of all time.
I was 5 when it came out. I recall my parents went to see it, and when they came home my mother was a mess, slept with the light on for a week. My father would slip into the bedroom while she was still in the living room, grab the bed post and bang the bed up and down on the floor and scare the hell out of her. My dad....seventies at its best.
Watching the movie over as an adult, I really didn’t realize how important the mother character was. The mother had to keep it all together and not fall apart. She was a loving mother, professional working actress, she managed a huge house, she had to face the doctors alone, she was dealing with grief, confusion, pure fear...all while facing a supernatural evil. Great acting by Ellen Burstyn.
The Exorcist is truly the scariest movie of all time. There really isn't another horror movie that can hold a candle to it. One of my personal favorites
Great review Lee the Exorcist is on my top 10 list of best horror movie's of all time the story the performances and all the efforts still hold up till this day 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Exorcist, John Carpenter's The Thing, Halloween, The Blair Witch Project, even the original Alien, these movies, nowadays, are branded as "dated" or "cliche", but at the time, these movies were the benchmark and started the "cliches". When the studios announce a remake of The Crow or Highlander or whatever, I always groan because the remake always waters down the product, or throws what made them great out the window. The Exorcist and John Carpenter's The Thing, along with The Blair Witch Project and a few others, deserve the titles of best scary movie because they innovated and pushed the limits. And, these movies still stand the test of time.
This is a movie that stands the test of time. Needless to say its one of my alltime favorites. They blew it with part 2, but then made up for that with part 3. I always feel that part 3 does not get enough credit being as brilliant as it is. Good review Lee!
Yeah some of that I think is covered on the special features. William Friedkin ignored Ellen Burnstyn request and had the set guys really knock her on her back. Her pain was for real and they were like "great. Print it". Friedkin also fired a live gun near actor Jason Miller to get a genuine startled reaction shot out of him. Crazy. Got some great stuff but directors just can't pull the kind of techniques they used to in the old days. And frankly with digital stuntmen and other modern day FX you really don't have to. I mean, people used to jump off buildings for our entertainment not that long ago.
The Exorcist lll: Legion will always be my favorite in the franchise!! The original is my second favorite!! The only best two in the franchise imo!!!😁😁
In total agreement with you. I think Exorcist 3 is such a well made film. Very funny and witty in parts. You can tell Blatty started his career as a comedy writer.
Legion was a great taut thriller my only issue is the studio forcing the Exorcism scene and they cut some of Brad's lines out. First is my fav, but 3 is damn solid. e on't talk about the Heretic....and neither prequel was much to talk about.
Holy crap! The light in my hallway just turned off and back on. I had just watched your review, and now I’m freaked out. That’s a real horror film for you. You don’t even have to watch it for it to affect you.
Classic movie. I love it. Best horror movie by far. I watched the DC at the theater and young people were commenting that it wasn't scary... until it got scary. Seriously.
Great review Drumdum on the Original Exorcist film, This Movie is One of the Scariest horror movie of all time and amazing powerful films that we'll made in the Story, Writing, Directing, The Acting, and very Disturbing scenes throughout, I really had chills times seeing this film and it's one of the my all-time favorite film, this is a real Scary horror film nothing beats it.
It's a brilliant movie. The scenes between Karras and his mother are powerful and unsettling. And of course the guy who plays Father Karras is the father of Jason Patrick of Lost Boys fame. The simplistic score is up there with Halloween's score.
When I was 10, I was staying with my grandparents for the weekend, and they had HBO. They were strong Catholics, and they were intrigued by the concept of an exorcist movie. We got up right to the part where the Virgin Mary statue is desecrated, and then my grandpa was like, "No, turn it off." I saw it a few years later, and I kept wondering why they kept going back to that room, it just kept getting worse and worse. The scene that terrified me the head turn scene where Regan uses Burke's voice to basically tell the mom that she was the one that killed the director, and in the worst possible way. I did see it again in 2000, and it holds up...the terror, the tension, the horror. Even now, after seeing again this year, it is still shocking and tough to see. But I agree with you, Lee, it does show the light. There were so many times where those doctors kept pressuring the mom to put Regan in a facility, and she refused that option. And you can tell she was sparing no expense to try and save her daughter. And while some would see Father Karras' sacrifice as a dark turn, it was also a sign of hope that he was willing to trade his life for a young girl's. And the Bible says, "Greater love has no man than his, that he lay down his life for his friends." In the end, Damien's faith and love was enough for him to fight off the devil and save her with his own life sacrificed. There was redemption at the end, for Regan, and for Damien. He couldn't save his mother, but he could save Regan.
Howdy there Lee!👋 Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! Thank you so very much for this phenomenal review of an iconic film!🙏 My sister was a teenager at the time this movie came out, and she went on a date to see "The Exorcist"...For her, it was so terrifying of an experience, that she has refused to ever watch it again! I think back in '73, this film was a pioneer of sorts in the commercial, mainstream of movies, and something most people had never really seen before up to that point! I also believe that it depends on your age as to how some films affect you over your life. The younger you watch a film, sometimes the bigger the impact, so young adults who watch this film today for the first time don't understand the popularity of the film since there have been so many other "exorcist" type films released over the years..If they were however, introduced to it at a young age, I'm pretty sure their thoughts would be different...I have "the version you've never seen" on DVD, and I always try to watch it on 30 October or Halloween, as in my personal opinion, it truly is a frightening film! Try watching it alone, at 2am with all the lights out, and I'm sure many will feel the same way I do about it! In regards to you wanting to see the special version in theaters, you do now the 50th Anniversary is coming up soon, so who knows what the execs will do to honor this first horror film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar (I believe), and Oscar nominations for both Linda Blair & Ellen Burstyn who were both truly deserving of the honor as well. Incidentally, just want to mention that the "horror train" kept rolling two years later, when "Carrie" became a best picture nominee, along with nominations for Sissy Spacek & Piper Laurie! The 70's were truly a fun, great, and unforgettable time to be a horror fan indeed! Take care, and let the good movies play on! Ms. Elizabeth 📺📼📀📺📀📼
Very great points about audiences today. I can't even imagine taking a date to this back in 73. Most awkward date ever right?! And thank you for the kind words. Love this film and the shocking nature of it.
@@DrumdumsOfficial It's what my sister wanted to do, because she "loved" being scared...However, she must've regretted it after! Hehehe😂😂...Take Care, and wishing you and yours a beautiful and blessed Palm Sunday! Ms. Elizabeth 🌴🌴🌴
Guess you could say, Exorcist was such a lightning in a bottle that they were only able to capture it one other time, and that is for Exorcist 3. I do however like the spoof Linda did years later, Repossessed, but yeah, as far as the canon movies go, I normally watch the first and third ones, and skip the rest. I don't find it anywhere near the scariest of all time, but I still find it as a great horror movie. And now, Lee, you can cross this off your lists of movies to review. Granted, if you want to continue on with reviewing the rest, I wouldn't mind. Either way, thank you.
When thinking on scariest of all time, you always have to consider what it was for its day. Exorcist and the original TCM still stand up to a good degree today, but have been eclipsed in the gore and nasty department and people are far more numb to content, but in their initial releases, they were horrific and affected people in a way no movie today ever will. Even Jaws....a movie that literally kept people out of the water...we will never see that again.
My uncle who is now 70 watched it when it first released on tape & said he was up for 4 nights in a row cause of this movie it was so shocking for it’s time
OUSTANDING REVIEW!!! Dude you are the best at what you do! You put so much heart into your reviews! This is my favorite horror movie and you did it more than justice!
Lee, Thank you for your review. Your description words “intimidating” and “heavy” fit perfect for this movie. We are about the same age group so we have similar experiences with this film. It’s great that someone finally has given an objective, respectful and spot on review of The Exorcist. Thanks Brother
I would give anything just to time travel to 1973, just to watch this in theaters with all those people. It's my #1 favorite horror movie of all time with Halloween and Jaws following closely behind it. Thank you for making this Retrospective, I've always wanted to hear your thoughts on this movie. 🔥💯💯
Yes, it's a spectacularly well-made movie in which everyone involved seemed to be giving their best efforts, and the fact that they weren't actually concerned with making a horror film is probably why no one who has tried to emulate it has succeeded; their motivations are not quite so refined. I have to point out, though, that Regan was never actually possessed by the Devil, but by an Assyrian demon called Pazuzu, who was simply giving Karras reasons to doubt the legitimacy of the possession, as it did by faking a violent response to tap water later on.
I've always looked at this film as a beautifully crafted drama with shock value. It's very deep and well constructed. You should watch it with the commentary on by William Freidkin.
I agree with Friedkin that the scenes in the hospital where Reagan is being treated in ways that are unflinchingly presented are more horrific than the actual possession scenes. Once the demon fully takes over, half the time it's like watching a dark comedy. But regardless of what sequence you're watching, the movie hooks you in and expertly layers hope and despair with genuine emotion and atmosphere. And while I have come to love the extended version more (as seen on Blu-ray) for expanding upon the themes and characters, I do appreciate the tense pacing of the theatrical version, and its somber final shot is a deserved icon. Lastly, if one were to watch The Exorcist III after this one, I feel the theatrical versions of both would pair well, with the extended and Legion versions respectively tying together more organically.
"the scenes in the hospital where Reagan is being treated... are more horrific than the actual possession scenes." That's a really interesting point. In a way, that scene is the most graphic in the film. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect is the fact that such medical procedures are real. (Or at least they were real; I'm hopeful that fifty years of scientific advancement has rendered such unpleasant methods extinct). After you've witnessed the possessed Regan stabbing her crotch with the cross, at least you can reassure yourself that your child will never have to undergo that.
I was too young to see The Exorcist when it came out but I saw it as a little kid on Puertorrican tv where it was presented uncut with profanities and all! TV on the island is more liberal than continental US tv. Heck they were even showing the series Spartacus! Anyway I find The Exorcist one of the scariest movies of all time. As a Roman Catholic I find supernatural movies disturbing. I love the movie. Very good review and cool video Lee!👍
I first saw THE EXORCIST is 1991 when I was in college. I rented it one night and watched it by myself. I didn’t think it was scary, and I even found it a bit boring, but I still understood why it was a classic. I then watched it in the early 2000s and felt that it was scarier than I originally thought. I saw it again about 10 years after that and found it to be terrifying. So basically, the older I have gotten the scarier the movie has become. As you said, the film is heavy, and I just don’t think I was ready for it when I first saw it.
I think because as we get older we have a better understanding of the emotional aspects and that feeling of dread, when we're young we see it only visually and have that "yeah, nothing scares me mentality' we get older, experience more real life shit, we realize, yeah, imagine this really happening, and again, we get it in ways young us couldn't
I think when u first saw it in college, i just weren't paying any teal attention... Like u said u just found it boring. Or, maybe u were just stoned and really sleepy.... I saw it when i was about 9 or 10...or was it 8..? And i already found it F-ing terrifying AF.
My mom watched this in a crowded NYC theater when it was first released in 1973 and never watched another horror movie again because it freaked her out so much. She always tried shielding me from horror movies growing up, which of course resulted in her raising a horror fanatic who loves the Exorcist and Exorcist 3 lol. Excellent review as always
Really great review, glad you delved into this one. It’s scary, a really incredible film. I enjoyed 3 as well. There’s so much to speculate on. Friedken is someone I’d love to chat with. Really nice watch Lee.
Great review Lee, saw this when I was 11 years old, don't remember being traumatized or scared but I don't think I was ready for it, it is one of the greats for sure. BUT, I hope to see the day you review Angel Heart (1987), quite an underrated gem.
Oh my goodness, I've been waiting for so long to hear your thoughts on The Exorcist. This is my favorite movie of all time. I think I can wrap up what is the deep dark fear of this film, if this was real, we would have to accept that there is a God and there is a Devil. It's very hard to grasp. What I love about this incredible film is the rich story. Its father Kerris's journey and arch that is most touching. He is a priest who has lost his faith for understandable reasons and this little girl who he never met gives him the drive to save her and restore his faith. But also you can look at it from Chris McNeil's perspective and she's fighting like hell(no pun intended) to save her daughter. It's Regan's loss of her innocence as a child who's soul was kidnapped by this evil demon. It's Merrin's last battle on this planet fighting to save this child's life and soul, like Mohammad Ali for God. This film is like an onion, it has insane amount of layers. I met Linda Blair as well. She was just lovely and sweet. Thank you your views on the film. This is an incredible movie. Even just the making of this film is insane and really opens your eyes to how much heart goes into making a movie. The direction, the sound, the editing, the acting, the effects, the make up...they put their blood, sweat and tears and that's why this is still up there in people's eyes as the scariest movie of all time. Btw I hate the spider walk scene in the director's cut. Too much, too soon and too unbelievable. We go from Regan spider walking down the stairs screeching with blood coming out of her mouth and they cut to her seeing a therapist? Really? 😏
You summed it up beautifully Kristine. And you’re so right about the spider walk scene. It’s a great horror scene, but feels so out of place in the movie.
The spider was creepy, but you’re right, the placement was off. It needed to be cut, it didn’t fit in the flow of the story. It was shocking to see, though! 😳
I still have the Betamax, VHS, DVD and BluRay versions (even the extended version). I watched the film in 1983 (on the 10th anniversary) in a ill-fated movie theater. 24:58 The message on Regan's abdomen can be seen in one room wall in the game Silent Hill.
I totally agree with you! This is a Unicorn movie. When I was younger I would laugh at the movie; not because it was funny, but because I was scared! I believe the movie changes based on your maturity level.
I was 4 when the exorcist trailer came out on t.v. for the first time. It made me feel like the world wasn't safe anymore and that my protective parents couldn't do anything about it.
There are 2 movies I won’t watch alone, The Exorcist & The Haunting (1963). I remember reading about people going to see The Exorcist and having to leave because they were getting sick or passing out. It even said that there were miscarriages & heart attacks! I couldn’t imagine a movie being so scary, it could do that! When I finally saw it in 82, I was 14….it literally frightened me to my soul! I made my best friend sleep in the bed with me! I couldn’t sleep for days! It was an ear worm that got into my brain & consumed my thoughts! It was utterly terrifying!! Nothing scares me more than possession & a haunted house. Maybe it’s because they feel “too real”, like they could possibly happen to you. It’s the things you can’t see, the things that make you question your sanity. Where do you turn for help when it’s good VS evil? 😱 *side note: I remember hearing that Mercedes McCambridge shot whiskey, gargled egg whites and chain smoked to speak in that husky tone & make those guttural sounds. 😳. I honestly think her voice made the movie so upsetting to the senses. And that music! Tubular Bells sounds almost other worldly. When you put the film, sound & music together……Now that is the combination of a truly great film!! 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
And keep in mind the “new” element back in 73. No one had ever heard of this before then. So it must have been such a shock to see it unfold. On the big screen even! I need to check out The Haunting.
@@DrumdumsOfficial I can’t even imagine what that felt like in the theater, on a huge screen, with booming sound! No wonder people were getting sick, freaked out of their minds, finding religion! I know it’s a film about faith, but it’s a total mind f*ck!😱🤯
Damn finally! This was scary to me only when I first saw it at 13 years old. Now I'm all used to it. Some of my older relatives said when it first came out it scared some of our relatives and friends so much that they were becoming born again Christians. As for the scariest, The Evil Dead traumatized me more than The Exorcist did. And I saw that at 17 and slept with the lights on all night. Took me like 4 hours to finally doze off.
I saw the Evil Dead II first, but it scared me enough to sleep with the lights on, too!! There is only a handful of movies that has taken me to that level. Worth every sleepless night! 😁👍🏼❤️
Great work as always, good sir. While I do not put The Exorcist as the scariest movie that I've ever seen, it definitely has unsettling moments. Since I was born in 1984, by the time that I would have gotten around to watching this movie, so much of it was already spoiled for me. It's such a cultural staple that it's the type of movie you know what happens in even when you haven't seen it. So, I think that probably caused it to lose some of its power when I was a budding horror fan. Now, with more (too much) age and (a little) wisdom, I'm glad I can appreciate The Exorcist differently. During my most recent re-watch I remember feeling emotionally invested in the mother, and how terrifying it must be to be so helpless and hopeless as you watch your child go through so much pain and trauma. I'm not a parent, but I imagine that is true fear.
The one thing that makes the extended version better is including the brief conversation on the stairs where Merrin explains the point of possession, and does so while so exhausted he can barely keep his head up. I think it was the one flaw in the original not to include it because its so important.
This movie did things we would NEVER see in anything today, and it did in 1973. I've watched it many times and there are some scenes in this movie where I still can't believe I'm actually watching that happen. If there's a movie with balls, that's the one.
As a horror film, The Exorcist is perfect! It pulls you in & keeps ahold of you until it ends. For me personally, and as much as I love the original, Exorcist 3 is my favorite of the franchise. It’s the one that shocks & scares more people that I’ve shown it to (even though they’ve seen the original) and the genuine creepiness stays with you long after the film ends. I mean seriously, how many times have you looked behind you after shutting a door to make sure there’s no one behind you holding a giant pair of surgical shears?? LOL.
This is a fantastic review of one of the finest horror classics! I managed to see the re-released version in theaters (with the spider-walk) and it really was bone chilling. Hopefully, they'll bring it back again and you can experience it on the big screen!
"Entertainment Weekly" and "Maxim" voted this the Scariest Movie of All Time. Director William Friedkin once received Holy Communion when attending Mass in preparation for The Exorcist. Being Jewish, he did not realize he had unwittingly committed sacrilege. Author William Peter Blatty was so shocked he contacted the priest, who responded "Don't worry. It can't hurt him". In 2010, The Exorcist was selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved in its National Film Registry, citing it as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert gave "The Exorcist" four stars. It’s baffling, considering Gene Siskel was notoriously prudish about horror movies. He gave a thumbs down to Poltergeist, Aliens (1986) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991). One of Lee J. Cobb's last roles before his death. His character, Lt. Kinderman, was brought back for the final film sequel, The Exorcist III (1990), written and directed by author William Peter Blatty himself. For that film, George C. Scott took over the role. Director William Friedkin appears to have approved the idea, as in 1997 he directed 12 Angry Men (1997), in which Scott played Juror #3, Cobb's role from 12 Angry Men (1957). This was the film in which makeup legend Dick Smith hired Rick Baker as his assistant. The Exorcist draws on many influences, most notably Rosemary's Baby (1968); but also Henry James' classic horror story about childhood possession, The Turn of the Screw. At the end of that novella, in a scene very similar to the exorcism scene in "The Exorcist", the governess (who is called Miss Giddens in the movie) shouts at Miles, the possessed boy in the story, to be released from the evil spirit that has been possessing him. At that point some sort of evil presence appears, and then Miles collapses and dies. This is very similar to the scene when Karras shouts at the demon to leave Regan, Pazuzu then enters Karras, and then Karras commits suicide and dies. Also, the scenes where we see Pazuzu's face appearing are similar to the scenes in Turn of the Screw where we see the face of the evil spirit appearing. (This happens in a very dramatic scene in the film version of Turn of the Screw, 1961's The Innocents, with Deborah Kerr, where Miss Giddens sees the demonic face of the spirit suddenly peering through a window, looking at her from the outside.) These scenes had a huge influence on The Exorcist. The Exorcist was the most popular R rated film of all time when it came out. Bernard Herrmann didn't want to compose the music score for this film, because he felt that Director William Friedkin interfered with him too much. Mark Kermode and Robert Pattinson also cited The Exorcist(1973) as their favorite movie. The Exorcist was first called "the scariest movie of all time" by Entertainment Weekly, after having conducted a poll in 1999. Kane Hodder (Jason Voorhees himself) said that The Exorcist(1973) is his favorite film. The Exorcist was originally to be remade in 2015, but was cancelled. Stanley Kubrick was very impressed by the film. Producers sought to have Jamie Lee Curtis audition for the role of Regan MacNeil but her mother Janet Leigh turned them down. Stanley Kubrick was attached to direct the film, but only if he could produce it himself. As the studio was worried that he would go over budget and over schedule, it eventually settled on Mark Rydell, but William Peter Blatty insisted on William Friedkin instead. After a standoff with the studio, which initially refused to budge over Rydell, Blatty eventually got his way. Alfred Hitchcock turned down the chance to acquire the screen rights to the novel and also turned down the chance to direct the film when another producer bought the rights to the property. In a 2007 poll conducted by the UK's The Times for the Top 50 Scariest Movie Moments, this film topped the list.
Still one of the classics. I have the book and all the “making of” books. And of course We finally got you to watch Exorcist III. Great job! #TheLastHorrorMovie
Yes, I think The Exorcist is not only the scariest movie of all time but also the best horror movie of all time. By now I'm used to watching at it but I certainly don't forget what I felt the first few times I watched at it. It took 40 years to make films that approached the levels of The Exorcist but it’s still impossible to overcome what was done almost 50 years ago. It's crazy to think of the films that were released before 1973. No film was remotely comparable to a film like this. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Jaws, Deep Red, Suspiria, and Halloween came next. Among other things, the style of the soundtrack of this film inspired the Goblins for Deep Red and John Carpenter for Halloween. Crazy. A masterpiece and an absolutely unattainable milestone for anyone.
A truly great film that I still enjoy watching and admiring the production and atmosphere it creates. However I don't know anyone personally that finds it scary. Because it's always promoted as 'scariest film ever', it can do nothing but disappoint viewers. Modern viewers should throw the baggage of living up to that aside and just take in this wonderful horror film that still works almost 50 years later. Due to such a great foundation, I do love the sequels as well, even the wild Heretic. 2 and 3 are both uniquely their own thing and while 2 is weird, the presence of Linda Blair and it's perspective and style makes it a must watch. 3 is great but completely different. The prequels aren't great but offer 2 versions of that story, which is a rare cinematic treat. I'm a '73 boy myself and glad I have this in my birth year to refer back to, along with Don't Look Now, The Wicker Man and The Crazies.
This is one of my favorite movies of all time…not just favorite horror. It doesn’t scare me anymore but certainly scared the shit out of me as a child.
Just watching this review after watching this film for the first time in a long time and I sat on my sofa after contemplating the pure emotional drama I’d just experienced. It’s such a perverse experience…vicariously experiencing the lines between despair and hope thin out a hazily blur. This movie is a marquee fighter of a movie. An absolute behemoth of emotional gravitas and a clinic on how to achieve timeless photography and audio in a film…friedkin and Kubrick are pioneers of the ‘timeless aesthetic’ of 20th century cinema It’s no wonder you felt so underprepared when approaching how to review this masterpiece of cinema You did it a casual and non pretentious amount of justice in your review dude So conversational in your review New subscriber here
@@DrumdumsOfficial dude your content is perfect. You go deep enough to reveal speculative layers of context but never go over the line into ‘grad student pretence’ and the casual presentation and matter of fact talking is so refreshing…it’s exactly how actually real fans of cinema chat about film and it’s great. Right enough a** kissin lol I got some content of yours to catch up on lol
I'm 41 and still can't watch this movie at night. I'm a horror fan thru and thru. This is one of the greatest and truly scariest movies ever. Love Part 3 as well. Bottom line in regards to possession movies . This is 1. Followed by Amityville 2: The Possession and Exorcist 3
@@DrumdumsOfficial Amityville 2 is so amazing and so underrated. A movie you never hear anyone talk about. I saw your review on it. It was great and pretty much in line with how I feel about it. I downloaded the score to that movie and listen to it constantly at work
Amityville II is another “keep you awake at night” film! I wish more people knew how frightening this movie is! We are the only people talking about it! 🤷🏼♀️
I really enjoyed this deep dive into such an iconic film. I think if you’re a person of faith, this movie scares you more, but you’re also able to see the hope in the movie a little deeper than those who might not share that experience.
The power of christ will make sure that evil dies tonight! Yeah, Max von Sydow was 60 for 40 years. I still remember seeing it for the first time and thinking what is this "boring" disjointed movie with the separate story lines and then at some point the movie did just shut me up! To freeze the set so you could see the breath and then only could shoot for a very limited time. Great behind the scenes stuff. I didn´t even know an unicorn rating existed. Considering younger generations I always ask myself: Would I show this movie today to any of my younger friends and the answer here is: Yes! But i watched the original TCM last week and the answer here would be: No!
In loving memory Eternal glory Mr Wiliam friedkin Rembrandt van rijn Magica lanterna In holly darkness Cinema Best Pure Art Mowie in Solar system Not directors cut 2000 All 12 minute.. Wrong Georgetown All colours autumn Tubular bels Father karras Dream So real Forewer in may heart Greetings from Croatia Ex yugoslavia
The music alone immediately gives you visuals and chills. My favorite 👍 I was fortunate to see this in theaters on the rerelease. There is audio you never hear at home. Gives you a new respect for the movie, its so good on the big screen.
@@DrumdumsOfficial Definitely. When Regan screamed "MERRIN!!!" there was this background chatter before and after with a faint evil chuckle that came through the side speakers on the wall. It was very loud in there. Really cool.
As a kid I believed the first half of Friedkin's quote, as an adult I believe the second. I also see the hope in this movie, as scary as it is. Father Karras being read his last rites always gets my eyes watering. Awesome review, Lee!! You done The Exorcist proud 👏
I know many people didn't like the 10 Min Iraq opening sequence with Father Merrin, but I felt the Opening scene with Father Merrin was very Trilling & Creepy like the look of the digging ruin's, Merrin having a drink in courtyard area and people creepily staring at him, the part where he walking through creepy areas in Iraq, and looking at the Pazuzu statue, that open scene always creep me out and always found the Opening to be one of the most underrated openings to a horror film.
I prefer the theatrical version too. I would have loved to have the extended scenes from the doctors office in it though. That was really scary stuff and I don't know why they didn't use it. I think the spider walk scene comes off as a cheap scare and I prefer the movie without it. All the CGI in the extended cut looks stupid and the feel good ending robs you of afterthought. Like a corny joke after being pulled out of a car crash.But yeah, the original is my favorite movie by far. Even the Iraq stuff is there for a reason. Being the battleground of ancient Sumer, it ties the story to pantheons of ancient gods and demons. The sound design is perfect, I could go on forever. I can't recommend the theatrical cut enough.
Greatest and scariest horror movie of all time. Great video bro. I can't believe I'm a year late. For years I thought Merrin was The Exorcist when in fact it's Karrass who is the titular character.
I was little, when The Exorcist first came out. But, I remember a friend of my mom & dad saying, that he had just come from seeing it at the theater, and it had made him throw up. Lol. No horror movie has ever made me feel sick, and I've been watching horror, since I was 3 years old. The only thing on film, that ever made me almost throw up, was seeing a girl drink a cup of spit. Lol. For me, as a kid attending Catholic school, I didn't find The Exorcist disturbing, because we had been told, that the devil has no power, unless you give it to him. So, as long as you're good, you have nothing to worry about from him. It was just a really good horror movie to me, even as a kid.
I would love to be in the theater when all that shit was going down. Seeing everyone's first reaction to this movie, and it being new without the legacy, must have been something else.
@@DrumdumsOfficial I would've liked that, too. But, I was too little to get into the theater. My mom & dad took me to lots of horror movies, when I was little. But, they always took me to drive-in theaters, when they'd just cover me with a blanket, in the back seat. I guess, The Exorcist wasn't playing at any of our local drive-ins, when it first came out.
‘The Exorcist’ is my favorite religious/horror film. It’s not only a story about how real the devil is. It’s also a story of how a lost soul (Father Karras) found God again. Next time you see ‘The Exorcist,’ watch everything unfold from his point of view.
Great review, Lee. Check out The Ninth Configuration. Written and directed by Blatty and he referred to it as a sequel to the Exorcist. Not in terms of disturbing imagery but in the underlying theme - faith. I highly recommend it.
The Exorcist is literally shameless, brutal terrifying, shocking and impressive. It became one of my most favorite horror movie of all time. But since i saw this movie while back when i was in. High School and my dad saw this movie when he was in college with my mom and he saw again with his college roommate in Austin after i told him that was his scariest part of this movie was the doctors put the needles in her to let the blood out and that creature from the church so he can not finished it is to scary to him and i watched again hut you did great job for reviewing this movie Lee.
![GEEK TIMË [OFFICIAL AUDIO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ry-6RvkH880/mqdefault.jpg)
To me this movie IS the scariest horror movie of all time. I still remember the first time watching it, i was like 10 yo, and no movie after that scared me not even remotely like The Exorcist did because it really sucked me in, i mean i was so compenetrate that i felt i was in the room with those priests battling the devil and the chilling from the cold was real. It was mind blowing. Great video Lee!
it damn sure is damn man 😱😈
‘The Exorcist’ is literally shameless, brutal, terrifying, shocking, and also impressive.
It became one of my most favorite horror movies of all time.
Agreed!
This film has a constant sense of dread behind it and that's what makes it work.
Yeah eventually you start to feel like there's no happy ending in sight.
Exactly
The Exorcist is still my favorite horror movie of all time. The use of atmosphere, the acting, and special effects still hold up to this day.
I got to go up those steps back in 2019. It's eerie how quiet everything gets when you're going up those stairs...
I honestly don’t believe another horror movie has ever come close to touching it.
I agree. It truly is a profound film experience.
"the fourth kind" gives it a run for its money.
Hereditary is the only film since to compare in my opinion. Exorcist and hereditary both are more story/drama based films that have horrifying imagery they don’t try to be scary like most others.
@@cleancountershot3941 Totally agree with you. Real horror movies have plots, intrigues and are not only based on useless jumpscares.
@@marcusmorrow3900 not
This is the best review of The Exorcist I've ever seen. Well done, dude! I don't get legit scared from watching movies, but The Exorcist probably is the most chilling movie I've ever seen. The atmosphere is just perfect. It feels real and I can't give a bigger compliment than that to a film from 1973.
Wow thank you man. Really appreciate the kind words.
I saw this for the first time on British TV in the 2000s, watched it a few times since and it remains deeply unsettling in a way that very few other films are. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why but it has such a gritty grimy feel and McCambridge's voice acting is so on point, really gives me the feeling of a genuinely tormented and desperate being. Definitely one of the most powerful films ever made. Never fails to disturb.
So much can be said about this movie, it’s just incredible. I think the moment that stays with me the most is the Father Damien dream sequence, it’s very haunting and powerful and the most realistic depiction of a dream on film that I’ve ever seen.
William Friedkin has made some truly amazing movies, i admire him a lot and think that his tough, no nonsense attitude really shows in his work. He’s made some pretty ballsy movies. I think that’s why The Exorcist is still so powerful is because of his style of directing, it almost has a documentary feel at times and whenever i watch it i feel like I’m watching something I really shouldn’t be. The evil in the film feels genuine.
Friedkin wanted it to have a documentary feel, which adds to the realism. Beautifully directed film.
Linda Blair was nothing short of amazing in this film, to only be 12/13 and completely kill this role is pure acting/talent, also talking about this movie with a friend of mine and we were saying how incredible this movie is shot for ‘73
Yeah it looks gorgeous.
The Exorcist, Jaws, Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 1970s literally had the best horror. From all ASPECTS!! These films are all shot so beautifully
Don’t forget Halloween!
Hell yeah!
@@33dbz Halloween is the #1. Dont even gotta mention it 😎. And it's a little late at 1978
I would say 1973 starting with The Exorcist to about 1987 was the golden age for horror in my opinion.
@@BishopWalters12 the Year 1987 alone had PREDATOR. ROBOCOP & ELM STREET 3....best films in general
Back in 1973 when my parents were dating back then, they've both called in sick for work after watching it. Fast forward to the director's edition, I invited them to watch the film with me again and they politely declined and said: "Son, this version is your 'Exorcist' now" and it has been my number 1 scariest film of all time.
I was 5 when it came out. I recall my parents went to see it, and when they came home my mother was a mess, slept with the light on for a week.
My father would slip into the bedroom while she was still in the living room, grab the bed post and bang the bed up and down on the floor and scare the hell out of her.
My dad....seventies at its best.
Watching the movie over as an adult, I really didn’t realize how important the mother character was. The mother had to keep it all together and not fall apart. She was a loving mother, professional working actress, she managed a huge house, she had to face the doctors alone, she was dealing with grief, confusion, pure fear...all while facing a supernatural evil. Great acting by Ellen Burstyn.
Exactly Rhonda. I think seeing this as a "mature" adult is a whole different experience.
Still my favorite horror movie of all time. It literally shaped who I am today.
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
The Exorcist is truly the scariest movie of all time.
There really isn't another horror movie that can hold a candle to it.
One of my personal favorites
The scariest movie of all time. Nothing else even comes close!
Absofreakinloutly! 👍🏼
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
Great review Lee the Exorcist is on my top 10 list of best horror movie's of all time the story the performances and all the efforts still hold up till this day 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Exorcist, John Carpenter's The Thing, Halloween, The Blair Witch Project, even the original Alien, these movies, nowadays, are branded as "dated" or "cliche", but at the time, these movies were the benchmark and started the "cliches". When the studios announce a remake of The Crow or Highlander or whatever, I always groan because the remake always waters down the product, or throws what made them great out the window. The Exorcist and John Carpenter's The Thing, along with The Blair Witch Project and a few others, deserve the titles of best scary movie because they innovated and pushed the limits. And, these movies still stand the test of time.
Great point. Almost everything back then was original, and set the bar.
This is a movie that stands the test of time. Needless to say its one of my alltime favorites. They blew it with part 2, but then made up for that with part 3. I always feel that part 3 does not get enough credit being as brilliant as it is. Good review Lee!
Yeah 2 was the opposite of what this movie was.
Damn didn’t know about her breaking her back. She’s a trooper. Still stands up as the scariest horror film.
Yeah I just recently found out about this on a documentary on Shudder.
Yeah some of that I think is covered on the special features. William Friedkin ignored Ellen Burnstyn request and had the set guys really knock her on her back. Her pain was for real and they were like "great. Print it". Friedkin also fired a live gun near actor Jason Miller to get a genuine startled reaction shot out of him. Crazy. Got some great stuff but directors just can't pull the kind of techniques they used to in the old days. And frankly with digital stuntmen and other modern day FX you really don't have to. I mean, people used to jump off buildings for our entertainment not that long ago.
There's a great documentary called The Fear of God close to two hours of amazing behind the scenes material.
I'm tempted to develop a new maxim regarding behind-the-scenes info: The less I know, the happier I'll be.
Halloween 1978 is my favorite horror movie, but I will say that The Exorcist is probably the scariest and best made horror movie of all time.
The Exorcist lll: Legion will always be my favorite in the franchise!! The original is my second favorite!! The only best two in the franchise imo!!!😁😁
Well yeah we don’t talk about Exorcist 2
In total agreement with you. I think Exorcist 3 is such a well made film. Very funny and witty in parts. You can tell Blatty started his career as a comedy writer.
Legion was a great taut thriller my only issue is the studio forcing the Exorcism scene and they cut some of Brad's lines out. First is my fav, but 3 is damn solid. e on't talk about the Heretic....and neither prequel was much to talk about.
Exorcist III is definitely the scariest 😬 love that film!
Holy crap! The light in my hallway just turned off and back on. I had just watched your review, and now I’m freaked out. That’s a real horror film for you. You don’t even have to watch it for it to affect you.
Haha so sorry! 🤣
Classic movie. I love it. Best horror movie by far. I watched the DC at the theater and young people were commenting that it wasn't scary... until it got scary. Seriously.
Great review Drumdum on the Original Exorcist film, This Movie is One of the Scariest horror movie of all time and amazing powerful films that we'll made in the Story, Writing, Directing, The Acting, and very Disturbing scenes throughout, I really had chills times seeing this film and it's one of the my all-time favorite film, this is a real Scary horror film nothing beats it.
Last scene when the cop takes the Priest to lunch, that’s a real Priest. He taught a friend of mine in high school in the 90’s.
Yep. Really cool that they not only used a real priest, but they also made one a hero.
It's a brilliant movie. The scenes between Karras and his mother are powerful and unsettling. And of course the guy who plays Father Karras is the father of Jason Patrick of Lost Boys fame. The simplistic score is up there with Halloween's score.
Yep. I always forget that. And Jason Patric's mother is in Alice Sweet Alice.
When I was 10, I was staying with my grandparents for the weekend, and they had HBO. They were strong Catholics, and they were intrigued by the concept of an exorcist movie. We got up right to the part where the Virgin Mary statue is desecrated, and then my grandpa was like, "No, turn it off." I saw it a few years later, and I kept wondering why they kept going back to that room, it just kept getting worse and worse. The scene that terrified me the head turn scene where Regan uses Burke's voice to basically tell the mom that she was the one that killed the director, and in the worst possible way.
I did see it again in 2000, and it holds up...the terror, the tension, the horror. Even now, after seeing again this year, it is still shocking and tough to see. But I agree with you, Lee, it does show the light. There were so many times where those doctors kept pressuring the mom to put Regan in a facility, and she refused that option. And you can tell she was sparing no expense to try and save her daughter. And while some would see Father Karras' sacrifice as a dark turn, it was also a sign of hope that he was willing to trade his life for a young girl's. And the Bible says, "Greater love has no man than his, that he lay down his life for his friends." In the end, Damien's faith and love was enough for him to fight off the devil and save her with his own life sacrificed. There was redemption at the end, for Regan, and for Damien. He couldn't save his mother, but he could save Regan.
Howdy there Lee!👋 Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! Thank you so very much for this phenomenal review of an iconic film!🙏 My sister was a teenager at the time this movie came out, and she went on a date to see "The Exorcist"...For her, it was so terrifying of an experience, that she has refused to ever watch it again! I think back in '73, this film was a pioneer of sorts in the commercial, mainstream of movies, and something most people had never really seen before up to that point! I also believe that it depends on your age as to how some films affect you over your life. The younger you watch a film, sometimes the bigger the impact, so young adults who watch this film today for the first time don't understand the popularity of the film since there have been so many other "exorcist" type films released over the years..If they were however, introduced to it at a young age, I'm pretty sure their thoughts would be different...I have "the version you've never seen" on DVD, and I always try to watch it on 30 October or Halloween, as in my personal opinion, it truly is a frightening film! Try watching it alone, at 2am with all the lights out, and I'm sure many will feel the same way I do about it! In regards to you wanting to see the special version in theaters, you do now the 50th Anniversary is coming up soon, so who knows what the execs will do to honor this first horror film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar (I believe), and Oscar nominations for both Linda Blair & Ellen Burstyn who were both truly deserving of the honor as well. Incidentally, just want to mention that the "horror train" kept rolling two years later, when "Carrie" became a best picture nominee, along with nominations for Sissy Spacek & Piper Laurie! The 70's were truly a fun, great, and unforgettable time to be a horror fan indeed! Take care, and let the good movies play on! Ms. Elizabeth 📺📼📀📺📀📼
Very great points about audiences today. I can't even imagine taking a date to this back in 73. Most awkward date ever right?! And thank you for the kind words. Love this film and the shocking nature of it.
@@DrumdumsOfficial It's what my sister wanted to do, because she "loved" being scared...However, she must've regretted it after! Hehehe😂😂...Take Care, and wishing you and yours a beautiful and blessed Palm Sunday! Ms. Elizabeth 🌴🌴🌴
The first time I watched The Exorcist was in May of 1991. I was in grade 6. It terrified me. Fabulous movie. One of the greatest movies ever made.
Guess you could say, Exorcist was such a lightning in a bottle that they were only able to capture it one other time, and that is for Exorcist 3. I do however like the spoof Linda did years later, Repossessed, but yeah, as far as the canon movies go, I normally watch the first and third ones, and skip the rest. I don't find it anywhere near the scariest of all time, but I still find it as a great horror movie. And now, Lee, you can cross this off your lists of movies to review. Granted, if you want to continue on with reviewing the rest, I wouldn't mind. Either way, thank you.
Agreed. It's so hard to nail down any possession film, and the fact that this franchise did it twice is a testament.
When thinking on scariest of all time, you always have to consider what it was for its day. Exorcist and the original TCM still stand up to a good degree today, but have been eclipsed in the gore and nasty department and people are far more numb to content, but in their initial releases, they were horrific and affected people in a way no movie today ever will. Even Jaws....a movie that literally kept people out of the water...we will never see that again.
My uncle who is now 70 watched it when it first released on tape & said he was up for 4 nights in a row cause of this movie it was so shocking for it’s time
I believe it!
OUSTANDING REVIEW!!! Dude you are the best at what you do! You put so much heart into your reviews! This is my favorite horror movie and you did it more than justice!
Thank you Sam!
Lee,
Thank you for your review. Your description words “intimidating” and “heavy” fit perfect for this movie. We are about the same age group so we have similar experiences with this film. It’s great that someone finally has given an objective, respectful and spot on review of The Exorcist. Thanks Brother
Thanks so much for the kind words Eric. I love the age group that we are in. These movies were such a huge part of our childhood.
The Exorcist: Scary
The Exorcist II The Heretic: Funny as Hell.
The Exorcist III: A great slow burn detective movie.
I agree, part 2 is shockingly bad but 3 is great. I fell asleep watching the prequels.
@@krissymarklewis1793 the prequels I don't ever talk about.
@@krissymarklewis1793 Yeah I can never make it through the prequels, or 2.
I would give anything just to time travel to 1973, just to watch this in theaters with all those people. It's my #1 favorite horror movie of all time with Halloween and Jaws following closely behind it. Thank you for making this Retrospective, I've always wanted to hear your thoughts on this movie. 🔥💯💯
Me too Robert! That would be such a blast. And you’re welcome!
Yes, it's a spectacularly well-made movie in which everyone involved seemed to be giving their best efforts, and the fact that they weren't actually concerned with making a horror film is probably why no one who has tried to emulate it has succeeded; their motivations are not quite so refined. I have to point out, though, that Regan was never actually possessed by the Devil, but by an Assyrian demon called Pazuzu, who was simply giving Karras reasons to doubt the legitimacy of the possession, as it did by faking a violent response to tap water later on.
I've always looked at this film as a beautifully crafted drama with shock value. It's very deep and well constructed. You should watch it with the commentary on by William Freidkin.
That's the thing a lot of people miss with the hype, its not a good horror movie, its a damn good movie movie.
I agree with Friedkin that the scenes in the hospital where Reagan is being treated in ways that are unflinchingly presented are more horrific than the actual possession scenes. Once the demon fully takes over, half the time it's like watching a dark comedy.
But regardless of what sequence you're watching, the movie hooks you in and expertly layers hope and despair with genuine emotion and atmosphere.
And while I have come to love the extended version more (as seen on Blu-ray) for expanding upon the themes and characters, I do appreciate the tense pacing of the theatrical version, and its somber final shot is a deserved icon.
Lastly, if one were to watch The Exorcist III after this one, I feel the theatrical versions of both would pair well, with the extended and Legion versions respectively tying together more organically.
Definitely. That scene with the blood spurting out gets me every time.
"the scenes in the hospital where Reagan is being treated... are more horrific than the actual possession scenes." That's a really interesting point. In a way, that scene is the most graphic in the film. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect is the fact that such medical procedures are real. (Or at least they were real; I'm hopeful that fifty years of scientific advancement has rendered such unpleasant methods extinct). After you've witnessed the possessed Regan stabbing her crotch with the cross, at least you can reassure yourself that your child will never have to undergo that.
I was too young to see The Exorcist when it came out but I saw it as a little kid on Puertorrican tv where it was presented uncut with profanities and all! TV on the island is more liberal than continental US tv. Heck they were even showing the series Spartacus! Anyway I find The Exorcist one of the scariest movies of all time. As a Roman Catholic I find supernatural movies disturbing. I love the movie. Very good review and cool video Lee!👍
Thank you Hector.
Linda Blaire should have won the Oscar for her performance.
Yes she was amazing.
By far the scariest movie ever i couldnt shit alone sleep alone be alone for like a year i was 12
My favorite movie of all time :)
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
I first saw THE EXORCIST is 1991 when I was in college. I rented it one night and watched it by myself. I didn’t think it was scary, and I even found it a bit boring, but I still understood why it was a classic.
I then watched it in the early 2000s and felt that it was scarier than I originally thought. I saw it again about 10 years after that and found it to be terrifying.
So basically, the older I have gotten the scarier the movie has become. As you said, the film is heavy, and I just don’t think I was ready for it when I first saw it.
Tbh I can't remember the exact age I saw The Exorcist. I think my first fill viewing was the early 90s.
I think because as we get older we have a better understanding of the emotional aspects and that feeling of dread, when we're young we see it only visually and have that "yeah, nothing scares me mentality' we get older, experience more real life shit, we realize, yeah, imagine this really happening, and again, we get it in ways young us couldn't
I think when u first saw it in college, i just weren't paying any teal attention... Like u said u just found it boring.
Or, maybe u were just stoned and really sleepy....
I saw it when i was about 9 or 10...or was it 8..? And i already found it F-ing terrifying AF.
Great job drum
My mom watched this in a crowded NYC theater when it was first released in 1973 and never watched another horror movie again because it freaked her out so much. She always tried shielding me from horror movies growing up, which of course resulted in her raising a horror fanatic who loves the Exorcist and Exorcist 3 lol. Excellent review as always
I completely believe that.
Brilliant review Lee, you covered everything everything, superb stuff
Thanks so much BR!!
Love the review brother glad to finally see it
The greatest horror movie of all time.
Preach!
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
Really great review, glad you delved into this one. It’s scary, a really incredible film. I enjoyed 3 as well. There’s so much to speculate on. Friedken is someone I’d love to chat with. Really nice watch Lee.
Thank you!
The biggest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing us that he didn't exist.
God I love that movie (Usual Suspects).
I have so much respect for you, Lee. I love your channel!
Thank you good sir! Appreciate that.
Great review Lee, saw this when I was 11 years old, don't remember being traumatized or scared but I don't think I was ready for it, it is one of the greats for sure. BUT, I hope to see the day you review Angel Heart (1987), quite an underrated gem.
I saw it when I was 11 years olds also. It scared the bleep out of me
I agree Drumdums I thinks this is the scariest movie of all time. The only movie I stick away from very disturbing 😳
Oh my goodness, I've been waiting for so long to hear your thoughts on The Exorcist. This is my favorite movie of all time.
I think I can wrap up what is the deep dark fear of this film, if this was real, we would have to accept that there is a God and there is a Devil. It's very hard to grasp.
What I love about this incredible film is the rich story. Its father Kerris's journey and arch that is most touching. He is a priest who has lost his faith for understandable reasons and this little girl who he never met gives him the drive to save her and restore his faith. But also you can look at it from Chris McNeil's perspective and she's fighting like hell(no pun intended) to save her daughter. It's Regan's loss of her innocence as a child who's soul was kidnapped by this evil demon. It's Merrin's last battle on this planet fighting to save this child's life and soul, like Mohammad Ali for God. This film is like an onion, it has insane amount of layers.
I met Linda Blair as well. She was just lovely and sweet.
Thank you your views on the film. This is an incredible movie. Even just the making of this film is insane and really opens your eyes to how much heart goes into making a movie. The direction, the sound, the editing, the acting, the effects, the make up...they put their blood, sweat and tears and that's why this is still up there in people's eyes as the scariest movie of all time.
Btw I hate the spider walk scene in the director's cut. Too much, too soon and too unbelievable. We go from Regan spider walking down the stairs screeching with blood coming out of her mouth and they cut to her seeing a therapist? Really? 😏
You summed it up beautifully Kristine. And you’re so right about the spider walk scene. It’s a great horror scene, but feels so out of place in the movie.
The spider was creepy, but you’re right, the placement was off. It needed to be cut, it didn’t fit in the flow of the story. It was shocking to see, though! 😳
I still have the Betamax, VHS, DVD and BluRay versions (even the extended version). I watched the film in 1983 (on the 10th anniversary) in a ill-fated movie theater.
24:58 The message on Regan's abdomen can be seen in one room wall in the game Silent Hill.
I totally agree with you! This is a Unicorn movie. When I was younger I would laugh at the movie; not because it was funny, but because I was scared! I believe the movie changes based on your maturity level.
You are dead on about the maturity level. I see it in a different light every time I watch it, which is about once every few years.
Another awesome video! I love this movie! It scared the crap out of me when I first saw it as a kid
I was 4 when the exorcist trailer came out on t.v. for the first time. It made me feel like the world wasn't safe anymore and that my protective parents couldn't do anything about it.
There are 2 movies I won’t watch alone, The Exorcist & The Haunting (1963). I remember reading about people going to see The Exorcist and having to leave because they were getting sick or passing out. It even said that there were miscarriages & heart attacks! I couldn’t imagine a movie being so scary, it could do that! When I finally saw it in 82, I was 14….it literally frightened me to my soul! I made my best friend sleep in the bed with me! I couldn’t sleep for days! It was an ear worm that got into my brain & consumed my thoughts! It was utterly terrifying!! Nothing scares me more than possession & a haunted house. Maybe it’s because they feel “too real”, like they could possibly happen to you. It’s the things you can’t see, the things that make you question your sanity. Where do you turn for help when it’s good VS evil? 😱
*side note: I remember hearing that Mercedes McCambridge shot whiskey, gargled egg whites and chain smoked to speak in that husky tone & make those guttural sounds. 😳. I honestly think her voice made the movie so upsetting to the senses. And that music! Tubular Bells sounds almost other worldly. When you put the film, sound & music together……Now that is the combination of a truly great film!! 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
And keep in mind the “new” element back in 73. No one had ever heard of this before then. So it must have been such a shock to see it unfold. On the big screen even! I need to check out The Haunting.
@@DrumdumsOfficial I can’t even imagine what that felt like in the theater, on a huge screen, with booming sound! No wonder people were getting sick, freaked out of their minds, finding religion! I know it’s a film about faith, but it’s a total mind f*ck!😱🤯
Damn finally!
This was scary to me only when I first saw it at 13 years old. Now I'm all used to it.
Some of my older relatives said when it first came out it scared some of our relatives and friends so much that they were becoming born again Christians.
As for the scariest, The Evil Dead traumatized me more than The Exorcist did. And I saw that at 17 and slept with the lights on all night. Took me like 4 hours to finally doze off.
I saw the Evil Dead II first, but it scared me enough to sleep with the lights on, too!! There is only a handful of movies that has taken me to that level. Worth every sleepless night! 😁👍🏼❤️
Evil Dead got me with the card reading scene and how she does that quick turn, then floats in the air with that voice.....
Great work as always, good sir. While I do not put The Exorcist as the scariest movie that I've ever seen, it definitely has unsettling moments. Since I was born in 1984, by the time that I would have gotten around to watching this movie, so much of it was already spoiled for me. It's such a cultural staple that it's the type of movie you know what happens in even when you haven't seen it. So, I think that probably caused it to lose some of its power when I was a budding horror fan. Now, with more (too much) age and (a little) wisdom, I'm glad I can appreciate The Exorcist differently. During my most recent re-watch I remember feeling emotionally invested in the mother, and how terrifying it must be to be so helpless and hopeless as you watch your child go through so much pain and trauma. I'm not a parent, but I imagine that is true fear.
Yeah it's tough to watch this movie today knowing the legend of it. I would love to have been an adult in 73 seeing it for the first time.
By far one of the GREATEST FILMS EVER MADE and it has earned it's place in history
Absolutely Jesse!
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
@@JoelCraike it's my top 3
The one thing that makes the extended version better is including the brief conversation on the stairs where Merrin explains the point of possession, and does so while so exhausted he can barely keep his head up. I think it was the one flaw in the original not to include it because its so important.
I agree with Freidkin that the stair scene was unneeded because that was the whole point of the movie.
Great review Lee, definitely one of the best horror movies ever made 🙌
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
This movie did things we would NEVER see in anything today, and it did in 1973. I've watched it many times and there are some scenes in this movie where I still can't believe I'm actually watching that happen. If there's a movie with balls, that's the one.
You said it perfectly Alex.
The Exorcist is a scary ass movie. Awesome review. Keep up the great work Lee.
Thank you Chuck!
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
When I do watch this movie, I’d have to watch it during the day.Can’t watch it at night, cause Ill have problems sleeping.
I still have nightmares about this girl😱
It's the only movie I can't watch really and I don't get scare easily...
👍🏻👍🏻 Nice review!
I love your channel man , all of your content is stellar !!
Thank you John! 👏
As a horror film, The Exorcist is perfect! It pulls you in & keeps ahold of you until it ends. For me personally, and as much as I love the original, Exorcist 3 is my favorite of the franchise. It’s the one that shocks & scares more people that I’ve shown it to (even though they’ve seen the original) and the genuine creepiness stays with you long after the film ends.
I mean seriously, how many times have you looked behind you after shutting a door to make sure there’s no one behind you holding a giant pair of surgical shears?? LOL.
I've heard many state that they prefer 3. I think that's cool.
How did I miss this
Now you have 49,000 subscribers, congratulations!
🙂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you!
This is a fantastic review of one of the finest horror classics! I managed to see the re-released version in theaters (with the spider-walk) and it really was bone chilling. Hopefully, they'll bring it back again and you can experience it on the big screen!
Thank you Jared!
"Entertainment Weekly" and "Maxim" voted this the Scariest Movie of All Time.
Director William Friedkin once received Holy Communion when attending Mass in preparation for The Exorcist. Being Jewish, he did not realize he had unwittingly committed sacrilege. Author William Peter Blatty was so shocked he contacted the priest, who responded "Don't worry. It can't hurt him".
In 2010, The Exorcist was selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved in its National Film Registry, citing it as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert gave "The Exorcist" four stars. It’s baffling, considering Gene Siskel was notoriously prudish about horror movies. He gave a thumbs down to Poltergeist, Aliens (1986) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
One of Lee J. Cobb's last roles before his death. His character, Lt. Kinderman, was brought back for the final film sequel, The Exorcist III (1990), written and directed by author William Peter Blatty himself. For that film, George C. Scott took over the role. Director William Friedkin appears to have approved the idea, as in 1997 he directed 12 Angry Men (1997), in which Scott played Juror #3, Cobb's role from 12 Angry Men (1957).
This was the film in which makeup legend Dick Smith hired Rick Baker as his assistant.
The Exorcist draws on many influences, most notably Rosemary's Baby (1968); but also Henry James' classic horror story about childhood possession, The Turn of the Screw. At the end of that novella, in a scene very similar to the exorcism scene in "The Exorcist", the governess (who is called Miss Giddens in the movie) shouts at Miles, the possessed boy in the story, to be released from the evil spirit that has been possessing him. At that point some sort of evil presence appears, and then Miles collapses and dies. This is very similar to the scene when Karras shouts at the demon to leave Regan, Pazuzu then enters Karras, and then Karras commits suicide and dies. Also, the scenes where we see Pazuzu's face appearing are similar to the scenes in Turn of the Screw where we see the face of the evil spirit appearing. (This happens in a very dramatic scene in the film version of Turn of the Screw, 1961's The Innocents, with Deborah Kerr, where Miss Giddens sees the demonic face of the spirit suddenly peering through a window, looking at her from the outside.) These scenes had a huge influence on The Exorcist.
The Exorcist was the most popular R rated film of all time when it came out.
Bernard Herrmann didn't want to compose the music score for this film, because he felt that Director William Friedkin interfered with him too much.
Mark Kermode and Robert Pattinson also cited The Exorcist(1973) as their favorite movie.
The Exorcist was first called "the scariest movie of all time" by Entertainment Weekly, after having conducted a poll in 1999.
Kane Hodder (Jason Voorhees himself) said that The Exorcist(1973) is his favorite film.
The Exorcist was originally to be remade in 2015, but was cancelled.
Stanley Kubrick was very impressed by the film.
Producers sought to have Jamie Lee Curtis audition for the role of Regan MacNeil but her mother Janet Leigh turned them down.
Stanley Kubrick was attached to direct the film, but only if he could produce it himself. As the studio was worried that he would go over budget and over schedule, it eventually settled on Mark Rydell, but William Peter Blatty insisted on William Friedkin instead. After a standoff with the studio, which initially refused to budge over Rydell, Blatty eventually got his way.
Alfred Hitchcock turned down the chance to acquire the screen rights to the novel and also turned down the chance to direct the film when another producer bought the rights to the property.
In a 2007 poll conducted by the UK's The Times for the Top 50 Scariest Movie Moments, this film topped the list.
Still one of the classics. I have the book and all the “making of” books. And of course We finally got you to watch Exorcist III. Great job!
#TheLastHorrorMovie
Yes, I think The Exorcist is not only the scariest movie of all time but also the best horror movie of all time. By now I'm used to watching at it but I certainly don't forget what I felt the first few times I watched at it. It took 40 years to make films that approached the levels of The Exorcist but it’s still impossible to overcome what was done almost 50 years ago. It's crazy to think of the films that were released before 1973. No film was remotely comparable to a film like this. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Jaws, Deep Red, Suspiria, and Halloween came next. Among other things, the style of the soundtrack of this film inspired the Goblins for Deep Red and John Carpenter for Halloween. Crazy. A masterpiece and an absolutely unattainable milestone for anyone.
Very fair assessment.
A truly great film that I still enjoy watching and admiring the production and atmosphere it creates. However I don't know anyone personally that finds it scary. Because it's always promoted as 'scariest film ever', it can do nothing but disappoint viewers. Modern viewers should throw the baggage of living up to that aside and just take in this wonderful horror film that still works almost 50 years later. Due to such a great foundation, I do love the sequels as well, even the wild Heretic. 2 and 3 are both uniquely their own thing and while 2 is weird, the presence of Linda Blair and it's perspective and style makes it a must watch. 3 is great but completely different. The prequels aren't great but offer 2 versions of that story, which is a rare cinematic treat.
I'm a '73 boy myself and glad I have this in my birth year to refer back to, along with Don't Look Now, The Wicker Man and The Crazies.
It still looks like a brand new film. It's timeless. I'm noticing that more as time goes by.
This is one of my favorite movies of all time…not just favorite horror. It doesn’t scare me anymore but certainly scared the shit out of me as a child.
Just watching this review after watching this film for the first time in a long time and I sat on my sofa after contemplating the pure emotional drama I’d just experienced. It’s such a perverse experience…vicariously experiencing the lines between despair and hope thin out a hazily blur.
This movie is a marquee fighter of a movie. An absolute behemoth of emotional gravitas and a clinic on how to achieve timeless photography and audio in a film…friedkin and Kubrick are pioneers of the ‘timeless aesthetic’ of 20th century cinema
It’s no wonder you felt so underprepared when approaching how to review this masterpiece of cinema
You did it a casual and non pretentious amount of justice in your review dude
So conversational in your review
New subscriber here
Thank you and beautifully stated btw.
@@DrumdumsOfficial dude your content is perfect. You go deep enough to reveal speculative layers of context but never go over the line into ‘grad student pretence’ and the casual presentation and matter of fact talking is so refreshing…it’s exactly how actually real fans of cinema chat about film and it’s great.
Right enough a** kissin lol I got some content of yours to catch up on lol
I'm 41 and still can't watch this movie at night. I'm a horror fan thru and thru. This is one of the greatest and truly scariest movies ever. Love Part 3 as well. Bottom line in regards to possession movies . This is 1. Followed by Amityville 2: The Possession and Exorcist 3
God I love Amityville 2. Ugh.
@@DrumdumsOfficial Amityville 2 is so amazing and so underrated. A movie you never hear anyone talk about. I saw your review on it. It was great and pretty much in line with how I feel about it. I downloaded the score to that movie and listen to it constantly at work
Amityville II is another “keep you awake at night” film! I wish more people knew how frightening this movie is! We are the only people talking about it! 🤷🏼♀️
I really enjoyed this deep dive into such an iconic film. I think if you’re a person of faith, this movie scares you more, but you’re also able to see the hope in the movie a little deeper than those who might not share that experience.
I really enjoyed reviewing this Kathy, and so true about the faith element. I could talk about The Exorcist for another hour easily.
I remember Mr. Blatty saying he didn’t look at it as a horror film , but a mystery about faith.
Yes very true. He didn't see it as a horror story.
This film freaked me out the first time I watched this film. The effects for its day are amazing. Some really nastiness in . Great video
Thanks for watching!
Great review the exorcist is still one of those horror movies that on my watchlist for sure definitely would love to check this one out in the future
Thanks Chappie!
This is my all time favorite Horror film! It’s a piece of art!
Agreed!
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
The power of christ will make sure that evil dies tonight! Yeah, Max von Sydow was 60 for 40 years. I still remember seeing it for the first time and thinking what is this "boring" disjointed movie with the separate story lines and then at some point the movie did just shut me up!
To freeze the set so you could see the breath and then only could shoot for a very limited time. Great behind the scenes stuff.
I didn´t even know an unicorn rating existed.
Considering younger generations I always ask myself: Would I show this movie today to any of my younger friends and the answer here is: Yes!
But i watched the original TCM last week and the answer here would be: No!
Still my favorite.
The Exorcist is the best movie ever made
@@JoelCraike it sure was... ✅️
Wow, you met the famous Linda Blair?
You were so lucky.
😃👍
Yep. I was nervous af, but she was so inviting and friendly. Loved her.
In loving memory
Eternal glory
Mr
Wiliam friedkin
Rembrandt van rijn
Magica lanterna
In holly darkness
Cinema
Best
Pure
Art
Mowie in
Solar system
Not directors cut 2000
All 12 minute..
Wrong
Georgetown
All colours autumn
Tubular bels
Father karras
Dream
So real
Forewer in may heart
Greetings from
Croatia
Ex yugoslavia
The music alone immediately gives you visuals and chills. My favorite 👍
I was fortunate to see this in theaters on the rerelease. There is audio you never hear at home. Gives you a new respect for the movie, its so good on the big screen.
This is another reason why horror is so much better in the theater. Even Halloween 78 has audio in the theater that you won't catch at home.
@@DrumdumsOfficial Definitely.
When Regan screamed "MERRIN!!!" there was this background chatter before and after with a faint evil chuckle that came through the side speakers on the wall. It was very loud in there. Really cool.
The Exorcist(1973) is still a testament to the unmatched power of old fashioned filmmaking and practical and makeup effects
As a kid I believed the first half of Friedkin's quote, as an adult I believe the second. I also see the hope in this movie, as scary as it is. Father Karras being read his last rites always gets my eyes watering. Awesome review, Lee!! You done The Exorcist proud 👏
Thank you Sara. That's all I needed to hear. And love that first sentence. "As an adult, I believe the second." So true my friend.
I know many people didn't like the 10 Min Iraq opening sequence with Father Merrin, but I felt the Opening scene with Father Merrin was very Trilling & Creepy like the look of the digging ruin's, Merrin having a drink in courtyard area and people creepily staring at him, the part where he walking through creepy areas in Iraq, and looking at the Pazuzu statue, that open scene always creep me out and always found the Opening to be one of the most underrated openings to a horror film.
I love the opening. Ties in perfect with the final act.
I prefer the theatrical version too. I would have loved to have the extended scenes from the doctors office in it though. That was really scary stuff and I don't know why they didn't use it. I think the spider walk scene comes off as a cheap scare and I prefer the movie without it. All the CGI in the extended cut looks stupid and the feel good ending robs you of afterthought. Like a corny joke after being pulled out of a car crash.But yeah, the original is my favorite movie by far. Even the Iraq stuff is there for a reason. Being the battleground of ancient Sumer, it ties the story to pantheons of ancient gods and demons. The sound design is perfect, I could go on forever. I can't recommend the theatrical cut enough.
Greatest and scariest horror movie of all time. Great video bro. I can't believe I'm a year late. For years I thought Merrin was The Exorcist when in fact it's Karrass who is the titular character.
I was little, when The Exorcist first came out. But, I remember a friend of my mom & dad saying, that he had just come from seeing it at the theater, and it had made him throw up. Lol. No horror movie has ever made me feel sick, and I've been watching horror, since I was 3 years old. The only thing on film, that ever made me almost throw up, was seeing a girl drink a cup of spit. Lol. For me, as a kid attending Catholic school, I didn't find The Exorcist disturbing, because we had been told, that the devil has no power, unless you give it to him. So, as long as you're good, you have nothing to worry about from him. It was just a really good horror movie to me, even as a kid.
I would love to be in the theater when all that shit was going down. Seeing everyone's first reaction to this movie, and it being new without the legacy, must have been something else.
@@DrumdumsOfficial I would've liked that, too. But, I was too little to get into the theater. My mom & dad took me to lots of horror movies, when I was little. But, they always took me to drive-in theaters, when they'd just cover me with a blanket, in the back seat. I guess, The Exorcist wasn't playing at any of our local drive-ins, when it first came out.
‘The Exorcist’ is my favorite religious/horror film. It’s not only a story about how real the devil is. It’s also a story of how a lost soul (Father Karras) found God again. Next time you see ‘The Exorcist,’ watch everything unfold from his point of view.
Yes I love that aspect of the film. And that the "lost soul" ends up saving the day.
Great review, Lee. Check out The Ninth Configuration. Written and directed by Blatty and he referred to it as a sequel to the Exorcist. Not in terms of disturbing imagery but in the underlying theme - faith. I highly recommend it.
Ooh can't believe I've never heard of that one. I'll look it up!
Word - The Ninth Configuration makes an awesome middle part in a loose trilogy with The Exorcist and Exorcist 3
The Exorcist is literally shameless, brutal terrifying, shocking and impressive. It became one of my most favorite horror movie of all time. But since i saw this movie while back when i was in. High School and my dad saw this movie when he was in college with my mom and he saw again with his college roommate in Austin after i told him that was his scariest part of this movie was the doctors put the needles in her to let the blood out and that creature from the church so he can not finished it is to scary to him and i watched again hut you did great job for reviewing this movie Lee.