The Exorcist

A movie which scared a lot of people during the 70's. A masterpiece of horror! I saw this movie when I was 10 years old and it terrified me... I've been having nightmares about the possessed child since the first time I watched this movie.

When a teenage girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.

Did you know that:

1. Ellen Burstyn (the mother in the movie) agreed to doing the movie only if her character didn't have to say the scripted line: "I believe in the devil!". The producers agreed to erase the line from the script.
2. Mercedes McCambridge (the voice of the possessed child) started drinking and smoking again to obtain this terrifying voice. She also had to sue Warner Brothers for credit as the demonic voice.
3. The movie is based on William Peter Blatty's novel which is based on... actual facts! Indeed, some aspects of the novel were inspired by an actual exorcism performed in 1949: the exorcism of Roland Doe.
4. A person who saw the movie in 1974 during its original release fainted and broke his jaw on the seat in front of him. As a result, he sued Warner Brothers and the filmmakers, claiming that the use of subliminal imagery in the film had caused him to pass out.
5. The original trailer, which consisted of nothing but images of the white-faced demon quickly flashing in and out of darkness, was banned in many theaters, as it was considered "too frightening".
6. The bedroom set had to be refrigerated to reproduce the authentic icy breath of the actors in the exorcism scenes. Linda Blair, who was only in a nightgown, says to this day she cannot stand being cold.
7. The substance used in the movie for Regan(Linda blair)'s vomit was thick pea soup.
8. Director William Friedkin eventually asked technical advisor Thomas Bermingham to exorcise the set. He refused, saying an exorcism might increase anxiety. Reverend Bermingham gave a blessing and talk to reassure the cast and crew.
9. On the first day of filming the exorcism sequence, Linda Blair's delivery of her foul-mouthed dialogue was so disturbing that Max von Sydow (Father Merrin) actually forgot his lines.
10. "Entertainment Weekly" and "Maxim" voted The Exorcist the Scariest Movie of All Time. Moreover, in a 2007 poll conducted by The Times for the Top 50 Scariest Movie Moments, the movie topped the list.

And here is a video containing the most memorable scenes from The Exorcist. Of course, I recommand you to watch first the whole movie, as those sequences contain spoilers (especially for the make-up of the possessed girl)...

And for the bravest, a few scenes from The Exorcism

Comments

[William Ransone]

I saw it when it came out (after having read the book while listening to the soundtrack, 14 yrs old), was terrified; saw it in highschool and found it cheap.... Recently watched it again : fantastic! ...acting, photography, sound, light --- technically excellent. For me it is not a horror film at all, but a film about faith, not.only in its religious sense, but pure, essential faith, a beautiful film!