Reviews: The Exorcist (1973) Movie Review
Subgenres: Demons, Featured Supernatural, Possession, Cult Classic, Exorcisms, Religion
Our honest review of The Exorcist (1973) breaks down its scares, pacing, and whether this horror movie truly stands the test of time.
The Exorcist is my all-time favorite horror movie, definitely a top demon movie, as well, so of course, it would be the best demon horror movie. Everyone knows the iconic peas soup and spinning head scenes that are just why The Exorcist is such a classic horror movie. I saw the updated version where the little girl Regan (Linda Blair) walked down the stairs upside-down, truly demonic and sinister like a proper demon. Ahead of the times and still loved today. After the result of demonic possession, a priest is called to perform an exorcism on the little girl. As many of us know, the results are alarming and remind us that evil forces are more than just fairy tales to keep little children in church.
Demon from The Exorcist says: "What an excellent day for an exorcism," says the demon to the priest. Demons love to mess with your head in every way possible.
These demon movies are, in my opinion, the best horror movies. Hard to only choose ten, but I tried to make a well-rounded out list without repeating what is already out there. For a great scare, you need to see a good demon film!
The film begins in Iraq, where we are introduced to Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow). While on an archeological dig, he feels the call of battle. It seems the dark lord wants a rematch (see "Exorcist II: The Heretic" for more info on their past encounters). But where will this battle take place?
Little Regan (Linda Blair) seems to have a new friend, Captain Howdy (aka "Satan’s Minions"), and he doesn’t want to play nice. Strange things are a mist at the McNeil household. After a battery of excruciating tests and being labeled a complete lunatic, they realize that Regan isn’t quite herself. When all else fails to work, turn to the church, right?
That’s when a priest (Jason Miller), who at the time is questioning his faith, is called in to do battle with the demons of Hell. He is joined later by Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow), a seasoned pro when sparring with Beelzebub. Holy water and green puke fly from every imaginable angle as this battle between good and evil rages. In the end, who is the real winner?
A great movie that makes us all question our faithful or faithless lives. Great effects (legendary green puke, spinning head, etc.) ala Dick Smith and a very eerie atmosphere. The score is outstanding. It is one of the best. Overall, one of the most complete and entrancing horror films of all time.
Featured movie quotes for The Exorcist are here.
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Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- The Exorcist Rating Scores
- Our Score: 10/10
- Overall Score: 8.74/10
- IMDB: 8.1/10
- MetaCritic: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 7.8/10
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