the EXORCIST (1973)

[Allhallowsday]

The Exorcist | Audience Reactions

http://youtu.be/AkIqFK3KoZ4  

Cultural Impact of The Exorcist 1973 

http://youtu.be/LSVHpX1CDN8 

[ER]

All right, even though I have described The Exorcist as campy, I am going to confess a story about this movie that very few people know.

About the third time I saw The Exorcist I was maybe fourteen and I was at my friend's house and watched most of it there and walked home alone, yes, through the dark, etc etc etc, and I got back, the house was quiet, just my mother there and she was asleep on the downstairs couch, so I walked past her into my room and closed the door and sat down on the edge of my bed and thought about that movie and felt this overpowering sense of sadness at the altruism of the old priest.

It hit me as so completely brave and noble of him to do what he did even as sick as he was that I started crying----yep crying---and I was trying not to make a sound as I cried, so I clenched up hard and put a pillow around my face then wept so hard my stomach hurt.

I still remember the feeling I had that in the midst of this supposedly horrifying film was an act of naked altruism so towering and yet so unheralded that it was one of the most tragic movie moments I had ever encountered.

Shrug.

[Allhallowsday]

You're not alone.  I call this film a "masterpiece" for many reasons.  For me, THE EXORCIST never gets old.   I do suspect that you know your tears were relevant to the concept of faith.  I get you.   

[Alex]

The film was designed to be an affirmation of faith, and to say yes there are dark things out therw, but that they can be defeated. It surprises more than a few people that it was initially made with the cooperation and encouragement of the catholic church.

[RCMerchant]

Also, it's just a good horror movie! It creeps me out!