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Post by janntosh on Oct 11, 2020 4:23:34 GMT
Everyone has told me how frightening it is and how it is a psychological trip. And I know the reaction that audiences had towards it in the 70's. But as much as I try, I just can't see it. It is not a scary movie and it is not even an enjoyable one, and I would even go so far as to say that it is not even a good movie. First off, there are so many parts of this film that have nothing to do with what the film is about. The first hour is nothing. It really has no relevance to the rest of the film. And for the life of me I really can't understand what the beginning is about. Why do we need the background of the Exorcist in Iraq? What does that have to do with the film and how does it further the plot?
Secondly, this is a very poorly edited film. There were times that I cringed at some of the editing. It was such a blatant cut that you felt like you could see the editors crazy gluing the film together. And I am not saying that to be cruel, I really mean that.
Thirdly, and this is the big one, what is so scary about this film? Really, all Regan did was get her face scarred a bit, vomit a lot, yell out obscenities and blugeon herself with a cross. Now that is interesting in the fact that this must have sent a shock wave through the religious community because you are not supposed to say or do anything bad towards the church. But in terms of scares or chills? No way, they just weren't there. I can admire a film like Halloween and Psycho for being innovative enough to scare us but not this film. Frankly, I was bored. I really was. There were times that I wanted to turn this off. This film moved at a snails pace. And i was expecting Max von Sydow to be a major character in the film and be a counterpoint to Jason Miller’s character but no, he appears in the opening and vanished until the very end
The other element that I can't get past is the fact that this was the devil himself. Okay, let's just say it is. Why does it allow himself to be tied down? Why does it jump at water that isn't holy? Why does it possess a girl when it can come onto this Earth in human form if it wanted to. When Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven, he was abolished because of greed and a lust for power. So for an angel to be that despised must have been considered dangerous and powerful. If that is so, then why all the scenes of Satan being dominated by humans? Are you saying that the best he could come up with is making a girl puke, levitate, and throw a few things around the room? That sounds more like he was just having a bad day because he couldn't get his own way. That doesn't sound like the personification of evil.
The Exorcist is a film that has it's place in history and I can admire it for that But ImO when people talk about movies that haven’t “aged well” this movie fits the bill
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Post by Prime etc. on Oct 11, 2020 4:48:45 GMT
I saw it twice when I was 4 so it had a big impact--but I think it's got a lot of hoopla over the fact that it was a big budget film with state of the art FX which were innovative at the time. That and the novelty of a girl being possessed. As I have said, I think the 70s was about the rise of the fx technician into importance, Dick Smith did the Godfather as well.
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Oct 11, 2020 4:59:48 GMT
It was the first major horror film to feature elaborate gore effects. And it was a lot more intense and focused that the other genre films that came before it. The naturalistic style gave it a 'realistic' feel. I can understand why it worked for audiences back in 1973. Personally, I find The Texas Chain Saw Massacre far more frightening.
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Post by Feologild Oakes on Oct 11, 2020 7:39:53 GMT
I agree. its not a scary movie.
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Post by politicidal on Oct 11, 2020 13:45:25 GMT
It was the first major horror film to feature elaborate gore effects. And it was a lot more intense and focused that the other genre films that came before it. The naturalistic style gave it a 'realistic' feel. I can understand why it worked for audiences back in 1973. Personally, I find The Texas Chain Saw Massacre far more frightening. There’s a great compilation video of audiences’ first-reactions to the original Exorcist. They must have thought Friedkin actually caught the devil on-camera or something.
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Post by Zos on Oct 11, 2020 14:35:32 GMT
Entirely depends on your age, no if you are young and deem "scary" to be how much entrails are shown in a film and have become utterly desensitized to violence but is that what scary even means? When the movie came out it was the first film where evil if you like, triumphed over good. It brings up the fear of an unknown illness as a parent, the fear of being helpless in the face of your child's situation, the having to accept faith, the struggle with keeping faith, the list just goes on and on. I cannot relate to, or feel scared by the idea of zombies chasing people and biting their guts out or being a teenager running around a forest at night pursued to a never dying assailments, but genuine fears and terrors and stories on a human scale are what truly lights the imagination. There is a reason some people say the medical testing done on Regan are the scariest. I also view Polanski's "Repulsion" as another top notch "horror" film, and Lynche's "Fire Walk With Me" but as I say, perhaps what is seen as "horror" nowadays is different to what was in the past.
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Post by moviemouth on Oct 11, 2020 14:47:03 GMT
"What an excellent day for an Exorcism"
It isn't ever implied that it is the devil himself.
I think it is an emotionally powerful and intensely creepy gut-punch that deals with themes of puberty, mental disorders, trauma and religion.
You have to pay close attention, but it is alluded to that Regan is molested at the party in the early parts of the movie. Shortly after that is when she starts acting out.
Demonic possession and movies about demons is one of the scariest horror subjects for me because it is related to religion and religion and the idea of Hell is terrifying. The performances and the directing are a huge part of why the movie is great. How the atmosphere of the entire house changes after she is taken over is remarkable. The scariest scene in any horror movie is Regan asking for help through her skin and seeing that she is in there somewhere terrified, is something that chills me to the bone. How little control we have over our own mind and body is a very scary thing.
I see it as being about all of the bad stuff that effects us, especially when we are children and the trauma that we carry later in our lives that stems from that. The mother always working and leaving her daughter with a nanny much of the time is another big aspect of the things we might not think would have a big effect on a child, but it does.
There is also just hearing that demonic voice talking through this little girls body that just completely creeps me out.
The movie has aged as well as any horror movie imo. I saw the movie for the first time when I was about 10 years old back in 1993 and have watched it a handful of times since. I have seen both the theatrical version and the extended version. I don't consider it a masterpiece like some people do, but it is very good and one of the most memorable movies ever made.
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Post by dirtypillows on Oct 11, 2020 17:14:24 GMT
"What an excellent day for an Exorcism" It isn't ever implied that it is the devil himself. I think it is an emotionally powerful and intensely creepy gut-punch that deals with themes of puberty, mental disorders, trauma and religion. You have to pay close attention, but it is alluded to that Regan is molested at the party in the early parts of the movie. Shortly after that is when she starts acting out. Demonic possession and movies about demons is one of the scariest horror subjects for me because it is related to religion and religion and the idea of Hell is terrifying. The performances and the directing are a huge part of why the movie is great. How the atmosphere of the entire house changes after she is taken over is remarkable. The scariest scene in any horror movie is Regan asking for help through her skin and seeing that she is in there somewhere terrified, is something that chills me to the bone. How little control we have over our own mind and body is a very scary thing. I see it as being about all of the bad stuff that effects us, especially when we are children and the trauma that we carry later in our lives that stems from that. The mother always working and leaving her daughter with a nanny much of the time is another big aspect of the things we might not think would have a big effect on a child, but it does. There is also just hearing that demonic voice talking through this little girls body that just completely creeps me out. The movie has aged as well as any horror movie imo. I saw the movie for the first time when I was about 10 years old back in 1993 and have watched it a handful of times since. I have seen both the theatrical version and the extended version. I don't consider it a masterpiece like some people do, but it is very good and one of the most memorable movies ever made. I've seen this movie a few times, but I never picked up on any references to Regan being sexually molested at the party scene. Can you be more specific? Thanks.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Oct 11, 2020 17:20:53 GMT
I saw it twice when I was 4 so it had a big impact-- WHY would anyone let a FOUR YEAR OLD watch the Exorcist .. not one but twice ?
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Post by kolchak92 on Oct 11, 2020 17:28:02 GMT
Well it certainly scared me when I watched it for the first time.
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Post by moviemouth on Oct 11, 2020 17:28:21 GMT
"What an excellent day for an Exorcism" It isn't ever implied that it is the devil himself. I think it is an emotionally powerful and intensely creepy gut-punch that deals with themes of puberty, mental disorders, trauma and religion. You have to pay close attention, but it is alluded to that Regan is molested at the party in the early parts of the movie. Shortly after that is when she starts acting out. Demonic possession and movies about demons is one of the scariest horror subjects for me because it is related to religion and religion and the idea of Hell is terrifying. The performances and the directing are a huge part of why the movie is great. How the atmosphere of the entire house changes after she is taken over is remarkable. The scariest scene in any horror movie is Regan asking for help through her skin and seeing that she is in there somewhere terrified, is something that chills me to the bone. How little control we have over our own mind and body is a very scary thing. I see it as being about all of the bad stuff that effects us, especially when we are children and the trauma that we carry later in our lives that stems from that. The mother always working and leaving her daughter with a nanny much of the time is another big aspect of the things we might not think would have a big effect on a child, but it does. There is also just hearing that demonic voice talking through this little girls body that just completely creeps me out. The movie has aged as well as any horror movie imo. I saw the movie for the first time when I was about 10 years old back in 1993 and have watched it a handful of times since. I have seen both the theatrical version and the extended version. I don't consider it a masterpiece like some people do, but it is very good and one of the most memorable movies ever made. I've seen this movie a few times, but I never picked up on any references to Regan being sexually molested at the party scene. Can you be more specific? Thanks. I see it in the Burke Dennings stuff, but people like me are accused of seeing something that wasn't intended by the writer or director.
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Post by movielover on Oct 11, 2020 17:29:34 GMT
"What an excellent day for an Exorcism" It isn't ever implied that it is the devil himself. I think it is an emotionally powerful and intensely creepy gut-punch that deals with themes of puberty, mental disorders, trauma and religion. You have to pay close attention, but it is alluded to that Regan is molested at the party in the early parts of the movie. Shortly after that is when she starts acting out. Demonic possession and movies about demons is one of the scariest horror subjects for me because it is related to religion and religion and the idea of Hell is terrifying. The performances and the directing are a huge part of why the movie is great. How the atmosphere of the entire house changes after she is taken over is remarkable. The scariest scene in any horror movie is Regan asking for help through her skin and seeing that she is in there somewhere terrified, is something that chills me to the bone. How little control we have over our own mind and body is a very scary thing. I see it as being about all of the bad stuff that effects us, especially when we are children and the trauma that we carry later in our lives that stems from that. The mother always working and leaving her daughter with a nanny much of the time is another big aspect of the things we might not think would have a big effect on a child, but it does. There is also just hearing that demonic voice talking through this little girls body that just completely creeps me out. The movie has aged as well as any horror movie imo. I saw the movie for the first time when I was about 10 years old back in 1993 and have watched it a handful of times since. I have seen both the theatrical version and the extended version. I don't consider it a masterpiece like some people do, but it is very good and one of the most memorable movies ever made. I've seen this movie a few times, but I never picked up on any references to Regan being sexually molested at the party scene. Can you be more specific? Thanks. I never picked up on that either. I’ll have to look for that next time I watch it.
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Post by ck100 on Oct 11, 2020 17:31:23 GMT
The theatrical cut is the best version. The extra scenes in the director's cut don't really add anything and I don't care for the changed ending with the detective and priest.
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Post by lowtacks86 on Oct 11, 2020 17:42:30 GMT
I actaully wasn't too impressed either. I've heard the 3rd one was suprisingly good though.
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Post by Prime etc. on Oct 11, 2020 17:48:56 GMT
WHY would anyone let a FOUR YEAR OLD watch the Exorcist .. not one but twice ? Irresponsible parenting of course!
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Post by lowtacks86 on Oct 11, 2020 17:51:23 GMT
WHY would anyone let a FOUR YEAR OLD watch the Exorcist .. not one but twice ? Irresponsible parenting of course! LOL, did you see it on TV or VHS?
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Post by ck100 on Oct 11, 2020 17:53:46 GMT
It's a rite of passage for a person to see an R-rated movie at a very young age. ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png)
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Post by Prime etc. on Oct 11, 2020 17:56:32 GMT
LOL, did you see it on TV or VHS? Nope a drive-in both times. I am glad it wasn't an indoor theater. But for years and years I could not watch it I was afraid to. Then finally I rewatched it about 20 years ago.
I think I laughed at the swearing but it may have been a nervous reaction. But then I watched it again and I found it more depressing than funny or scary. I think the scene where Max Von Sydow arrives and you hear Regan going "ahhhhhhhhh" upstairs is kind of unintentionally funny.
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Post by someguy on Oct 11, 2020 18:06:40 GMT
I agree it was not scary to me, but I can imagine why it was deemed scarier in the 70s. The United States as a whole was more religious then and the shock value would be much stronger than it would be today.
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Post by moviemouth on Oct 11, 2020 18:38:07 GMT
"What an excellent day for an Exorcism" It isn't ever implied that it is the devil himself. I think it is an emotionally powerful and intensely creepy gut-punch that deals with themes of puberty, mental disorders, trauma and religion. You have to pay close attention, but it is alluded to that Regan is molested at the party in the early parts of the movie. Shortly after that is when she starts acting out. Demonic possession and movies about demons is one of the scariest horror subjects for me because it is related to religion and religion and the idea of Hell is terrifying. The performances and the directing are a huge part of why the movie is great. How the atmosphere of the entire house changes after she is taken over is remarkable. The scariest scene in any horror movie is Regan asking for help through her skin and seeing that she is in there somewhere terrified, is something that chills me to the bone. How little control we have over our own mind and body is a very scary thing. I see it as being about all of the bad stuff that effects us, especially when we are children and the trauma that we carry later in our lives that stems from that. The mother always working and leaving her daughter with a nanny much of the time is another big aspect of the things we might not think would have a big effect on a child, but it does. There is also just hearing that demonic voice talking through this little girls body that just completely creeps me out. The movie has aged as well as any horror movie imo. I saw the movie for the first time when I was about 10 years old back in 1993 and have watched it a handful of times since. I have seen both the theatrical version and the extended version. I don't consider it a masterpiece like some people do, but it is very good and one of the most memorable movies ever made. I've seen this movie a few times, but I never picked up on any references to Regan being sexually molested at the party scene. Can you be more specific? Thanks. I would like to add that I don't know if this was intentional or just me noticing something and seeing it in a way that wasn't intended. I don't care about what was intended, I care about what I see. I am not in any way saying that the movie doesn't involve a literal demon, but that I see undertones of other things. The Exorcist is one of William Friedkin's only 2 movies that are about the supernatural (The Guardian is the other). He makes movies about reality based stuff most of the time. Bug (his third horror movie) is about schizophrenia and drug addiction.
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