The Exorcist is the Only Great Horror Movie About Possession

 

Credit to THE EXORCIST - American Cinematheque

I have watched the original Exorcist several years ago. I can finally see why this movie was received well by all horror fans. It is a grisly take on possession, possibly one of the most realistic depictions of a demon speaking through an innocent child. I was thoroughly surprised with the story as well; I was expecting the story to only focus on the mother of the possessed little girl. I was also greeted with the amazing character development of a priest, who is determined to save the child from evil. 

It wasn't just the possession scenes that remained with the audience. The majority of the film comes off very wrong, like something is lurking within the film itself. Everything presented in every single setting feels strange, almost like someone is watching the main characters that were pulled into this horrible situation. I felt so bad for the main priest and the mother, the two main people thrown into the thralls of an evil beast that will do anything to make their lives a literal hell. 

The child possession is extremely difficult to watch, because the film casted an actual child for the main role. The actress did such a great job with playing the possessed child, and wow...the things the demon made her do is just...brutal and gut wrenching. I physically cringed the first time I saw some of those particular scenes, and I felt disgusted at the same time. 

No possession movie has ever done that to me. I guess...kudos to the director? I'm not sure whether or not to give the director some credit, since I learned that the production behind this film was pretty bad. 

It makes me wonder if it hadn't been for that terrible environment, would the film have obtained the same dreadful feeling for the viewer? 

I'm honestly not sure...

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn