The effects are incredible, the make up especially. So many people are convinced Max von Sydow was really an old man in this. He and Linda Blair were just amazing.
"It's not that scary as I thought it would be" - *Consistently screaming in terror at literally EVERYTHING - LOL - wow. This is arguably the greatest (and yes scariest) horror film ever made. Back when it was first released people were literally collapsing, having heart failure, and barely able to walk out of the theatres. The acting is top notch - Linda Blair & Ellen Burstyn both s/gotten Oscars for their performances alone. As mentioned Max von Sydow was only in his 40s but Dick Smith's amazing make-up work truly convinced everyone he was elderly to the point that he actually lost roles to be cast in due to people thinking he was indeed that old (!) William Friedkin - who I was lucky to meet - was a real old-school filmmaker not unlike Hitchcock who knew how to not only thrill an audience but completely hold them in his grip and control them. He even said it's not a horror movie but a testament of faith. Jason Miller was the real-life father of Jason Patric from THE LOST BOYS. One of Lee J. Cobb's final films. The entire production is beyond top-notch and SO many unanswered questions (WTF was in the attic? WTF caused the desecration of the Virgin Mary statue in the church? etc.) Fine reaction from you both but own the fact you were frightened - Jesus. & Happy Halloween :D
You are missing the point that this film was in the cinems in 1973, no one had seen special effects like this, no one had ever heard anything close to the sort of swearing that was in the film, also back in the 70s people were much more in tune with religion. Inthe cinemas people were feinting, priests were outside the cinemas slamming the film.
Back then, smoking was allowed EVERYWHERE!!! You could smoke in restaurants, on airplanes, in grocery stores (they even had large ash cans at the end of the aisles), in office buildings, and even in HOSPITALS!!! It was nuts...
I’ve heard a couple of reactors comment on Father Karras’s smoking. But there is no prohibition against smoking (or drinking) for priests. Evangelical Protestants tend to be the people against smoking and drinking, etc. But maybe this reaction is because fewer people have contact with any organized religion these days, so they don’t know what their characteristics are.
kids aren't used to seeing smoking cigarettes in movies anymore. they will watch somone skinned alive and not raise an eyebrow, but light a smoke and it's time to stop the presses. they've been doctrinized well. the worst is when they think something old is ripping off something new because that's the order they watched it. Like do you not realize that movies are released in the order that you watch them? I've seen people watch the Thing and say it ripped off the game imposter.... I'm like do you guys not understand how time works?
This was the first movie that ever showed anything like this. Fast foward 50 years and we are all desensitized by CGI and jump scares and over the top horror. How I wish horror movies went back to something like this.
Same here. I was really excited to see this reaction but after reading the comments first, it's just more ppl who don't get it and will irritate me to even bother watching.
Just remember this movie is from 1973, that's more then 51 years later. The slowly building up and the gore from that time was insane. Father Merrin was fought that devil before that almost killed him and he know this gonna be his final battle. Still a classic one and the one who sets the tone for the later movies. Remember in that time there was no CGI (not for the later one with the spiderwalk).
This movie in general isn’t that scary, more interesting. Dark or light doesn’t make a difference, it’s how you perceive and understand the writing. I think all creators do a great job of reacting to movies regardless of their watching conditions.
Buddy, all of these reactions, especially in thriller/horror movies are a complete joke. The viewers are just money for the reactors. No reactor really watches the movie. All of this it's just an illusion.
@brandonworcester8409 Watching a movie or playing a horror game in the dark 100% adds to the experience, especially since most of them take place in dark environments. Sorry, but you are objectively wrong about that.
@ maybe I just don’t pay attention to the dark or light, I’m too focused on what’s going on instead of what’s around me lol. We all have our own opinions so I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m wrong just like I wouldn’t say you’re right.
Catholic priests are allowed to drink and smoke. It makes up for having to be celibate. Also, it's cool how they talk over important dialogue instead of pausing.
And priests are allowed to drink and smoke. Well there might be specific orders that don't allow it but in general the only thing they aren't supposed to do is screw.(Not that it really stopped them it was pretty much ignored till after the middle ages) And even that was an addition under Paul the first pope Peter was married.
Everyone remembers this as a movie about a possessed girl, but the title tells you who it's really about. Father Karras is the character with the internal conflict (loss of faith, guilt over his mother), character arc, and "dark moment of the soul" moment. In contrast, Regan has no arc at all.
Arguably, it's not really about Karras either. It's about Merrin, despite his relatively small amount of face time. The whole point of the possession was so that the demon could get a shot at revenge on Merrin.
Even though I'm not a horror fan, I'm glad this channel is reacting to The Exorcist because you might not skip The Exorcist 3 like most channels do. Exorcist 3 is a direct sequel written by William Peter Blatty, the author of the original novel. It's not as shocking as the first one, and is a good movie even if you remove the horror element.
The director's cut is awful. The spiderwalk is silly. And the ending completely undercuts the whole tone of the film. The theatrical version is the superior version.
@@AJimiDigginKat It's unsettling, sure, but also unserious. I'm also of the mind that while the headspinning scene is iconic, I think that's another unnecessarily silly scene that's kind of a cheap, albeit creepy, scare. Without them, it's a perfect film.
@Xervello It's easy to forget how old this movie is and how far we come with movie effects today. So neither scene holds up without a level of silly effect to our current eyes. But imagine seeing either for the first time movie wise connected to a theme of a demonic possession.
Of course this movie isnt scary for people who constantly talk and tell jokes over every bit of dialogue then dont pay attention to what going on but have the nerve to nitpick and complain that they didn't understand things they didn't even bother to listen to. The priest at the end told the demon to take him instead of the child and once he was possessed he took control for a split second and sacrificed himself by throwing himself out of the window. But you were too busy making wisecracks to understand what was going on....smh
@@nathanthomas5133 I wouldn't want to watch the best flicks ever ( for the first time at that ) under these conditions. essentially destroys the films entire affect.
"It wasn't as scary as I thought." "I thought it would be scary." Meanwhile, she started praying with the actors, and he constantly added, "That was scary" while watching it. Keep coping, kids. Keep coping.
That iconic tune. Man, it still gives me goosebumps. This movie keeps aging well as the years go by. One of the best examples of practical effects trumping any CGI.
This is one of my and my late father's (who was studying to be a Catholic priest when he met my Mom) favorite films. One thing he told me about this film that always stuck with me is that what makes this film great is that it's about faith. Father Karras had lost his faith and when he walked back up to that room and sacrificed himself, it was an act of faith and there is a happen ending in that. Great watch-along guys! Made my day. Happy Halloween! 🎃
The cat scan scene where they inject the contrast into Regan's neck is responsible for most people fainting, blacking out, and vomiting in the theatres in '73.
This is the goat of demon possession films. It came out when I was 9 years old, and honestly even the TV trailers and newspaper ads scared me. I didn’t actually see it until I was 16 in 1980 , heavily edited for TV, and even then, I slept with the lights on that night. I live in DC, not far from Georgetown University, the creepy stairs, and house. The stairs were officially named The Exorcist stairs and William Blatty and William Friedkin were at the commencement ceremony in is what I believe their last appearance together before they died. I might also suggest you guys watch the documentary, The Cultural Impact of The Exorcist here on UA-cam. Also one of the misconceptions people have when watching the film is that Father Karras lives with his mom, but in the scene where he gets on the subway, he has actually traveled from DC to NY. Washingington DC did not have a subway system until 1976.
MANY people were scared (scarred?) witless in the theatres in the early 70s... believe me... I was (kind of) there... and I would NEVER lie about something like this.
This movie just does it perfectly. If these things were real don’t you think they’d make an innocent child do the most sacrilegious and depraved things, and prey on your anguish? It’s so much more than just “scaring” people, it’s the intertwining of the psychological torture that cuts to the depths of their weaknesses. Love it!
Just to clarify, the St. Joseph medallion wasn’t magic; Regan tearing it off Father Karras’s neck didn’t “allow” the demon to enter him. According to the director and the writer, that’s a misinterpretation of what is simply coincidence.
The film is very realistic for its genre. At the time, horror wasn't measured in jump-scares (They didn't exist as a distinct cinematic tool until the film _Carrie._ ) This film was scary because so much of it was grounded in science. The supernatural elements are small and explainable until they aren't. It makes the narrative believable in a "This is how it would happen" way. I find that more effective than an over-the-top horror movie full of (often predictable) jump-scares.
I saw this in the theater with my teenage sister when I was 8. I can remember it having some chilling moments. Still, it didn't linger with me until a couple of years later when a substitute teacher told my 5th grade class about her real-life experiences with people who had been possessed and that it happens more often than we think. After that, I was freaked out!
@sproductionsinc what? Sex is accepted for married people and the purpose is for procreation. Even doing drugs is not a sin in the Church, excess is what is considered a sin. And the Church is not here to decide what is healthy or not physically, its concern is spiritual growth and health. It has no opinion on vitamins, on drugs, on smoking, caffeine, junk food, exercise, retinol, su screen, etc. Go to a doctor for that, not the Church
Also great fact, Max Von Sydow the actor who played the old priest father Merin, he was actually only in his forties when he did this, the age makeup was amazing, but it was his performance, his mannerisms that were sooo brilliant making him seem soo much older, his performance was amazing.
The Exorcist received 10 Oscar nominations, but only one for sound mixing and adapted screenplay. One would think the movie was a lock to win best visual effects, but sadly, the academy decided not to include an award for visual effects that year, which is strange when you consider this was the first horror film ever to be nominated for best picture.
My parents let me watch this with them in 1984 when I was 5. It made me terrified of stairs for the next few years. Thanks to cartoons I had no idea that falling down a flight of stairs could kill you.😆
No cheap jump scares that haunt you for the day and then gone. It is a slow build full of imagry and feelings in your gut and soul that haunt you for years.
Linda Blair was great in this... but she paid for it.... During a scene where Blair's character is violently thrown around on a levitating bed, a mechanical failure fractured her spine. The injury developed into scoliosis, which left her in chronic pain for years.
The Exorcist is a classic movie. It is the scariest movie out there. I went to Georgetown. For a ghost tour with a friend. We got to see the steps and the house. From The Exorcist. It was good. The movie has marked the steps forever. Enjoy the movie you two. 👹😃
The reactors seemed to have missed the point of the beginning of the movie. - Father Merrin released the demon when he reached in the hole, and the wind blew. That was the demon escaping. - Reagan let the demon in when she was playing with the Ouiji board. - The medal Father Karras had around his neck protected him from the demon. That is why Reagan had to pull it off so the demon could go from her into Father Karras. - Reagan's mother didn't believe in God. That is why they were vulnerable to possession. - Kristen looked bored until the crucifix scene.
The 1949 exorcism of Roland Doe Blatty heard about the case while a student at Georgetown University. The story goes that a 14-year-old boy named Roland Doe was possessed by an evil spirit and underwent a series of exorcisms performed by Father William Bowdern. The boy's family experienced paranormal activity in their home after the death of his aunt, including vibrations, strange noises, and levitation. Blatty drew inspiration from the boy's possession for the violence, guttural voice, and revulsion for sacred items of the character Regan.
Your pronunciations and those of most people of the board game as "wee-gee" are the result of being misled by Hasbro. It's supposed to be "wee-yah". The French & German words for Yes respectively are Oui & Ja. Auf baldiges Wiedersehen!
What should be talked about more is how good a dramatic movie it is between the horror elements. It’s not it’s the scariest movie ever made, it’s that at the time it was the scariest movie up to that point, when demonic possessions weren’t seen by mainstream audiences. Today, we’ve seen tons of versions of the story and some that are way more intense. It’s great because it’s a well-crafted film.
I'm not meaning to question anyone's religious beliefs, but if you take a look at ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman mythologies, you can see exactly how and where humans developed the ideas of angels, demons, the devil, God, good, evil, rituals and the like. And it's actually fascinating stuff. Mythologies were the means by which humans explained to themselves how their world worked, and how the gods at the top of Mount Olympus and the souls from the underworld river Styx influenced pretty much everything. Modern-day Catholicism and Christianity is simply the evolving of those very myths to meet the needs of the modern-day. Once you have even a basic understanding of that trajectory, you don't need to fear these kinds of beliefs in heaven and hell.
I'm with Michael on this one, I like more monster type horror movies! The supernatural/biblical type horror movies still scare the Hell out of me! For the longest time, I couldn't listen to the Exorcist theme without my hairs standing on end! I think I'm better with it now, but those types of movies are the scariest because of the realism of their themes! My heart goes out to Kristen for having to go through all those horrible experiences with that movie she was in! And I totally agree with her, I would absolutely stay clear away from such films! Keep up the good work, I love watching Cinepals!
I'm smiling at the supposition that priests don't drink. :) The local Catholic parish in my neighborhood has some of the best beer garden picnics around, and there are PLENTY of priests in collars enjoying a their fair share of beer at those.
All of your questions will be answered in The Exorcist 3.Exorcist 2 is a truly horrible sequel, but it answers some questions also. Worth the watch only to say youve seen it.
The room the exorcism took place in was an altered industrial freezer, hence the cold. Must have been the fanciest freezer in the world, so nicely decorated.
dude, your not ready for that kind of disappointment. thought provoking is not this channels forte. Hocus Pocus is more their speed. they might like the Abrams movies, but that still may be a bit too cerebral.
Actually, the Ouija Board was patented in 1890. It became popular by the spiritualist movement following the Civil War when a lot of people were going to mediums to talk to their deceased loved ones. The 2 guys who patented and made the game didn’t believe in that kind of thing but saw the profit making potential by excluding the mediums. It was marketed as a way to get answers to questions without ever specifying who provided the answers. And a witch doctor/shaman/holy man is the priest for that religion, so there is no difference between a witch doctor and a catholic priest.
I didn't see this until about a month ago and I felt it greatly exceeded it's reputation. Mostly that pinned it as a shock value film or taboo so that's what I expected going in. I didn't find it scary so much as deeply unnerving but for the purpose of giving the story depth. The story and screenplay for that matter are great. The kind of stuff I used to enjoy reading as a child. Damien Karras in particular is one of the more interesting characters in cinema. The acting on all counts being top notch drives the character complexities home. Also the fact in all cases they managed to make them so layered even when working in a condensed amount of time. The effects and camera methods are interesting and I am glad they went they tangible route for the former as it gives it an increased sense of realism. Lastly the ending was satisfactory and I felt left me properly asking questions about the meaning of the sacrifice and faith. So yeah, way distant from what this movie was made out to be.
Burke was killed then thrown out the window, Father Karras martyred himself to drive out the demon back to hell...and the whole opening scenes set the vibe for the rest of the movie, if you know which demon it was (which ill never say or spell out), you would understand the winds, the sun, the dog fight growls when the Father and the statue of the demon were facing one another with the orange sun and wind in the background... he knew what was coming, that was what he needed to do after leaving Iraq!
Good news for your happy ending: right before Damien dies, he had his St. Christopher medallion ripped off during the struggle with Regan, and somehow, he ends up with it again when he goes out the window because he clearly has it as he's dying. St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers, which means that, as he's dying or traveling between worlds, he's protected, so it's assumed the demon is cast out. The symbolism isn't totally clear to me, but I remember some significance of the medallion changing hands as the demon changes bodies, and Damien's plunge out the window and down the stairs was representative of his own perceived descent into purgatory because he was a priest who committed the unforgivable sin. But because he had his last rites, and the act was sacrificial (and again, he was protected by St. Christopher), it's presumed he was forgiven by God.
This movie may not seem that scary now, but the reason many call it "the scariest movie ever" is because this movie (along with Night of the Living Dead) changed the way horror movies were made! Before The Exorcist the majority of horror movies in 60' & 70's were either made by Hammer or made in the Hammer style (most of which were rated X (18) but are now rated PG, which just goes to show how tame they were compared to modern horror movies)
If anyone remebers the film Scream where sid goes back to school and a reporter says how does it feel to almost be brutally buuchered..... its the lil girl in this film linda blair
This is one of those rare movies that is scarier in the theater or when viewed on DVD at a locked 24fps. The filmmakers inserted numerous scary faces and death masks but only a frame here and there. This (edited) video had one but there are lots more and they really pop at 24fps IF you are looking for them. Otherwise, your subconscious mind is seeing those images and it's affecting you without you knowing it. This is what was causing some serious audience trauma back in '73. There was even an investigation into the "subliminal manipulation" the filmmakers achieved with these strategically inserted frames. Fascinating study really. I did a paper on it in college but that was targeting subliminal imagery in advertising.
Growing up Catholic, a lot of our parish priests drank and smoked. The only rule I was a aware of was 'not to excess'. This movie was very controversial when it came out, particularly because of the vulgarity. I waited decades before watching this film, because of how freaked out my friends who saw it were.
This movie and the book were based on an exorcism of a boy from Maryland performed by 2 Jesuit priests from St. Louis University - Father William Bowdern and Father Walter Halloran. The actual exorcism took place at Alexian Brothers Hospital in St. Louis. In the book, Blatty changed the location to another Jesuit University (Georgetown) and the patient to a girl
😁You forget the time frame, back in that day everyone smoked, priests, pastors, doctors, etc, and everywhere: restaurants, planes, hospitals. It was a different time. 😉
Smoking and technology were so different back then. Movie making and audiences were also different. I think they were renting the place during the movie shoot, only the hired help knew the house/ not their home. St. Christopher cross, Pazuzu entered Damien when it was ripped off. It was protecting him and at the dig site with the idol. Think the third movie is a prequel. Poltergeist has lot of deaths and unusual things happen to the cast and filming.
This is not a terrifying movie because it's scary. It is terrifying because it touches the very deep primitive human fears and stays forever in your mind.
If you want to find out what happens after, I recommend "The Ninth Configuration" (to find out what happened to the astronaut) and Exorcist III (to see what happens to Lt Kinderman). Avoid The Exorcist II unless you're a sadist.
This movie still influences horror movies released today, its had an impact ever since it came out, and before this, there was nothing this scary and this vulgar.
Did you know that author William Peter Blatty's novel The Exorcist was inspired by the actual 1949 exorcism of a young boy from Cottage City, Maryland, and the horrifying 1634 Loudun exorcisms? The story goes that Blatty heard about the Maryland case while he was a student at Georgeto
The author and the director both have said in interviews that it wasn’t meant to be a horror novel or film but rather a physiological thriller , if I remember correctly, thanks yall!
Priests ARE ALLOWED to smoke and drink! There are NO rules in the Catholic Church against smoking and drinking. The only thing is if you get so drunk that you don't know what you're doing. Excessive drinking is a Cardinal sin. By the way, the actor who played the priest "Tom" that we see in several scenes including the drinking scene at the bar with Father Karras where they are drinking beer, was an ACTUAL priest. Also, Father Dyer, the piano player at the party, who was Father Karras' best friend was an actual priest in real life too! Ouija boards had been around for many decades before this movie and they were ONLY A GAME! THIS MOVIE ALONE is what gave Ouija boards the FALSE reputation it now has.
The effects are incredible, the make up especially. So many people are convinced Max von Sydow was really an old man in this. He and Linda Blair were just amazing.
"It's not that scary as I thought it would be" - *Consistently screaming in terror at literally EVERYTHING - LOL - wow. This is arguably the greatest (and yes scariest) horror film ever made. Back when it was first released people were literally collapsing, having heart failure, and barely able to walk out of the theatres. The acting is top notch - Linda Blair & Ellen Burstyn both s/gotten Oscars for their performances alone. As mentioned Max von Sydow was only in his 40s but Dick Smith's amazing make-up work truly convinced everyone he was elderly to the point that he actually lost roles to be cast in due to people thinking he was indeed that old (!) William Friedkin - who I was lucky to meet - was a real old-school filmmaker not unlike Hitchcock who knew how to not only thrill an audience but completely hold them in his grip and control them. He even said it's not a horror movie but a testament of faith. Jason Miller was the real-life father of Jason Patric from THE LOST BOYS. One of Lee J. Cobb's final films. The entire production is beyond top-notch and SO many unanswered questions (WTF was in the attic? WTF caused the desecration of the Virgin Mary statue in the church? etc.) Fine reaction from you both but own the fact you were frightened - Jesus. & Happy Halloween :D
50 years of jump scares and slasher movies will definitely lessen the impact of movies like The Exorcist
How I wish I could go back in time and watch it for the first time in cinema.
I’ve always considered it a drama.
@@Kernal119 Watching a 12-year-old girl masturbate with a crucifix and calling a Priest a cocksucker is still pretty shocking today, imagine 1973?
Jump scares and slashers is lazy writing. It's cheap horror. It's what's wrong with horror today.
@@Kernal119 You'd have to deal with all the vomit and the fainting lol.
You are missing the point that this film was in the cinems in 1973, no one had seen special effects like this, no one had ever heard anything close to the sort of swearing that was in the film, also back in the 70s people were much more in tune with religion. Inthe cinemas people were feinting, priests were outside the cinemas slamming the film.
What point did they miss? They mentioned that it was kinda a first for this time
Yet the film totally supports the Catholic worldview. The author of the book was a true believer.
To Kristen, there's no proscription against drinking for priests... and just about _half_ the country smoked in the 70s.
Back then, smoking was allowed EVERYWHERE!!! You could smoke in restaurants, on airplanes, in grocery stores (they even had large ash cans at the end of the aisles), in office buildings, and even in HOSPITALS!!!
It was nuts...
Or drinking
Only half? I'd have guessed closer to 85% of all adults and at least 30% of all teenagers.
I’ve heard a couple of reactors comment on Father Karras’s smoking. But there is no prohibition against smoking (or drinking) for priests. Evangelical Protestants tend to be the people against smoking and drinking, etc. But maybe this reaction is because fewer people have contact with any organized religion these days, so they don’t know what their characteristics are.
Yeah, my family priest growing up not only smoked but was also quite the beer drinker as well.
Came here to find this or comment similar if I didn’t. Also, a LOT of priests are alcoholic.
@@lynnamc524 Same here. I'm from a Catholic country and it's totally normal to see priests smoking or drinking (not heavily though).
Huh! Maybe it’s not too late for me, I’m 2/3’s the way there.
kids aren't used to seeing smoking cigarettes in movies anymore. they will watch somone skinned alive and not raise an eyebrow, but light a smoke and it's time to stop the presses. they've been doctrinized well. the worst is when they think something old is ripping off something new because that's the order they watched it. Like do you not realize that movies are released in the order that you watch them? I've seen people watch the Thing and say it ripped off the game imposter.... I'm like do you guys not understand how time works?
This was the first movie that ever showed anything like this. Fast foward 50 years and we are all desensitized by CGI and jump scares and over the top horror. How I wish horror movies went back to something like this.
Max Von Sydow’s makeup is so good, 99% of viewers just believe he’s an old man.
Indeed, he looks much younger 8 years later in *Escape To Victory* (1981)
Dick Smith.
... before he dicks you
I'll get my coat.
can you believe that A Beautiful Mind was nominated for Best Makeup for those sorry ass old looking Jennifer Connelly.
Or when he played Ming the merciless in flash Gordon a few years later
Si pero eso de verse viejo lo hace perfectamente el con sus gestos, movimientos y su forma de hablar!!
Tremendo actor!!
Based on the comments, I'm skipping this reaction. Thanks commentors for the heads up. What a shame.
Go watch "Movie Date with Kate" reaction to this posted today. She's a new reactor, not annoying and totally understands the film on a first viewing.
@ Thanks! Also “ Jesse Reacts” has a mature and intellectual mind for classic movies. His reaction was very on point.
I’m doing the same. Skipping out early. I’ll go check out these other recommendations. Thanks.
Same here. I was really excited to see this reaction but after reading the comments first, it's just more ppl who don't get it and will irritate me to even bother watching.
To be honest, I've no idea what the comments are talking about, I just watched it and reaction was fine
Just remember this movie is from 1973, that's more then 51 years later. The slowly building up and the gore from that time was insane. Father Merrin was fought that devil before that almost killed him and he know this gonna be his final battle. Still a classic one and the one who sets the tone for the later movies. Remember in that time there was no CGI (not for the later one with the spiderwalk).
How can you watch a scary movie in the light and constantly talking, offcourse the movie isn't scary while watching like that.
exact. I've stated in other reactions - I wouldn't want to watch the best flicks ever under these conditions.....
This movie in general isn’t that scary, more interesting. Dark or light doesn’t make a difference, it’s how you perceive and understand the writing. I think all creators do a great job of reacting to movies regardless of their watching conditions.
Buddy, all of these reactions, especially in thriller/horror movies are a complete joke. The viewers are just money for the reactors. No reactor really watches the movie. All of this it's just an illusion.
@brandonworcester8409 Watching a movie or playing a horror game in the dark 100% adds to the experience, especially since most of them take place in dark environments. Sorry, but you are objectively wrong about that.
@ maybe I just don’t pay attention to the dark or light, I’m too focused on what’s going on instead of what’s around me lol. We all have our own opinions so I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m wrong just like I wouldn’t say you’re right.
Catholic priests are allowed to drink and smoke. It makes up for having to be celibate. Also, it's cool how they talk over important dialogue instead of pausing.
This seems like a reaction I can skip without feeling bad. Thanks for weighing in.
You didn't find it scary because you weren't in a dark theater and needing to shut up and not talk.
It’s ok to not find it scary. It wouldn’t be to most folks not alive when it came out.
A Priest smoking and drinking in the 1970’s is the least of the churches then worries…
And priests are allowed to drink and smoke. Well there might be specific orders that don't allow it but in general the only thing they aren't supposed to do is screw.(Not that it really stopped them it was pretty much ignored till after the middle ages) And even that was an addition under Paul the first pope Peter was married.
Everyone remembers this as a movie about a possessed girl, but the title tells you who it's really about. Father Karras is the character with the internal conflict (loss of faith, guilt over his mother), character arc, and "dark moment of the soul" moment. In contrast, Regan has no arc at all.
In fact, the exorcism was not complete here, everything ends with a sacrifice.
The book expresses the true themes of the story much better. Was a bit shocked at my feelings after reading the book vs the movie
Arguably, it's not really about Karras either. It's about Merrin, despite his relatively small amount of face time. The whole point of the possession was so that the demon could get a shot at revenge on Merrin.
@@KortneyHepler-Cookman I read the book some years ago ... darker than the movie.
Even though I'm not a horror fan, I'm glad this channel is reacting to The Exorcist because you might not skip The Exorcist 3 like most channels do.
Exorcist 3 is a direct sequel written by William Peter Blatty, the author of the original novel.
It's not as shocking as the first one, and is a good movie even if you remove the horror element.
they are not gonna watch 2 or 3. id bet my life on it.
Should have watched the Directors cut to see the "spider walk".
The director's cut is awful. The spiderwalk is silly. And the ending completely undercuts the whole tone of the film. The theatrical version is the superior version.
@Xervello The spiderwalk is a great scene within context. And if you don't know it's coming it adds to the disturbing nature of the movie.
@@AJimiDigginKat It's unsettling, sure, but also unserious. I'm also of the mind that while the headspinning scene is iconic, I think that's another unnecessarily silly scene that's kind of a cheap, albeit creepy, scare. Without them, it's a perfect film.
The spiderwalk version is the best version, especially for reactions!
@Xervello It's easy to forget how old this movie is and how far we come with movie effects today. So neither scene holds up without a level of silly effect to our current eyes. But imagine seeing either for the first time movie wise connected to a theme of a demonic possession.
Of course this movie isnt scary for people who constantly talk and tell jokes over every bit of dialogue then dont pay attention to what going on but have the nerve to nitpick and complain that they didn't understand things they didn't even bother to listen to. The priest at the end told the demon to take him instead of the child and once he was possessed he took control for a split second and sacrificed himself by throwing himself out of the window. But you were too busy making wisecracks to understand what was going on....smh
Well Duh, it’s a reaction channel - you want them to sit in silence for 2 hours ? 🤡
@@nathanthomas5133 Nah, what they really want is for reactors to pause the movie before any time they talk for a 2 hour movie.
@@nathanthomas5133 I wouldn't want to watch the best flicks ever ( for the first time at that ) under these conditions. essentially destroys the films entire affect.
"It wasn't as scary as I thought."
"I thought it would be scary."
Meanwhile, she started praying with the actors, and he constantly added, "That was scary" while watching it.
Keep coping, kids. Keep coping.
That iconic tune. Man, it still gives me goosebumps. This movie keeps aging well as the years go by. One of the best examples of practical effects trumping any CGI.
This is one of my and my late father's (who was studying to be a Catholic priest when he met my Mom) favorite films. One thing he told me about this film that always stuck with me is that what makes this film great is that it's about faith. Father Karras had lost his faith and when he walked back up to that room and sacrificed himself, it was an act of faith and there is a happen ending in that. Great watch-along guys! Made my day. Happy Halloween! 🎃
Everybody was smoking in the 70's!
Just like here in Austria to this day.
"Is that a knife? No, it's a cross."
Me: In this case, same difference.
The cat scan scene where they inject the contrast into Regan's neck is responsible for most people fainting, blacking out, and vomiting in the theatres in '73.
The injection into Linda Blair's neck was real. That wasn't special effects. A medical professional actually did that.
You guys should watch Fallen, with Denzel Washington. Also, maybe The exorcist sequels can be a bit much.
Love that movie!
Fallen is a fantastic movie
there is no prohibition for Catholic priests regarding drinking and smoking.
Skip exorcist 2. Garbage Exorcist 3 is the legit sequel and it’s great
So true.
Very true. Brad Doriff just nails the role.
They can drink and smoke. They just can't have sex or getting married
They are married. Married to god.
@@Clearwater2408married to the church actually.
Christ is the groom and the church is the bride. And every priest is stands in Christs stead.
This is the goat of demon possession films. It came out when I was 9 years old, and honestly even the TV trailers and newspaper ads scared me. I didn’t actually see it until I was 16 in 1980 , heavily edited for TV, and even then, I slept with the lights on that night. I live in DC, not far from Georgetown University, the creepy stairs, and house. The stairs were officially named The Exorcist stairs and William Blatty and William Friedkin were at the commencement ceremony in is what I believe their last appearance together before they died. I might also suggest you guys watch the documentary, The Cultural Impact of The Exorcist here on UA-cam. Also one of the misconceptions people have when watching the film is that Father Karras lives with his mom, but in the scene where he gets on the subway, he has actually traveled from DC to NY. Washingington DC did not have a subway system until 1976.
MANY people were scared (scarred?) witless in the theatres in the early 70s... believe me... I was (kind of) there... and I would NEVER lie about something like this.
This movie just does it perfectly. If these things were real don’t you think they’d make an innocent child do the most sacrilegious and depraved things, and prey on your anguish? It’s so much more than just “scaring” people, it’s the intertwining of the psychological torture that cuts to the depths of their weaknesses. Love it!
Just to clarify, the St. Joseph medallion wasn’t magic; Regan tearing it off Father Karras’s neck didn’t “allow” the demon to enter him. According to the director and the writer, that’s a misinterpretation of what is simply coincidence.
The film is very realistic for its genre. At the time, horror wasn't measured in jump-scares (They didn't exist as a distinct cinematic tool until the film _Carrie._ ) This film was scary because so much of it was grounded in science. The supernatural elements are small and explainable until they aren't. It makes the narrative believable in a "This is how it would happen" way. I find that more effective than an over-the-top horror movie full of (often predictable) jump-scares.
I saw this in the theater with my teenage sister when I was 8. I can remember it having some chilling moments. Still, it didn't linger with me until a couple of years later when a substitute teacher told my 5th grade class about her real-life experiences with people who had been possessed and that it happens more often than we think. After that, I was freaked out!
The comment Regan made - "you're all gonna die up there" - was directed to the astronaut. The " up there" refers to outer space.
Welcome to the short attention span theater. Woof, they’re bad.
Smoking and drinking are not sins for Catholics, that's a protestant sin or Mormons. JC drank wine. Excess is what is considered a sin
Even though smoking is literally killing you? Sex should be accepted before smoking lol
@sproductionsinc what? Sex is accepted for married people and the purpose is for procreation. Even doing drugs is not a sin in the Church, excess is what is considered a sin. And the Church is not here to decide what is healthy or not physically, its concern is spiritual growth and health. It has no opinion on vitamins, on drugs, on smoking, caffeine, junk food, exercise, retinol, su screen, etc. Go to a doctor for that, not the Church
After this one, I HIGHLY recommend Exorcist III. AWESOME installment.
the 3rd one is my favorite sequel, it is LEAGUES above the 2nd for sure. Really hope they'll react to it!
Now imagine watching this in a theater. Dark, quiet, no breaks, can't make snarky comments. Just the movie. It was really, really scary.
The Catholic church doesnt forbid smoking and just preaches moderation with drinking, now if father Karras was being moderate, lmao that I dunno
Should they be against any vices?
@@sproductionsinc That's more of a Protestant thing, a vestige of their past puritanism.
The best horror movie ever made...
It’s really less horror & more psychological drama.
Also great fact, Max Von Sydow the actor who played the old priest father Merin, he was actually only in his forties when he did this, the age makeup was amazing, but it was his performance, his mannerisms that were sooo brilliant making him seem soo much older, his performance was amazing.
The Exorcist received 10 Oscar nominations, but only one for sound mixing and adapted screenplay. One would think the movie was a lock to win best visual effects, but sadly, the academy decided not to include an award for visual effects that year, which is strange when you consider this was the first horror film ever to be nominated for best picture.
My parents let me watch this with them in 1984 when I was 5.
It made me terrified of stairs for the next few years.
Thanks to cartoons I had no idea that falling down a flight of stairs could kill you.😆
FINALLY, you guys are watching the scariest movie of all time.
No cheap jump scares that haunt you for the day and then gone. It is a slow build full of imagry and feelings in your gut and soul that haunt you for years.
I grew up Catholic. I never knew a priest who didn't smoke. And drink.
I like the idea that even the demon was surprised that Merrin was dead. He just keeled over.
Linda Blair was great in this... but she paid for it.... During a scene where Blair's character is violently thrown around on a levitating bed, a mechanical failure fractured her spine. The injury developed into scoliosis, which left her in chronic pain for years.
It is so amazing some on the production team doubted an actress of Linda Blair's age could do the film. And she carried the whole picture.
The Exorcist is a classic movie. It is the scariest movie out there. I went to Georgetown. For a ghost tour with a friend. We got to see the steps and the house. From The Exorcist. It was good. The movie has marked the steps forever. Enjoy the movie you two. 👹😃
The Exorcist isn't scary.
It's disturbing. It's EXTREMELY disturbing.
And THAT'S scary.
Director's cut, Director's cut... That's all I'll say
The reactors seemed to have missed the point of the beginning of the movie.
- Father Merrin released the demon when he reached in the hole, and the wind blew. That was the demon escaping.
- Reagan let the demon in when she was playing with the Ouiji board.
- The medal Father Karras had around his neck protected him from the demon. That is why Reagan had to pull it off so the demon could go from her into Father Karras.
- Reagan's mother didn't believe in God. That is why they were vulnerable to possession.
- Kristen looked bored until the crucifix scene.
Well, you got wrong version..the spiderwalk is so worth watching. This order of scenes makes no sense without it. Lol
The 1949 exorcism of Roland Doe
Blatty heard about the case while a student at Georgetown University. The story goes that a 14-year-old boy named Roland Doe was possessed by an evil spirit and underwent a series of exorcisms performed by Father William Bowdern. The boy's family experienced paranormal activity in their home after the death of his aunt, including vibrations, strange noises, and levitation. Blatty drew inspiration from the boy's possession for the violence, guttural voice, and revulsion for sacred items of the character Regan.
Your pronunciations and those of most people of the board game as "wee-gee" are the result of being misled by Hasbro. It's supposed to be "wee-yah". The French & German words for Yes respectively are Oui & Ja.
Auf baldiges Wiedersehen!
The moment that the priest declared the tap water was holy..he made it holy.
What should be talked about more is how good a dramatic movie it is between the horror elements.
It’s not it’s the scariest movie ever made, it’s that at the time it was the scariest movie up to that point, when demonic possessions weren’t seen by mainstream audiences. Today, we’ve seen tons of versions of the story and some that are way more intense.
It’s great because it’s a well-crafted film.
Yep I am 50, my grandmother had a Quija board in her closet with all the board games. We played it all the time. Never had a bad experience as a kid.
Thee Greatest film
in Horror history
I'm not meaning to question anyone's religious beliefs, but if you take a look at ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman mythologies, you can see exactly how and where humans developed the ideas of angels, demons, the devil, God, good, evil, rituals and the like. And it's actually fascinating stuff. Mythologies were the means by which humans explained to themselves how their world worked, and how the gods at the top of Mount Olympus and the souls from the underworld river Styx influenced pretty much everything. Modern-day Catholicism and Christianity is simply the evolving of those very myths to meet the needs of the modern-day. Once you have even a basic understanding of that trajectory, you don't need to fear these kinds of beliefs in heaven and hell.
Perhaps you should watch the movie and stop judging priests.
they live in LA. they can't not judge priest.
I don't know where you got the idea that priests aren't allowed to drink or smoke. It's sexual activity that's forbidden.
And that's why so many children are in danger ...
I'm with Michael on this one, I like more monster type horror movies! The supernatural/biblical type horror movies still scare the Hell out of me! For the longest time, I couldn't listen to the Exorcist theme without my hairs standing on end! I think I'm better with it now, but those types of movies are the scariest because of the realism of their themes! My heart goes out to Kristen for having to go through all those horrible experiences with that movie she was in! And I totally agree with her, I would absolutely stay clear away from such films! Keep up the good work, I love watching Cinepals!
I'm smiling at the supposition that priests don't drink. :) The local Catholic parish in my neighborhood has some of the best beer garden picnics around, and there are PLENTY of priests in collars enjoying a their fair share of beer at those.
It seems like they shouldn’t. Kinda hypocritical, but then again that’s religion for ya.
@@sproductionsinc Not hypocritical at all. Drinking is not bad if it's done in a moderate way. Even Jesus drank alcohol.
Many of the scariest scenes were in the extended version. The detective stars in 12 ANGRY MEN, which is one of the best movies of all time.
The best possession movie of all time
All of your questions will be answered in The Exorcist 3.Exorcist 2 is a truly horrible sequel, but it answers some questions also. Worth the watch only to say youve seen it.
Ellen Burstyn, Regan's mother, is still alive at 91 years old and I believe still working.
She also plays Elliot Stabler's mom.
@@aleaanderson6600IYKYK
Yes, she reprised her role in the new Exorcist film
And she was amazing in "Requiem for a Dream"
Don't you dare downgrade this to a cult classic. This is a legit grade A certified motherfucking classic.
The room the exorcism took place in was an altered industrial freezer, hence the cold. Must have been the fanciest freezer in the world, so nicely decorated.
Please give the Star Trek franchise a chance on your channel.
dude, your not ready for that kind of disappointment. thought provoking is not this channels forte. Hocus Pocus is more their speed. they might like the Abrams movies, but that still may be a bit too cerebral.
This is the greatest horror movie ever in my opinion. Happy Halloween 🎃
Actually, the Ouija Board was patented in 1890. It became popular by the spiritualist movement following the Civil War when a lot of people were going to mediums to talk to their deceased loved ones. The 2 guys who patented and made the game didn’t believe in that kind of thing but saw the profit making potential by excluding the mediums. It was marketed as a way to get answers to questions without ever specifying who provided the answers. And a witch doctor/shaman/holy man is the priest for that religion, so there is no difference between a witch doctor and a catholic priest.
I didn't see this until about a month ago and I felt it greatly exceeded it's reputation. Mostly that pinned it as a shock value film or taboo so that's what I expected going in. I didn't find it scary so much as deeply unnerving but for the purpose of giving the story depth. The story and screenplay for that matter are great. The kind of stuff I used to enjoy reading as a child. Damien Karras in particular is one of the more interesting characters in cinema. The acting on all counts being top notch drives the character complexities home. Also the fact in all cases they managed to make them so layered even when working in a condensed amount of time. The effects and camera methods are interesting and I am glad they went they tangible route for the former as it gives it an increased sense of realism. Lastly the ending was satisfactory and I felt left me properly asking questions about the meaning of the sacrifice and faith. So yeah, way distant from what this movie was made out to be.
Burke was killed then thrown out the window, Father Karras martyred himself to drive out the demon back to hell...and the whole opening scenes set the vibe for the rest of the movie, if you know which demon it was (which ill never say or spell out), you would understand the winds, the sun, the dog fight growls when the Father and the statue of the demon were facing one another with the orange sun and wind in the background... he knew what was coming, that was what he needed to do after leaving Iraq!
Pazuzu
The power of Christ compelled you
Please pleas whatever you do ignore Exorcist 2....but Exorcist 3 is a must!
Good news for your happy ending: right before Damien dies, he had his St. Christopher medallion ripped off during the struggle with Regan, and somehow, he ends up with it again when he goes out the window because he clearly has it as he's dying. St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers, which means that, as he's dying or traveling between worlds, he's protected, so it's assumed the demon is cast out. The symbolism isn't totally clear to me, but I remember some significance of the medallion changing hands as the demon changes bodies, and Damien's plunge out the window and down the stairs was representative of his own perceived descent into purgatory because he was a priest who committed the unforgivable sin. But because he had his last rites, and the act was sacrificial (and again, he was protected by St. Christopher), it's presumed he was forgiven by God.
Don't bother with The Exorcist 2, it's terrible but The Exorcist 3 is very good and a direct continuation of the story from this original.
This movie may not seem that scary now, but the reason many call it "the scariest movie ever" is because this movie (along with Night of the Living Dead) changed the way horror movies were made! Before The Exorcist the majority of horror movies in 60' & 70's were either made by Hammer or made in the Hammer style (most of which were rated X (18) but are now rated PG, which just goes to show how tame they were compared to modern horror movies)
In case you didn’t know, this is BASED on a real story. The film added some more effects to make it even more terrifying, but the girl was possessed.
If anyone remebers the film Scream where sid goes back to school and a reporter says how does it feel to almost be brutally buuchered..... its the lil girl in this film linda blair
this is the child version without the spiderwalk
This is one of those rare movies that is scarier in the theater or when viewed on DVD at a locked 24fps. The filmmakers inserted numerous scary faces and death masks but only a frame here and there. This (edited) video had one but there are lots more and they really pop at 24fps IF you are looking for them. Otherwise, your subconscious mind is seeing those images and it's affecting you without you knowing it. This is what was causing some serious audience trauma back in '73. There was even an investigation into the "subliminal manipulation" the filmmakers achieved with these strategically inserted frames. Fascinating study really. I did a paper on it in college but that was targeting subliminal imagery in advertising.
The making of this film was so extreme …truly a classic & the crucifix scene scarred me!
Makes sure you watch Exorcist 3 after this... a continuation of this story.
Growing up Catholic, a lot of our parish priests drank and smoked. The only rule I was a aware of was 'not to excess'. This movie was very controversial when it came out, particularly because of the vulgarity. I waited decades before watching this film, because of how freaked out my friends who saw it were.
This movie and the book were based on an exorcism of a boy from Maryland performed by 2 Jesuit priests from St. Louis University - Father William Bowdern and Father Walter Halloran. The actual exorcism took place at Alexian Brothers Hospital in St. Louis. In the book, Blatty changed the location to another Jesuit University (Georgetown) and the patient to a girl
😁You forget the time frame, back in that day everyone smoked, priests, pastors, doctors, etc, and everywhere: restaurants, planes, hospitals. It was a different time. 😉
Smoking and technology were so different back then. Movie making and audiences were also different.
I think they were renting the place during the movie shoot, only the hired help knew the house/ not their home.
St. Christopher cross, Pazuzu entered Damien when it was ripped off. It was protecting him and at the dig site with the idol.
Think the third movie is a prequel.
Poltergeist has lot of deaths and unusual things happen to the cast and filming.
This is not a terrifying movie because it's scary. It is terrifying because it touches the very deep primitive human fears and stays forever in your mind.
“Maybe he does live here…rent control” 😂😂
If you want to find out what happens after, I recommend "The Ninth Configuration" (to find out what happened to the astronaut) and Exorcist III (to see what happens to Lt Kinderman). Avoid The Exorcist II unless you're a sadist.
This movie still influences horror movies released today, its had an impact ever since it came out, and before this, there was nothing this scary and this vulgar.
There was a stand in for linda Blair for some scenes. Eileen Dietz was a petite actress who doubled Blair. She was also the face of Capitan Howdy.
Did you know that author William Peter Blatty's novel The Exorcist was inspired by the actual 1949 exorcism of a young boy from Cottage City, Maryland, and the horrifying 1634 Loudun exorcisms? The story goes that Blatty heard about the Maryland case while he was a student at Georgeto
The author and the director both have said in interviews that it wasn’t meant to be a horror novel or film but rather a physiological thriller , if I remember correctly, thanks yall!
When they were filming they had a stunt double for the girl who did the “cross scene” and some of the scarier scenes to protect the young actress.
Priests ARE ALLOWED to smoke and drink! There are NO rules in the Catholic Church against smoking and drinking. The only thing is if you get so drunk that you don't know what you're doing. Excessive drinking is a Cardinal sin.
By the way, the actor who played the priest "Tom" that we see in several scenes including the drinking scene at the bar with Father Karras where they are drinking beer, was an ACTUAL priest. Also, Father Dyer, the piano player at the party, who was Father Karras' best friend was an actual priest in real life too!
Ouija boards had been around for many decades before this movie and they were ONLY A GAME! THIS MOVIE ALONE is what gave Ouija boards the FALSE reputation it now has.