The Exorcist...No..But seriously??

Question

I recently FIANLLY watched the exorcist with my friend. We'd been puttin it off for ages now because we were told it was REALLLLY scary etc etc. And well we didn't find it scary AT ALL. And we get scared easily. We were actually crying of laughter, we thought it was just so so funny. I know that people at the time when the movie was released were not used to something so 'scary' and so were scared by it but even in this day and age, I know so many people who were scared by it...Was anyone on here scared by it? If so why? Don't you just think it was a way for some people to express sexual matters in a society where sexuality was not expressed as openly as it is now?

Answer 1

it's so strane to read these comments. for me the exorcist symbolized the power of demons and man's weaknesses against the forces of satan. the fact that it's actually based on true events was what initially ot me scared. also the fact that i used to be a devout christian made this movie a testament of my wills. as i grew up and learned more about the film, i was shocked to learn about the methods used to shoot it. the director was adamant about making the entire expirience real while the little actress was forced to suffer much on set. also it's one of the only movies i've seen to date that intentionally uses flashes of demonic faces inbetween segments of suspensful build-up.

but it's hard to watch old movies and expect everyone to enjoy them the same as when it was released...

Answer 2

It is IMPOSSIBLE for someone today to appreciate what this film was like when it was originally released. People today are raised on a diet of constant movie and television violence, video games featuring monsters and demons of all shapes and sizes, and their favorite hip-hop "stars" shooting each other on a daily basis.
Back in the 70's, this was considered groundbreaking- not just the effects, not just the subject matter, but the use of the subliminal messaging had people literally vomiting in their seats and having seizures in the lobbies.
This movie ranks on my top ten films of all time- if you can't appreciate it how revolutionary it was, I truly feel sorry for your loss.
As for the sexual part of your analysis...I have no idea what you're trying to say. Sexual expression in the late 60's and early 70's was much more open that it is nowadays. This was before AIDS, remember. I also might add that Deep Throat was in the theatres right about the same time as The Exorcist.

Answer 3

Even if you don't believe in the devil, the movie really scared a lot of people because of the subliminal messages. They put subliminal photos throughout the movie to get into the subconscious of the viewer. We actually studied this in my Psychology classes as a case study of how subliminal messaging can be effective.



Among the subliminal photos inserted throughout the film ("the version you've never seen") are: when Reagan visits Dr. Klein's office for the first time she sees the face of the demon for a second while she's getting her EEG recorded; when Father Karras has his dream there is a very quick flash of picture of a demon/devil, then the screen goes white, then the picture is briefly flashed again; when Chris Macneil comes home and finds the kitchen lights flickering, the same demon/devil picture, though much smaller, is superimposed on the overhead exhaust fan above the stove; seconds later, just before Chris Macneil enters her daughter's room, what appears to be a very large, rudimentary representation of the demon in paint (it's very "puffy"-looking and almost amorphous, except for the very noticeable eyes and teeth) appears on the door as it is opened; then, when Chris leaves the room, an image of a gargoyle slowly becomes visible just to the left of the doorway, remains briefly, then fades away again; during the final exorcism scene there is another superimposition of the demon's face on Reagan's for a brief instant.

There were originally many very brief "blink and you'll miss them" cutaway shots in this film, intended to create unease in the viewer. For instance: when the priest is dreaming of his mother coming up out of the subway, there is a brief cutaway of a face (Eileen Dietz), painted black and white, grimacing. There are two other places where this image is displayed: when Regan, lying on the bed, turns to look at Father Merrin and Father Karras, and just after the head-turning scene. The same image is later superimposed over scenes later in the film: the first can be seen on the hood of the stove when Chris MacNeil has just returned home from speaking with the doctors and the lights go out in the kitchen; the next image can be seen in the scene directly following the former, on the inside door of Regan's bedroom when Chris MacNeil goes to check on her after realizing that Sharon wasn't present in the house; The first image is the same as the others: the "painted face"; the second image on the door, however, seems to be a caricature of the head of the "demon" figure that Father Merrin finds in the prologue. All of these shots were removed before theatrical release but have been restored for "The Version You've Never Seen".

Answer 4

No, a lot of people who are scared are Catholic and the reason for this is because of their faith. Me personally, no, it doesn't bother me a bit. But I asked a question here on Answers which asked which movie people can barely watch. My personal one is "Tourist Trap." I'm 25, and I struggle to watch it. I even special ordered it years ago and have it in my cabinet. It sits there, dusty, even now. As far as the second part of your question about sexuality, I'm a little baffled. I have to say though, so much has really changed in the space of the almost 30 years (Was Exorcist '78?). Thanks for letting me answer!

Answer 5

my friend told me about the exorcist ages ago and i rented it on dvd a few weeks later and i was a little scared by it, but that was really why it was made, to be scary, but it did not live up to expectations. the same thing happened when i watched the ring, although i enjoyed that film. i found large parts of the exorcist very boring

Answer 6

Like you say it was really scary in its day and age, my grandad actually went to see it and their was a priest standing at the entrance to it blessing people b4 they went in.. he said people ran out screaming and all sorts he said personally he found it really funny.. wen i watched it as a kid it really freaked me out because i was the same age as the girl in the movie i also slept in my loft conversion where all the creepy bits start to happen lol.. i think as well i was scared because of all the hype around it.. its still 1 of my fave films purely for the fact it was a movie breakthrough for its time.. = )

Answer 7

I think you laughed because of the special effects. Now a days, those effects are considered cheesy. Back in the days, the more innocent times, the effects were scarier. I myself found the film to be a bit boring.

Answer 8

Yes! Finally someone - a few people, in fact - realise that this film isn't remotely scary! The head spinning! The swearing! The puking! I p*ssed myself laughing too!

Answer 9

The exorcist is the scariest movie ever made--period. It is scary because if you believe in god and the devil and good and evil, it should scare you down to your soul. It messes with your mind. All the other ones out are just all about blood and guts. No matter how many times I watch it, that movie scares the crap out of me.

Answer 10

The Exorcist . linda blair . that was the most funny film i have even seen in my life .. i like the way she got sick over them i cracked up big time i still waatch that movie .. if you wanna gfood laugh watch the lemmon popsicles movies there funny as hell and
the move *click * Adam sandler . and the movie
meet the fockers =)) =)) have you seen the move
the devil within her that was out at the same time as the The Exorcist. . watch themoive .. the devil within her .. see how her head spin =)) =))