All-time scariest horror film.

Rating: Null/10 (10 June 2002)

Can a film be construed as "the scariest film of all time"? It can if it's William Friedkin's adaptation of William Peter Blatty's phenom novel "The Exorcist".
It's hard to believe that a novel published back in 1971, could hold people in the grip of true fear and panic. Then, to have it filmed and released In Christmas of 1973, and cause an all out hysteria (paramedics, priests, nutsos on stand by), obviously says a lot. it surprises me to this day that Mr. Friedkin doesn't view his masterpiece as an actual horror film.
I believe part of this film's (and the novel's) success is that it deals with all of our own primal fears. Fear of the unknown, and the fear of actual evil, or evil incarnate existing. The handling of young Linda Blair as Regan; the girl possessed by the devil, is surprisingly handled, since she herself didn't think the film she was making would create such an impact. Aaah, to be young and innocent.
It also deals with the concepts and issues of faith. Believers and non-believers can certainly debate the existence of good and evil (or God and the Devil), and if point in fact, out of evil can come good?
As for my own experience, "The Exorcist" forced me to keep my bedroom lights on for three months.