After nearly 35 years,"The Exorcist" still remains the scariest and the most shocking.

Rating: 10/10 (4 November 2006)

There is no questioning about it.No ifs ands or buts.This film belongs in horror film history.I first experienced a scene from this film back around nineteen seventy nine.That scene terrified me.Twenty years it took me to watch this film straight through without blocking my eyes.I have no trouble watching the film now.But I still think of this film as the scariest in film history.We all know what the film is about and we all seen it a thousand times over the past thirty years.Copied by other films such as "Beyond the Door" and the awful "The Antichrist","The Exorcist" has not lost its power to shock due to the cinematography.Its documentary film style seems to add a sense of realism to the film.The special effects are as unique now as they were around thirty years ago.This is the ultimate in cinematic horror.Director William Friedkin's power is that once he goes to far,he doesn't stop.He keeps going.The film is also effective because we get to know the characters rather than go straight to the scares."The Exorcist" begins as a humanizing experience and then we are lured into a nightmarish experience.It's kind of like the film is happening to us.There is no mistake about this film."The Exorcist" pulls no punches and may victimize some film goers.A horror film is a horror film."The Exorcist" is not only a horror film.It is a reminder to us all of what fear means to us.A classic in the horror genre,"The Exorcist" doesn't just frighten,it disturbs on a high level.I respect this film and still believe this to be the scariest film ever made.Perhaps more frightening then I can imagine.