Nothing Compares To This Ageless Classic

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2019)

It was marketed as "The Scariest Movie Ever Made" almost 50 years ago. It was then and it still is today. Yet it is so much more than a horror movie. It is, quite simply, a perfect film.
The story of a young girl tortured by a demon is wonderfully constructed, perfectly paced and utterly believable. The deathly atmosphere of pervading dread and relentless despair drips from every frame. The performances of Miller, Burstyn, Cobb and Von Sydow have us riding on their shoulders. And Linda Blair is just astonishing as the tormented, desperate child.
These were the days before CGI. Before Industrial Light and Magic. Yet every Satanic set piece stands the test of time. Add to this Blatty's sharp, intelligent script and a Director in Friedkin at the pinnacle of his powers and what we have is more than just a mere film. It's a phenomenon. A creation of such power and brutal fury that it transcends the genre of horror. It is movie making in its purest form. A fairy tale for our sad, cynical age. A battle between good and evil.
It is not just "The Scariest Movie Ever Made" it is, for me, without doubt "The Best Movie Ever Made". 10/10