Horrifying...In The Most Wonderful Way

Rating: 8/10 (12 May 2001)

I popped "The Exorcist" into my VCR with the lights off and a bowl of popcorn in my hand. I took it out of my VCR with the lights on and my eyes wide. That's how much fear that this excellent thriller poured into my veins, chilling my blood.
The movie begins in Iraq, where two archaeologists find some ancient structures that symbolize evil. The story then takes us to our setting: the home of movie star Chris MacNeil (excellently played by Ellen Burstyn) and her daughter Ragen (Linda Blair). Things seem to be running well for Chris and Ragen, but suddenly, strange things begin in Ragen. During her doctor appointment, she curses and screams at the doctors. Soon, she's shaking violently in bed, doing vulgar things with a cross, bleeding, scarring, yelling obscene things at her mother, and so on. The doctors say it's nerves. Chris thinks, after speaking with someone, that it's possession, leading her to call the help of a depressed priest named Damien Karras (Jason Miller).
This is one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. Any scene containing the aftermath of Ragen's "problem" had my heart racing and my eyes bugging. And the special effects were incredible-maybe not as good as recent movie effects, but certainly great for a movie from 1973. I couldn't believe it was made in 1973-maybe 1978, or 1976 even, but not 1973.
The acting was great too. The best performances in the movie were those of Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn-they both gave great passion in their roles and made you feel for their characters. Jason Miller also did an exceptional job as Damien. Acting was great all around.
The only thing was that it moved a little too slow sometimes. The majority of the time I was watching intently. But sometimes...like at the very beginning...I'd be intently bored.
Never-the-less, this movie is a classic and certainly one of my favorites. 8/10