All time great

Rating: 10/10 (8 December 2003)

Many people have critised this movie for the fact that it isn't scary. This was due to the hype and, like The Blair Witch Project, didn't deliver to the people that were expecting to s*** themselves. This film is a matter of taste. I'm still waiting for a horror movie to scare everyone but until that day i will tell my own opinion of this film.
Contrary to what most people think i believe this is one of the scariest films i have ever seen. And i was watching it with company. The hype had the oposite effect on my. With my friends telling me that it wasn't scary caused me not to expect much but BOY was i wrong.
But the sheer disturbing and terrifying nature of this film is not what makes it great. This is proof that William Friedkin used to know how to make a good movie. The acting is superb (Linda Blair giving a genuinly horrific performance), the script is very well written and the whole look of the film gives shivers down your spine.
I have only seen the uncut version and i think in seeing the cut version i would have been a little dissapointed. Everything works in this film and the build up racks on the tension as the deamon slowly takes over Ragan (Also see my review of The Thing). The crucifix masterbation scene is gut wrenching whilst the actual exorcism itself is brilliantly done, with both priests oozing exhaustion from every pour.
I still can't watch the "infamous" Spider Walk sequence. This is because of how purely unnatural Ragan looks crawling down the stairs upside down. If you have the DVD version then pause frame for frame whenever the deamon's face appears and see how hidious and scary it looks. Just thinking about it still makes me judder.
This is a movie that plays on the audience's fears and it works all the better for it. This is one of the few horror movies that knows how to scare people and it does so with an uneasy effect. I'm sure people have had many sleepless nights over this film and that wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.
It is a film that can be watched over and over again without getting tired of it. The scare factor does eventually die down after repeated viewing but no matter who you are, you can't deny that after the umpteenth time of watching it still gives an uneasy feeling inside.
5/5