Scaredy-Cat Review: The Exorcist

The devil’s in the details, but the scares… not so much.

Title: The Exorcist
Director: William Friedkin
Year of Release: 1973
Scaredy-Cat Level: 👻 (Mildly spooky, but nothing to lose sleep over)
Subgenre: Supernatural Horror

Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)

Actress Chris MacNeil refuses to buy her daughter Regan a horse. Shortly after, she notices dangerous changes in her behaviour. Coincidence? Probably, yes.

A team of utterly useless doctors struggle to find the cause of Regan’s worsening condition—she begins levitating, speaking in tongues, and, naturally, freaking everyone out.

Just as all hope seems lost, a local priest believes Regan might be possessed by a demon. With the blessing of the church and help from an expert priest, they prepare to perform an exorcism.

SPOILER ALERT!

The rest of this review contains details that might spoil parts of the movie for you. You’ve been warned!

The Scaredy-Cat Experience

• Jump Scare Count: Maybe one. I sort-of jumped at the first vomit scene, but that was it really.

• Tense Moments: There’s a pretty solid tension throughout, especially when Regan’s condition spirals out of control. Watching Chris break down under the stress of her daughter’s plight was arguably more tense than some of the supernatural stuff.

• Spooky Atmosphere: The big, old house is a perfect setting for creeping dread, and Regan’s bedroom scenes — whether action-packed or calm — are always unsettling. Linda Blair’s performance as Regan helps crank up the eeriness from the get-go.

The Funny Bits

• When she slapped the doctor — he totally deserved it!

• When she grabbed some poor guy’s nuts. I mean, how can you not laugh?

• The big furniture unit sliding along the floor — I thought we were about to get “death by IKEA”!

• The head twist scenes. It looked more awkward than creepy, to be honest.

• When the priests shouted "It's exorcism time!" — okay, that may not have happened, but it should have.

Scaredy-Cat Verdict

I didn’t find The Exorcist scary at all. It’s a real shame, because back in the '70s, this was probably one of the scariest films ever made. However, horror has gotten scarier since then. Plus, the film has been parodied so many times (Scary Movie, anyone?) that the supposed terrifying moments have lost some of their impact.

That said, I can see why it was groundbreaking at the time. The religious themes, the shocking special effects, and Regan’s creepy transformation must have left audiences in shock. Watching it today, though, those elements just didn’t land with the same punch.

Final Thoughts

If I’d seen this years ago, I’d probably have appreciated its horror more. There are definitely some scary moments, but they’ve lost their edge over time. However, the story, atmosphere, and performances still make The Exorcist well worth a watch, especially for fans of supernatural horror.

Bits That Scared Me (sort-of)

• The make-up and demonic voices were unsettling.

• The crab walk down the stairs, though I was ready for it, still made me squirm.

My (Out-of-Context) Thoughts During the Movie

• "Are they digging for the Ark of the Covenant?"

• "What's this old boy up to?"

• "There’s always creepy noises from the attic."

• "And there’s always a priest I don’t trust in these movies!"

• "Is that the same briefcase from Pulp Fiction?"

• "Imagine just casually asking for a horse like it’s no big deal."

• "Bin that Ouija board!!!"

• "No wonder these priests drink."

• "She's actually going up to the attic with no lights on — what is wrong with people in horror movies!?!"

• "Oh, she lit a candle. Sure, that’ll help."

• "These doctors are clueless, but not surprising."

• "That’s the dinner party ruined."

• "If my bed shook like that, I’d piss myself too."

• "What a slap that was!"

• "These doctors are making it up as they go along."

• "Did she just grab his plums!?"

• "Someone get her some lip balm."

• "Imagine if she was just acting out to get that horse?"

• "An autograph, really?"

• "That slap was even better!"

• "She was nice enough to wash his sweater, though."

• "She hasn’t told her father about any of this!?"

• "I wouldn’t work for this family in that house."

• "They’re giving this demon the silent treatment."

• "I don’t think this is working."

• "Don’t sit on the bed beside her!"

• "Oh, she killed the old boy!"

• "His fingers are moving!"

• "I honestly thought she was gonna bite him!"

• "Did he just ask the priest out on a date?"