The Exorcist

[PsychoSKfan]

I want to talk about what some people call the scariest movie of all time.
And, in my opinion it's the scariest movie I've ever seen. It takes a lot to scare me- and this movie did. (And then I saw it again, and again, and again, and again... GO FIGURE ;) )
But, it has very few special effects, and that is what this new generation is growing up with. So- as new horror fans enter the world, do you think in time the Exorcist will be seen not have the same affect on people that it has now?
Do you think it's already happening? Even my generation (I'm almost 19) is starting to comment about the lack of visuals and the pure stupidity of it.
This is ashame...

-Liz

[The_Return]

Have you read the book? It completly puts the movie to shame. I was quite disapointed, I saw the movie for first time about a week after reading the book. The movie was good, but I think it's extremly overrated, far from the "scariest movie ever". Yes, this is coming from a Christian....I just didnt find it scary/disturbing/ect.

[PsychoSKfan]

To be quite honest, it didn't scare me the first time either. (Granted, I saw it edited for TV so they cut a lot of stuff out)
It had nothing to do with the visual effects, but some of the stuff that I saw when I saw it un-edited disturbed me.
Yes, I have read the book- and the book was just as scary as the movie.

-Liz

[urgeok]

when this movie came out - most people were never exposed to anything like it before.


like anything that old it sufferes when you compare it (for scares) to much that's come out since but there are still a few of us that remember the power this film had at the box office when it first hit the theatres.

thats also part of the problem .. by the time most of the younger people here see these classics - it's on a small TV screen in your living room .. not a big dark theatre surrounded by 300 terrified people. It diminishes the effect.

personally - i never found the film frightening ... but i thought it was a well acted, superbly directed, effective bit of filmmaking ..

and it - among other old classics - inspired countless of other films. It was a landmark in film history, let alone horror film history ..

[PsychoSKfan]

I got to see it in theatres.
I was too young yet when the "Version you've never seen" came out, but luckily my local theatre brought it back for a "Big Screen Classics" weekend.
That was very exciting! There was a big rain storm that night and the electricity in the theatre went on and off a couple of times. (and that included the movie)
:eek:

Yikeys! So much fun.
-Liz

[ItsAlive75]

Originally posted by PsychoSKfan
But, it has very few special effects, and that is what this new generation is growing up with.
-Liz

If by "special effects" you mean computer animated effects, then yeah they're scarce. But there's a shitload of effects in the movie, whether it be the animatronic turning head or the bile vomit scene or her COMING DOWN THE STAIRS... that scared the shit outta me when I saw it in the new version.

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by ItsAlive75
If by "special effects" you mean computer animated effects, then yeah they're scarce. But there's a shitload of effects in the movie, whether it be the animatronic turning head or the bile vomit scene or her COMING DOWN THE STAIRS... that scared the shit outta me when I saw it in the new version.


Glad you said that, I never bothered with the new version because I just thought they were trying to make a couple extra bucks off the not so special stuff you see in most extended version.

[mikeywalsh]

I agree with the last poster that there are a fair few special effects in it, not just the CGI that younger folk expect in a horror movie now. I do think it's a genuinely chilling film, there is a marvellous air of malevolence and the crucifix masturbation scene still, in my eyes, causes shock.

I do have a major problem with the film however. I was raised Catholic but am quite anti-christian now for all sorts of reasons and I find the way the film puts the Catholic Church in the role of supernatural saviour to be quite distasteful. In the US and UK at least the way that priests interact with children has come up for much scrutiny and criticism in the last 5-10 years, besides which as all intelligent, right-thinking folk know there is no God or Prime Mover or Supreme Being so I don't believe in gods, angels, devils, demons or Pizuzu but still the film freaks me if I'm watching it on my own.

Could I ask any other athiests how they respond to films like The Omen and The Exorcist where the existence of God/Satan is taken for granted (I realise most films expect us to suspend our disbelief in monsters, ghosts etc, the difference with God is that some people believe in it 100% all the time, which few folk do with vampires or zombies)

[PsychoSKfan]

Originally posted by ItsAlive75
If by "special effects" you mean computer animated effects, then yeah they're scarce. But there's a shitload of effects in the movie, whether it be the animatronic turning head or the bile vomit scene or her COMING DOWN THE STAIRS... that scared the shit outta me when I saw it in the new version.

Yeah, that's what I meant. OMG, the spider walk scene scared the crap outta me. I didn't see that the first time, that was added in the new version! :eek:

[Angelakillsluts]

I haven't seen the new version with the added scenes yet.

[PsychoSKfan]

Originally posted by Angelakillsluts
I haven't seen the new version with the added scenes yet.

You should. It does nothing but make the movie that much better! :D

-Liz

[The STE]

are you KIDDING ME?! The "spiderwalk scene" doesn't work within the context of the full movie (good scene on its own, but it's too much too soon, and it wouldn't fit in anywhere later in the movie). And the extended ending is a complete fucking travesty. The original ended on the absolute perfect note, and then they add in some lame-ass conversation about Wuthering Heights or something.
If ANYTHING, they make the movie WORSE

[mothermold]

Originally posted by PsychoSKfan
Even my generation is starting to comment about the lack of visuals -Liz

dick smith is a genius! a man amongst men,he followed in the footsteps of jack pierce and the craft (f/x) would'nt be where it is were it not for dick smith.the effects are superb and this film remains my high water mark for possession movies.

[PsychoSKfan]

I actually agree about the ending to the new version. That did suck. I had forgotten about it when I typed this up.
I guess it was so horrible that I blocked it out. ;)
I did like the stair scene though...very much!

-Liz

[The STE]

oh, yeah, good scene, it's creepy, but it doesn't fit within the context of the movie. I think it's been seen so many times before the new version came out and was so popular then that everyone automatically still likes it. Its pre-theatrical fame has skewed the fact that it just doesn't work when its IN the movie

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by mikeywalsh
besides which as all intelligent, right-thinking folk know there is no God or Prime Mover or Supreme Being so I don't believe in gods, angels, devils, demons or Pizuzu but still the film freaks me if I'm watching it on my own.


So anybody that believes in God is unintelligent and wrong-thinking?:rolleyes:

[The STE]

Originally posted by mikeywalsh
I agree with the last poster that there are a fair few special effects in it, not just the CGI that younger folk expect in a horror movie now. I do think it's a genuinely chilling film, there is a marvellous air of malevolence and the crucifix masturbation scene still, in my eyes, causes shock.

I do have a major problem with the film however. I was raised Catholic but am quite anti-christian now for all sorts of reasons and I find the way the film puts the Catholic Church in the role of supernatural saviour to be quite distasteful. In the US and UK at least the way that priests interact with children has come up for much scrutiny and criticism in the last 5-10 years, besides which as all intelligent, right-thinking folk know there is no God or Prime Mover or Supreme Being so I don't believe in gods, angels, devils, demons or Pizuzu but still the film freaks me if I'm watching it on my own.

Could I ask any other athiests how they respond to films like The Omen and The Exorcist where the existence of God/Satan is taken for granted (I realise most films expect us to suspend our disbelief in monsters, ghosts etc, the difference with God is that some people believe in it 100% all the time, which few folk do with vampires or zombies)

I'm trying to think of a way you could come off as any more of a dumbshit...but I honestly can't think of anything. Maybe if you did the same post, but wearing a funny hat...

[AUSTIN316426808]

LoL...nice.

[Angelakillsluts]

Originally posted by The STE
I'm trying to think of a way you could come off as any more of a dumbshit...but I honestly can't think of anything. Maybe if you did the same post, but wearing a funny hat...

hahaha :D

[mothermold]

who the hell is Pizuzu?

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by mothermold
who the hell is Pizuzu?


The demon that possessed Regan.

[urgeok]

???!!!

and all this time i thought it was the ghost of Stan Laurel !!

[mothermold]

Originally posted by AUSTIN316426808
The demon that possessed Regan.

thanks,i did'nt realize it had a name.

[urgeok]

i think it's really Pazuzu

[sabersword]

Regardless of the effects, The movie hit me on a deeper level than fright. I dont know about you guys, but the exorcist is the ultament loss of control film. To be invaded by an unseen force dedacated to your distruction and in your self, you can do nothing. Being Cathlolic, and beliving in the paranormal, this strikes close to home for me. Do demons exist? You better belive that they do!!!!

[Haunted]

It's Puzuzu, I think. He was a demon of pestilence and...get this... helping women in childbirth. He protected the newborn from some other demon that would suck it's blood. The ancient people's of the Tigris Euphrates area made offerings to him to not only protect their children, but also implore his mercy from pestilence and famine.

That being said, I'm an occultist. From my stand point, this movie was chilling. Mikey, I'm Wiccan, and this movie gave me the creeps. The book, however kept me up o'nights.

[liebesspiel]

I think this is the scariest movie ever. Not the greatest, but the scariest.

[mikeywalsh]

I didn't realise my comments about God would upset so many folk (although mostly Americans). The way I see it if a person believed in vampires or fairies then you would be dismissed as either being a fantasist or having major mental/emotional issues. I think the same idea should apply to those who believe in God. There is no evidence for God, it seems purely wish fulfillment and as the saying goes an extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proof and all the religious types have to offer is 'faith'.
It is the reason however I find 'serious' films such as 'The Exorcist' or the Omen to require the same suspension of disbelief as films like 'Night of the Living Dead' or Elm Street etc. I don't mean to ofend any believers in God but I do find it hard to have respect for people who believe in something so obviously false.

[AUSTIN316426808]

In your first post you specifically said..

''which as all intelligent, right-thinking folk know there is no God"

Then in your latest post you specifically said..

"I don't mean to ofend any believers in God but I do find it hard to have respect for people who believe in something so obviously false."


So basically you don't mean to offend anybody who believes in a God it's just that you find it hard to respect them because they're unintelligent and wrong-thinking for believing in something that's obviously fake.

Do you even realize how contradicting and ignorant that sounds?


If you don't believe in spiritual things there's no problem with that at all but it's completely uncallled for and wrong to dismiss anyone who does as being a unrespectable,unintelligent person.

As far as what you said about dismissing someone who believes in vampires as mental..well you're wrong because I don't disrespect anybody's beliefs. If there's a discussion of religion or if it comes up during a certain subject such as it did here then I'll say I believe in this and that and/or I don't believe in that or this ect. During that conversation even if I hear something that I think is completely absurd I'm not going to disrespect anyone by telling them how dumb it is or try to convince them why it's wrong, because it's just unnecessary.

[mikeywalsh]

Originally posted by AUSTIN316426808
In your first post you specifically said..

''which as all intelligent, right-thinking folk know there is no God"

Then in your latest post you specifically said..

"I don't mean to ofend any believers in God but I do find it hard to have respect for people who believe in something so obviously false."


So basically you don't mean to offend anybody who believes in a God it's just that you find it hard to respect them because they're unintelligent and wrong-thinking for believing in something that's obviously fake.

Do you even realize how contradicting and ignorant that sounds?


If you don't believe in spiritual things there's no problem with that at all but it's completely uncallled for and wrong to dismiss anyone who does as being a unrespectable,unintelligent person.

As far as what you said about dismissing someone who believes in vampires as mental..well you're wrong because I don't disrespect anybody's beliefs. If there's a discussion of religion or if it comes up during a certain subject such as it did here then I'll say I believe in this and that and/or I don't believe in that or this ect. During that conversation even if I hear something that I think is completely absurd I'm not going to disrespect anyone by telling them how dumb it is or try to convince them why it's wrong, because it's just unnecessary.

[mikeywalsh]

I see how you could think my post contradictory however my position remains that I am not going out of my way to denigrate Deity Believers it's just impossible for me not to believe they are in some way deranged. I just mean belief in God is deranged, the other multitude of wicked acts committed by Christians, Muslims, Jews and Scientologists are just plain oppressive. I think Science and Rationality have destroyed God and it is my honest belief that believers should be ashamed of their childish gullibility rather than have their right to faith defended. I can't stop anyone believing in God but I do have the right to point at their nonsensical belief system, challenge them on it and dismiss it as un-scientific nonsense. Wiccans and other spiritual types who wish to expand their understanding of the world and its mysteries etc are no problem to me but the organised zealots who demand respect for their fiction are repugnant. In my humble athiest opinion.

[hammerfan]

Whatever happened to live and let live?

[urgeok]

this is HDC remember ?

home of the badass.

[AUSTIN316426808]

I don't think it's contradicting, I know it is. You're saying you don't mean to offend someone who.."should be ashamed of their childish gullibility",''deranged'',''unintelligent'' and ''wrong-thinking''.

How can you not see how that offends?

Originally posted by mikeywalsh
Wiccans and other spiritual types who wish to expand their understanding of the world and its mysteries etc are no problem to me


Wiccans have Gods too so why aren't they deranged? There are screwed up people who refer to themselves as wiccans just like any other religion. You can't look at the fucked up people who label themselves as a member of a religion and molest kids and fly planes into buildings and put it on everybody. Those pieces of trash are the ones that are deranged not the people who actually follow their particular beliefs and truely feel that they are living their life in a good way.

And going back to my other point, I just don't understand how some people think it's ok to blatantly disrespect someone for thier beliefs. It's completely unneccesary and part of the reason why the world is so fucked up, it's just completely un fucking neccesary. Believe what you want to believe and have the desency to let others do the same. There's just no acceptable reason for outright disrespect towards someone who's doing what they feel is good and not hurting anyone in the process.

[mikeywalsh]

Again, as you may imagine, I disagree. I continue to think belief in God is a ridiculous fantasy, like Santa Claus for adults, obey the moralistic code on earth and you'll get lots of lovely presents in Heaven. As I said I really don't think I could convert any poor mental incompetents to atheism so I'm happy to point out my opinions and allow anyone else to do the same. I must say I think the tone of some of the replies is getting a little bad-tempered (if the profanity is anything to go by), it surprises me that faith in the Supreme Being who shall judge all humanity at the end of days can be shaken and insulted by internet posts.

However we can all post what we want within reason so let me just state the intention of my original post on this subject was to ask other non-believers if they found religious horror films as scary as non-horror films. If people are offended by my labelling religious types as crazy, live-chicken eating, hallucinating, crucifix obsessed then please get your Gods to forgive me.

[hammerfan]

Originally posted by urgeok
this is HDC remember ?

home of the badass.

Ah yes, I forgot. I guess God is just filling up my head and I don't have room for anything else in my crazy head.

[urgeok]

Originally posted by hammerfan
Ah yes, I forgot. I guess God is just filling up my head and I don't have room for anything else in my crazy head.

mind you . i wasnt thinking about this guy in particular when i made that comment ...

[hammerfan]

Originally posted by urgeok
mind you . i wasnt thinking about this guy in particular when i made that comment ...

I know - but I was! :D

[urgeok]

here's how i see it ..

i dont believe in anything ..

but other people do - for various reasons.
I dont figure it's my call to persuade these folks to be like me any more than i believe they should try to make me like them.

its called respect for the individual.

I know good christians and bad christians
I know good non-believers and bad non-believers ..

all i care about is if people are decent or not.

kindness is the most undervalued trait in our society.
more the pity.

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by mikeywalsh
obey the moralistic code on earth and you'll get lots of lovely presents in Heaven.

You're right, we shouldn't have a moralistic code, just run around like crazy assholes killing,stealing,raping ect. Because that's a much more rational thought right?:rolleyes:


Originally posted by mikeywalsh
As I said I really don't think I could convert any poor mental incompetents to atheism

That's funny because Einstein believed in God, here we are thinking he's a ridiculously brilliant person and all the while he was just a poor mental incompetent.

[The_Return]

Originally posted by AUSTIN316426808
You're right, we shouldn't have a moralistic code, just run around like crazy assholes killing,stealing,raping ect. Because that's a much more rational thought right?:rolleyes:


Not to stick up for this guy, but I dont think that's what he's trying to say. What I think he's saying is that there is no point living by a certain code simply because of the promise of an afterlife. As in, why live a boring life now to earn something that may not even exist? I don't share his beliefs in the least, but I can understand where he's coming from.

[hammerfan]

Originally posted by The_Return
Not to stick up for this guy, but I dont think that's what he's trying to say. What I think he's saying is that there is no point living by a certain code simply because of the promise of an afterlife. As in, why live a boring life now to earn something that may not even exist? I don't share his beliefs in the least, but I can understand where he's coming from.

I don't live my life according to a "code". I live my life and treat people (ALL people) the way I want to be treated - with kindness and respect.

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by The_Return
Not to stick up for this guy, but I dont think that's what he's trying to say. What I think he's saying is that there is no point living by a certain code simply because of the promise of an afterlife. As in, why live a boring life now to earn something that may not even exist? I don't share his beliefs in the least, but I can understand where he's coming from.


I know what he's saying, I just said it what I did the wrong way.

I got the whole 'boring life' thing he was getting at, my point was that all you have to do is not be an asshole. If you're living what you truely believe to be a good life then it wont be a boring life.

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by hammerfan
I don't live my life according to a "code". I live my life and treat people (ALL people) the way I want to be treated - with kindness and respect.



That's basically what I meant, everybody that has their right mind knows what's good and what's bad, there's no religion needed for that.

[ItsAlive75]

...I want baby Jesus inside of me.

[filmmaker2]

Hey, there's a thing out there for everyone. That's why there's so many different kinds of movies, you know. If one type of movie satisfied everyone, we'd have a lot less of them.

That said, I have no respect for people who don't watch horror films, because I think they're idiots. But, that's just my opinion.

By the way, "The Exorcist" is a movie I generally go out of my way NOT to see. It's too frightening and too disturbing to me. When they used to play it on cable a lot, I tried watching it and had to turn the sound down because the sound effects and that devil voice bothered me. Just thinking about it now gives me the shivers. No, wait, I left the window open and there's a draft.

[sabersword]

Hay Mikeywalsh, how do you get somthing from nothing? You dont man. Cause and effect. Cause, GOD. Effect, all things. In otherwords,nothing=nothing. Dude, if you dont belive in God the father, ok, if you look down on those that do, ok. But, that does not change the reality and, the best part is, that sooner or later, we will all find out for sure.

[HorrorGuru]

If you watch the Exorcist, you have to view it more as a "psychological" horror film. I see your point...I am 21 and I enjoy gory horror films...but I think you have to look at the film in context.

It isn't trying to gross you out like, say, "Hostel." What it is trying to do is go to your head.

[Haunted]

I like the occult thread running throughout the piece, even if it IS supposed to be Catholic Christianity. I don't think that Puzuzu should have been the demon that Blaty (sp?) used, because the notion of "demon" in Mesopatamian sense and "demon" in the Judeo/Christian sense are very different.


I also wanted to say to Mikey , "Horror.comisnottheplacetodiscussreligionpleasestop

I'm a Witch, but being a Witch doesn't necessarily dictate religion, and if you have such a problem with God... Well lucky for me I worship The Goddess.:D

[sabersword]

Mikey, You do not have be defensive,not saying you are just that you belive anything you want to man. I am a christian but, Im not trying to push it on you,but, it is my responsability to proclame the good news.End of babble.

[gorefreak]

Originally posted by The STE
are you KIDDING ME?! The "spiderwalk scene" doesn't work within the context of the full movie (good scene on its own, but it's too much too soon, and it wouldn't fit in anywhere later in the movie). And the extended ending is a complete fucking travesty. The original ended on the absolute perfect note, and then they add in some lame-ass conversation about Wuthering Heights or something.
If ANYTHING, they make the movie WORSE
I can't remember the useless babbling at the end, but the spider walk scene did make the movie better. For one thing, it looked cool as the blood dripped out of her mouth with that creepy moaning, and two, it made more sense as to why Regan was strapped to her bed.

[The STE]

Originally posted by gorefreak
I can't remember the useless babbling at the end, but the spider walk scene did make the movie better. For one thing, it looked cool as the blood dripped out of her mouth with that creepy moaning, and two, it made more sense as to why Regan was strapped to her bed.

Did I ever say the scene its self wasn't good? No. It doesn't work in the context of the whole movie. They didn't need it to explain why Regan was strapped to her bed.

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by The STE
They didn't need it to explain why Regan was strapped to her bed.


Not only did they not need that scene to do so but I don't think there is any need to explain it. Maybe it's just me but I think it's pretty obvious why.

[Haunted]

Originally posted by The STE
Did I ever say the scene its self wasn't good? No. It doesn't work in the context of the whole movie. They didn't need it to explain why Regan was strapped to her bed.

Upon reflection, Sam, I think that I agree with you, and it's that reason why I think people who haven't read the book, really should.

If you read the book and see the movie (not necessarily in that order, actually), then you will have captured The Exorcist, and hopefully have enjoyed the ride.