The Exorcist (1973)Now this was a real head turner. Demonic possession was rarely explored on the big screen before this film, which follows a pair of Catholic priests struggling to exorcise an evil spirit that has taken a young girl's body hostage. The film traded non-stop, over-the-top gore for a slow-burning depiction of a girl's body being taken over by an evil entity. It left viewers so terrified, audience members were reported to have fainted, cried, or even vomited in the aisles. Some theaters even provided 'Exorcist'-themed barf bags. The film's success conjured a high demand for more demon-focused horror, spawning a number of prequels, sequels, and ripoffs at the time -- and inspiring countless modern possession flicks.
Image via Warner Bros.
Image via Warner Bros.
Jul 16, 2019 16:40pm PDT
