The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist (1973) follows Hollywood actress Chris MacNeil and her 12-year-old daughter Regan after they move to Washington, D.C. What begins as minor oddities—strange noises in the attic and sudden mood swings—escalates into violent, obscene, and physically impossible behavior. When doctors and psychiatrists fail to explain Regan’s condition, Chris turns to the Church. Two very different priests arrive: Father Damien Karras, a young Jesuit psychiatrist wrestling with doubt and grief, and the experienced, weathered exorcist Father Lankester Merrin. Together they face a malevolent force whose hold on Regan becomes a terrifying test of faith, science, and human endurance. Watching The Exorcist is a slow-burning, deeply unsettling experience that blends psychological drama with supernatural horror. The film builds tension through intimate family drama, clinical examinations that strip away easy explanations, and an escalating series of shocking, visceral moments. Performances ground the supernatural in real human anguish—Chris’s desperation, Regan’s corruption, and Karras’s crisis of faith—while the ritualized, high-stakes exorcism delivers intense suspense and memorable cinematic images. Expect an atmosphere of dread, powerful sound design, and imagery that has haunted audiences for decades. The film explores themes of faith versus reason, the limits of modern medicine, and the moral cost of confronting pure evil. Viewer advisory: The Exorcist contains disturbing scenes, strong language, and graphic moments that can be upsetting. For those who appreciate horror with emotional depth and philosophical weight, it remains a landmark, profoundly affecting experience.

Actors: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair

Director: William Friedkin

Runtime: 122 min

Genre: Horror

7.6 /10 83 /100 8.1 /10 8.0 /10