The Exorcist Reaction
Added 2024-10-08 18:42:38 +0000 UTC
Comments
Poor Chi and Hella. You both dove headfirst into this movie. Both of you were terrified. And Hella always one short step from actually being a character in the movies they watch. Had Hella been in this movie the demon wouldn't have stood a chance.
Derek Toth
2025-04-01 04:23:29 +0000 UTCYou guys should always begin with the original, theatrical version. This one has additional scenes and additional special effects, and a new, really dopey ending. Me no gusto. This movie was a world-wide hit when it came out and doesn't need any help being great. Keep on rockin
tommylegless
2025-03-24 01:27:53 +0000 UTCThe Mom in this is actually the same actress as the old version of the daughter, Murphy, in Interstellar.
Tucci
2024-10-23 21:39:28 +0000 UTCScary Movie 2 lol
Jermz H
2024-10-17 04:26:34 +0000 UTCThis is a classic! The movie was adapted by William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel of the same name. Aspects of the novel were inspired by the 1949 exorcism performed on an anonymous boy known as "Roland Doe" or "Robbie Mannheim" by the Jesuit priest William S. Bowdern. The true identity of the boy was revealed in late 2021 (after his death in 2020): His real name was Ronald Edwin Hunkeler, who grew to be a successful NASA engineer. He contributed to the famous Apollo missions of the 1960s, and helped to put humans on the moon in 1969 by patenting the technology that helped space shuttle panels withstand extreme heat. He never discussed his experiences and stayed away from the limelight. The debate over whether it was a genuine possession or mental illness is still ongoing, however. Though never said in the movie, the demon's name is Pazuzu, who's statue was uncovered by Father Merrin in northern Iraq at the beginning (which is when I believe it was released after being gone for some time). Blatty derived the character from Assyrian and Babylonian mythology, where Pazuzu was considered the king of the demons of the wind and the son of the god Hanbi. It's implied Regan got possessed through the Ouija board, which is not an evil object in itself but a tool to be used for a person to invite (good) spirits into their lives. She was not chosen for any special reason, she just happened to be a good candidate because she was an innocent that the demon could corrupt to push Father Karras and destroy his faith. Also, in the novel, Chris deducts that the demon's alias of "Captain Howdy" was a play on the name of Regan's father, Howard, so her being the child of divorce/absentee father, probably made her an even better candidate. Lastly, her and her mother not being religious (aka atheists) is the big irony according to Blatty. Father Merrin's only connection to Regan is that she was possessed by Pazuzu, a demon he fought previously in Africa, as told by the other priests (it is stated it took a few months and nearly killed him), and encountered signs of again in Iraq. The demon was mad that Merrin bested him years ago and it wanted a rematch. The statue at the beginning was just a signal to Merrin that round 2 was starting and he better get ready. As soon as he walked into the house the demon shouted his name like in the recording. It also wanted to prove its superiority by taking on two priests as once. The movie centered around the MacNeil family but its target was Merrin and Karras the whole time. Karras was probably the main target 'cause he was a priest strugglimg with his faith and Merrin was the secondary target who the demon wanted to face again. The movie is called the ExorcisT (Karras and Merrin) after all, not The ExorcisM. There are several interesting and/or disturbing facts about the making of the movie. The director, William Friedkin, insisted on realism, including casting real priests and medical professionals. Crew also said he was temperamental, often firing people without warning. He went to great lengths to manipulate the actors to get genuine reactions, like actually putting the set where the exorcism took place to temperatures down to −20°F (−29°C) to make their breath visible, and slapping them or firing blanks without warning. This behaviour led the crew to call him "Wacky Willy". Ironically, Friedkin's office was at 666th (the Devil's number) Fifth Avenue in New York. A fire destroyed most of the set (except for Regan's bedroom), some of the crew and their family members died (along with the assistant cameraman's newborn child), Linda Blair (Regan) & Ellen Burstyn (Chris) suffered accidental long-term back & spinal injuries and actors Jack MacGowran (Father Dyer) and Vasiliki Maliaros (Father Karras's mother) both died before the movie was released. Production took twice as long as scheduled and cost almost three times the initial budget. The accidents and deaths have made some people believe that the movie was cursed. Once the movie was released, many people in the audience fainted, vomited, ran out of the theater or had to be carried out in a stretcher. This was in mainly two scenes; when Regan undergoes a carotid angiography/arteriogram, in which a needle inserted into Regan's neck spurts blood, and the crucifix masturbation scene. The angiography scene caused audiences the most discomfort, most likely because they could identify with that more than being possessed by a demon. This procedure entails cerebrospinal fluid being drained to a small amount from around the brain and replaced with air, oxygen, or helium to allow the structure of the brain to show up more clearly on an X-ray picture. Medical professionals have described the scene, to reflect changes in medicine, as a realistic depiction of the procedure. Friedkin even claimed that the scene was used to train radiologists for years after the movie's release. And to make it more disturbing, the blonde bearded man who assists the doctor during the procedure is Paul Bateson. He was an X-ray technician at NYU Medical Center where that scene was shot and got to be an extra. In 1979, he was convicted of the murder of Addison Verrill, a film critic, and was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison. Bateson ultimately served 24 years and was released on parole in 2003. But he also became the prime suspect in what were known as the "the bag murders" from 1977-1978, in which six male victims were mutilated and dismembered, their remains wrapped in black plastic bags and dumped in the Hudson River. He actually bragged how he picked up men in gay bars, had sex with them and then murdered & dismembered their bodies and put them into plastic bags "for fun". Although investigators believed his story, he was never officially charged and those murders have never been solved. These murders were the inspiration for another one of William Friedkins movies, Cruising from 1980, starring Al Pacino. The infamous spider-walk down the stairs scene originally showed Regan sticking out a long, snakelike tongue and attacking the nanny (see here: https://youtu.be/Av4VVFgFJlA?si=EVFHXFPqoKX4r0US). However, it was cut from the theatrical version just before it was released because Friedkin believied it was too early in the movie for such a drastic effect on Regan to be visible and because there was no way to hide the wires from the harness. Almost 30 years later, he changed his mind and added the scene back for the extended 2000 version, with the wires digitally removed but instead showing Regan with blood flowing from her mouth (which is the version you watched). Here is a short behind the scenes: https://youtu.be/5Kc5spVvWdY?si=QJaa8DM0Ba9mTTIL. The scene is often miscredited to Linda Hager but the stunt was actually performed by Ann Miles. Some people prefer to not have either scene because then all the demonic activity only takes place in Regan's bedroom, but that's not true. Regan/the demon peed and said "You're gonna die up there" in the living room, she played with the Ouija board in the basement and the clay statue she made was found outside by the foot of the stairs. The voice of the demon was mostly portrayed by Mercedes McCambridge, who went to extreme lengths to perfect the distorted voice. She was an alcoholic who actually gave up sobriety for her voice to sound like that (she insisted that her priest be present to counsel her during the process), along with chain-smoking, eating raw eggs and, at Friedkin's direction, she was physically bound to a chair with pieces of a torn sheet at her neck, arms, wrists, legs and feet (and making sounds while struggling against its restraints). She ended up suing the director and Warner Bros because they didn't credit her for the voice of the demon. Additionally, Linda Blair’s double, Eileen Dietz, also sued for not being credited for the vomiting sequences. Linda Blair received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Oscars before it was known that she didn't actually provide the voice of the demon. The rules said once she was given the nomination it could not be withdrawn, but the controversy about her being given credit for another actress' work probably ruined her chances of winning unfortunately. The movie is also the first horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture and it won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. The movie is notable for its bizarre sound effects and, in some instances, a complete lack of sound. A disturbing fact is that the sound of the demon leaving Regan's body is actually the sound of pigs being herded for slaughter. This alludes to a story in the New Testament where Jesus cast out several demons, collectively called Legion, from a man and transfers them into the bodies of pigs who are then drowned, similar to Father Karras dying after accepting the demon. The scene where Regan vomits on Father Karras only took one take. It was intended to hit the actor in the chest, but the plastic tubing misfired, hitting him in the face. His reaction of shock and disgust while wiping away the vomit is genuine. There are several sequels/prequels and a TV show. The latest sequel, called The Exorcist: Believer, just came out last year. Ellen Burstyn (Chris, the mum) and Linda Blair (Regan, the daughter) are both in it, but obviously it takes place in present day.
Heida
2024-10-16 05:26:17 +0000 UTCAnd 28 weeks later :)
TheTrueEdge
2024-10-16 02:34:51 +0000 UTCThere are 2 versions of this because of the spider crawling scene which is on “The version you never seen” Which I have them on DVD.
Matt Rudd
2024-10-15 19:37:26 +0000 UTCYes! The Exorcist is my favorite classic movie of all time! I always watched it every day and night!
Matt Rudd
2024-10-15 19:35:12 +0000 UTCSure, but this is the original from '73. Perhaps an extended cut, I don't remember, but this is not a remake.
phoenix241
2024-10-12 16:06:52 +0000 UTCFrom what I remember there was a longer, 8-minute scene of them talking. Friedken said the dialogue was brilliant but it messed up the pacing of the film, so he had to leave it out (I could be getting the details of that story wrong)
Henry N.
2024-10-10 16:53:31 +0000 UTCThere is a still camera shot from the front cover of a VHS or DVD when the older priest arrives and stops. I remember it well. Movie has still not been re-imagined well. Hollywood, please STOP! Haha. Leave the classics alone. Some movies just can't be remade.
Wxyz@73
2024-10-10 14:52:29 +0000 UTCI kind of like the interpretation that the demon Pazuzu (the demon represented by the statue in Iraq) is the same demon that Merrin fought before more. That the demon basically wants revenge. That in the scene in Iraq Pazuzu sends Merrin a subliminal message that the two will meet again soon. That would also explain Merrin's sometimes strange behavior a little. The Ouija board theory makes sense, but it could just as well be a coincidence. I can just as easily live with the fact that Regan was chosen by Pazuzu by chance. That demons just want to spread pain and despair. Rob Ager did a very good analysis of the Iraq part of The Exorcist. Yes, some of his conclusions are far-fetched (which he often admits) but he also often has a good point and draws attention to many small details that are easily missed. It's definitely worth watching. https://youtu.be/bGoiF4JvmHM?si=sN9dbIgIqzVl64hY
Digitalversager
2024-10-10 10:03:35 +0000 UTCSeventh seal is one of my favorite films. He was a legendary actor which goes without saying. But I was talking specifically about Karras, who also technically plays an exorcist in the film. And for me is the main hero of the film. Though each character is heroic, in their own way. You're right that Merrin is probably "The Exorcist", and is most likely the guy on the cover of the film. But to me the distinction is unimportant, as Karras' final moment of complete sacrifice to save the innocent girl (who at that point he only knows as a demon) for me is part of what makes the film so powerful. And there is a direct parallel to Mathew and the death of Christ (in my opinion, I'm not religious in any way, don't crucify me if that interpretation is lacking)
Henry N.
2024-10-10 06:47:37 +0000 UTCAs an adjunct to your comment, Max Von Sydow was actually young in this movie, they just put him in old makeup. It's funny because I'd see him in more recent stuff and think "huh, he's been old for a long time" until I learned that fact about this movie.
Alex Anderson
2024-10-10 05:53:08 +0000 UTCAfter watching the reaction, I wouldn't think Tien is, because she seemed very unfamiliar with things associated with Christianity. Most of the Christians in Vietnam are Catholics.
Edward Olson
2024-10-10 04:56:11 +0000 UTCUm, you mean Father Merrin played by Max Von Sydow? He's the Exorcist in the film and he has been in dozens and dozens of films. Father Kerras is assisting him. I've seen him in half a dozen films, including Rudy and Light of Day (not to mention his appearing in Exorcist III).
Edward Olson
2024-10-10 04:54:28 +0000 UTCI'm hearing a lot of people say Psycho, and even though that would be a great film for Halloween, and also a chance to become more familiar with Black/White old cinema, I still think Rear Window would be the best film to start with for a Hitchcock film, especially knowing your movie tastes. And the technicolor from rear window is will probably be like nothing you've ever seen in a fim... With being said my dad watched Psycho in theaters when he was a young child, and it was for him the most terrify experience of his life. The only other films that approached it were Alien and The Exorcist. I didn't watch those films until I was a teenager but simply from listening to my dad talk about the films I would get terrible nightmares when I was around 6 or 7. I don't know why I'm throwing this out there but a fantastic modern horr fim is the Witch.. okay had a few drinks sorry for the essay
Henry N.
2024-10-10 03:58:21 +0000 UTCPsycho (1960) definitely holds up. It’s an excellent movie. If for nothing else, the Saul Bass and Bernard Herrmann opening credits! A work of art itself. https://youtu.be/aj6aBuC1Lb8?si=G7fTv6vgK_JYUPnm
Duncan
2024-10-10 02:29:04 +0000 UTCWell, that was fun. I don't know which is worse the barfing scenes, or the thought of that butterfly poking you in the eye. lol I turned my head to yall so i didn't see the puke, and then had to look away all together so I didn't see the butterfly stab you in the eye. Its a real phobia for me: getting poked in the eye. Looks pretty though. Glad it didn't. I would have puked. lololol Have fun yall.
bernard henderson
2024-10-10 01:14:35 +0000 UTCI maybe wrong but I always took the Ho Chi Min story line as a reference to the Kent state murders where 4 college kids were killed on campus during an anti-vietnam war demonstration.
Cornelius P. Stranglefart, Attorney at Law D.D.S.
2024-10-10 01:02:29 +0000 UTCLike others have said, Psycho (1960) would be a great reaction, it is the blueprint for what horror movies would become and still holds up, Psycho II (1983) is also really good
Jonathan Kidman
2024-10-09 23:26:09 +0000 UTCNice! I love the Thing. I'll have to check it out. Love your costumes.
Cornelius P. Stranglefart, Attorney at Law D.D.S.
2024-10-09 23:03:14 +0000 UTChttps://youtu.be/gXMM7gejRXg?si=K50pM2Ey3UEpfnIZ
Duncan
2024-10-09 22:52:40 +0000 UTCThat’s one of the shortest and best scenes in it. The scene when they’re sitting on the stairs, exhausted.
Duncan
2024-10-09 22:47:16 +0000 UTCIn my opinion, of the greatest and most intense movies ever made. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable and full of dread than when I’ve gone through this. (not one of my favourite movies ever - because it’s a very difficult experience), but nevertheless, one of the best. The themes of maternal despair, the themes of Karras’ lost faith, the way it’s played just as a character driven drama all the way through (until the final act, obviously)…. There’s a very good documentary about this movie (The Fear Of God). 1998, by Mark Kermode (or was that Stuart Lee, or Morrissey…?) “Do you know what she did? Your ****ing daughter??” ….. (Hella - “wft did I just watch??” is great commentary, by the way 😂)
Duncan
2024-10-09 22:36:42 +0000 UTCYes, that's true. Merrin even said something like that when Karras wondered "why her"; that the point was to make us despair by taking the most innocent and corrupting them.
phoenix241
2024-10-09 15:39:21 +0000 UTCI agree but those are all just devices to move the plot along. As I said in a (drunk) post last night, I don't think it's just her being "unlucky", or some arbitrary act, but directly about the clash between innocence and malevolence. e The Devil specifically chooses her because of her innonence (sure there was some bad luck involved - not denying that.) There's a juxtaposition there, the ultimate innocence of a child becomes the vessel for unspeakable evil. Everyone's faith is tested in the film.
Henry N.
2024-10-09 15:28:26 +0000 UTCMy impression is that in the opening scene with Father Merrin in Iraq, they find, and accidentally release the demon by opening the tomb where the little statue was stored next to a protection amulet (the coin-like thing). Merrin ends up taking the shiny coin with him and eventually lose it inside Regan's room at the end. So, the coin is protection which is why Dyer wanted Regan's mother to keep it in the end. Then, Regan just happens to play with the ouija board and accidentally calls the released demon to her. She was just unlucky as the demon was looking for anyone vulnerable to being possessed. That's how I understood this movie, anyway.
phoenix241
2024-10-09 13:20:10 +0000 UTCI think before 'Scary Movie', you need to watch at least 'Scream' and 'I know what you did Last Summer', and before 'Scream' you need at least 'Friday the 13th', 'Psycho', 'Halloween' and 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'. Hopefully they do get to a few of these.
S M
2024-10-09 09:03:03 +0000 UTCA few more specific horror movies and you'll be ready for the "Scary Movie" comedies lol
Brandon
2024-10-09 07:49:08 +0000 UTCAbout 7.5% of Vietnamese people (about 7 million) are Catholic.
Edward Olson
2024-10-09 06:02:38 +0000 UTCPlease watch Scary Movie 2. It is a comedy parody of the Exorcist and other scary movies.
Anthony Simmons
2024-10-09 05:30:52 +0000 UTChahaha Wow Tien didn't know it was going to be a horror movie, priceless... I love the Munchie's reactions, they are honest and innocent. Keep reacting to horror and bring Tien all the time. I agree with King Bob, do not react to Exorcist 2 and 3, there are confusing films, not worth it - unless they already reacted to those? we never know, lol My suggestion is: FRIGHT NIGHT ( 1985 ) and A.I. Artificial Intelligence ( 2001 ) thanks
Ervin Cortez
2024-10-09 05:02:57 +0000 UTCEven when nothing big is happening there's still a nervous atmosphere that permeates each moment of the film. The scene with her walking down the street, she sees the nuns, the two priests talking, Tubular bells playing in the background... there's something unsettling about a horror film centered around religious themes and imagery. In America everyone (or most) grows up to recognize those images as sacred or at least pure, and Friedkin knows that and completely subverts it to scare the fuck out of the audience. Even the disorienting way he uses sound when transitioning from scene to scene knocks us off guard. The way he places objects (photo of the daughter praying, Christian statues) in the periphery of our vision to suggest something (though what exactlyy?) quietly unsettling us... I'm only 20 minutes in but this is what I've noticed so far. Part of me wishes I could have watched this in the 70s and part of me is happy I can't. 1 hour in.... The pacing is immaculate. Just speaking to the themes in the film, I'm starting to remember that not only does Reagan go through a transformation, but the other characters do as well. There is a conflict between science and faith, modernity and tradition, absurdity and reason and of course innocent good vs pure evil. The mother's performance is harrowing, for me by far the most distressing part of the film. (the visual effects are less shocking than the last time I watched tbh, luckily the film relies on much more than its effects) Reagan seems to represent purity and innocence and its total destruction (and perverse sexual corruption, leaning into the religious theme, which may answer your question about why he chose Reagan) by an external force, the mother and priest representing the very human struggle against that destruction, a struggle which is both internal and external. The priest's transformation from slight cowardice to courage and then his final sacrifice, becomes an almost Christ-like character, though necessary to ultimately triumph over the antagonist. And does Reagan regain her innocence at the end? definitely a film that makes you think. I now remember why I thought it was the smartest horror film I've seen, I'm sure I would have more thoughts, but I wrote most of this while drunk, sorry. I edit: also the actor playing the exorcist gives such a dignified performance. I don't think I've seen him in any other film
Henry N.
2024-10-09 03:00:45 +0000 UTCDon't watch exorcist 2, it is often considered to be one of the worst films ever made. The Exorcist III is ok.
King Bob
2024-10-08 23:57:02 +0000 UTCHow about a reaction to "Psycho" with Chi and you two?
Alex Anderson
2024-10-08 23:09:42 +0000 UTCOh man, that would be good.
Cornelius P. Stranglefart, Attorney at Law D.D.S.
2024-10-08 22:56:04 +0000 UTCSuch a cute intro to a horror reaction, I thought for the first few seconds you'd uploaded the wrong reaction.😅 I saw The Exorcist for the first time when I was 13, and the movie gave me real nightmares. At the time it came to the cinema. it was considered the scariest movie of all time. Rumor has it that many moviegoers left the cinema early because the movie was too much for them. The movie doesn't need a lot of jump scares, I think it builds a mood up in the second half which makes you feel constantly uneasy. Not many movies manage that. It's difficult to judge the father. He lives in Europe, which isn't exactly around the corner, and one can assume that the divorce wasn't as peaceful as Regan's mother makes it seem. The father asks what's wrong with Regan on the phone, but the mother doesn't tell him. They always say that demons possess children because children are innocent and that that hurt the people around them the most and it makes them doubt God. They then ask themself how can God allow something like this to happen to an innocent child, etc. What I always find nice is the little detail at the end of the movie. The mother tells the priest that Regan doesn't remember anything, but when Regan sees the priest's collar shortly afterwards, she hugs him and gives him a kiss. I think that she is subconsciously remembering Father Merrin and Karras and that they saved her. Yes, there are sequel movies, but they really aren't good. It's better to watch The Exorcist as a standalone movie and just forget that the other parts exist.😅 That was an awesome reaction ladies as always, you are the best!💜
Digitalversager
2024-10-08 22:22:58 +0000 UTC28 Days Later (2002) would be good for horror season!
Gadvance
2024-10-08 22:04:30 +0000 UTCOh, William Friedkin would also fire a gun on set (with blanks) to get the actors to show a genuine look of surprise or fear on their faces.
Steven Roy
2024-10-08 22:01:53 +0000 UTCI have a story about watching this film for the first time. I was just in the first grade, so only 6 years old. My much older brother knew I loved monster movies, like Godzilla and Frankenstein and Creature from the Black Lagoon, so, once when my parents were away, he asked, "Do you want to watch a monster movie?" Of course I said, "Sure." He said, "if I watch it, I can't tell my parents he let me watch it." I swore to keep it a secret, so he showed me The Exorcist. Of course, as such a small kid, I was terrified and watched most of the film from behind the couch. But, I think watching the film really instilled a love of horror movies in me. I never told my parents, but I got in trouble at school for just telling other kids about the movie. The Exorcist is based on a book by William Peter Blatty. Blatty is a very religious Catholic, and I think he really believes in this stuff, and based his book on "true" accounts of exorcisms. Blatty wrote the script for the film and won an Academy Award. EXORCIST 2 is a really terrible film and Blatty wouldn't have anything to do with it. I suggest no one have anything to do with it. Haha. But, EXORCIST 3, Blatty returned to write and direct the film, and I think it's another magnificent film. WIlliam Friedkin, who directed the first film, is really a great director. I really love his film SORCEROR, but it came out the same year as Star Wars so not too many people remember it, or at least I rarely hear it talked about. I really loved this reaction. Tien and Hella are so empathetic. It's fun to watch them be tortured by horror films, and I laughed so hard at 01:38 when Hella suggested they put the old landline phone on silent/vibrate.
Steven Roy
2024-10-08 21:58:45 +0000 UTCThe Amityville Horror(1979) would be a good watch.
Manospondylus
2024-10-08 21:32:58 +0000 UTCOh she is? I expect that isn't very common in Vietnam.
Manospondylus
2024-10-08 21:28:27 +0000 UTCA classic lets gooo. I never know if this one will scare people because the effects are slightly outdated. But it's still a shocking film, and one of the smartest horror films ever made. I actually think it has an extremely moving/heroic ending. My father saw it in theaters back in the 70s and apparently people were passing out/vomiting. For me Rosemary's Baby might be the only "classic" horror film that tops this. There are some more obscure horror films I love that are on par with these.
Henry N.
2024-10-08 18:54:58 +0000 UTCUh oh. Tien is a Christian and reacting to this. Might be really scary for her. This movie has been number 1 on most of the lists of scariest movies of all time for over 50 years. At the time it came out, it was so scary and so graphic that it was originally rated X. People in 1973 simply were not ready for this movie. It’s still a great movie no matter how many years have passed.
Noal McInnis
2024-10-08 18:52:53 +0000 UTCLadies could we do a reaction to Chernobyl mini series, it’s fantastic 😊
Joshua Christian
2024-10-08 18:48:07 +0000 UTC
