Any member of Generation X will likely name William Friedkin’s 1973 masterpiece, ‘The Exorcist’ when asked what the scariest horror film is. This movie revolutionized the horror genre and had a profound cultural impact. Why was ‘The Exorcist’ so special? Following the horrible story of Linda Blair’s character, 12-year-old Regan, it became a cornerstone of possession narratives.
To successfully convey its spooky themes, the movie made use of cutting-edge practical effects and special effects makeup. Friedkin stated in a 2023 interview with Vanity Fai that Alain Resnais’s artwork served as the source of his inspiration for using subliminal imagery. Throughout the movie, he incorporated unnoticed sounds and clips that might not be heard by viewers but have an unconscious impact.
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‘The Exorcist’ had such a groundbreaking visual impact that it was frequently mentioned as a major factor in the ‘Satanic Panic’ of the 1970s. A fleeting appearance of a demon during Father Karras’ dream sequence and Regan’s horrific fits is one of the movie’s most memorable scenes. This startling photo was taken during a makeup test with Linda Blair’s stunt duplicate, Eileen Dietz. Dietz’s horrifying white face and eerie features were added to the film stills to intensify the terror.
Inspired by Resnais’ methods, Friedkin employs subliminal messaging to give viewers a confusing and unnerving experience. The film’s sense of dread is enhanced by Dietz’s terrible appearance and spooky sound design, which includes the unnerving buzz of insects. Even while ‘The Exorcist’ contains many gory scenes of demonic possession, its subliminal aspects are essential to creating a continuous feeling of anxiety, making it a landmark horror movie that employs avant-garde methods to evoke fear.
–Farheen Ali