I was very young the first time I watched THE EXORCIST. I am not quite sure how young I was but it was not more than 9 or 10 years old. Maybe not the best choice of film for someone of that age but that is an entirely different discussion. It was the very first horror movie I can recall viewing.
THE EXORCIST had a profound affect on me. I grew up going to church so just the basic premise of the movie gave me a chill. After I saw THE EXORCIST I was terrified of the prospect of being possessed by the devil. When I went to bed the closet door absolutely had to be closed; even then I would lay facing the door so I could notice if the door started to open during the night. I would also cover up my head and leave a small hole allowing me to see that closet. For me, the young me anyway, THE EXORCIST will always be the scariest movie ever made.
I have never watched THE EXORCIST as an adult. I am not worried about being scared all over again. No, not at all. I am concerned that I might just find it boring or not worthy of the fear my young mind associated with the film. There are times that nostalgia is better left untainted.
Family legend is that my mom went to see The Exorcist when she was pregnant with me and had to leave the theater because it was making her nauseated.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience with The Shining. I saw *part* of it when I was a kid and it scared the bejebus out of me. It was decades before I managed to watch it—but I'm glad I did. It's of course not as scary, but it's a great film and holds up.
Oh no...that would not be good! I am DEFINITELY going to watch The Exorcist again at some point.
DeleteThis is the one horror movie I actually find to be scary.
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Tim Brannan, The Other Side: 2021: The A to Z of Monsters
My wife’s parents took her with them to see this film when she was a small child...she had intense nightmares for DECADES afterwards.
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