RATING Out of 100

I've never found "devil movies" to be very scary. Most I've seen are laughable, in fact. Except for this one. The opening sets some of the groundwork for later in the film--the man we later find out to be Father Marin (von Sydow) and the lead priest in the exorcism of Regan is digging in the dirt in the Middle East. A little statue is found--a rendering of Pazuzu, a demon of Babylonian origin I believe. It is implied that this is the same demon that takes posession of Regan.

While the story lags in parts, the acting is well done. Chris as the frustrated and frayed mother shows her raw rattled nerves with her quick snaps of anger and desperation.

Sound is a whole effective character in this movie too. Sudden bursts of LOUD shrieking, animal noises, groans, or other hellish sounds emanate from Regan. These grating effects serve to keep the viewer disjointed and frazzled.

The single scariest scene in the movie is one which not everyone catches. It comes very fast--just a flash really--and I believe it was an attempt at a subliminal image. It comes during a dream sequence when Karras is watching his old mother, from behind, descend down a stairway into a subway. Suddenly, flashed on the screen is a horrible painted lurid face. After all the special effects and projectile vomiting and screaming, it is this image that I immediately think of when I see or hear of the film. A warning to anyone who is a very devoted Christian--there is one scene that my be particularly shocking, and is shocking to most viewers regardless of their faith or lack thereof. This is the infamous crucifix masturbation scene in which Regan violently rams a crucifix into herself repeatedly, while yelling "Let Jesus f*ck you!" She then pulls her mother's face to her groin and exhorts her to "Lick me!

Almost everyone I know lists this movie as one if not THE scariest film they've seen. I highly recommend it and strongly suggest you view it with someone in a bright, sun-filled room.