This film is everything one horror movie need to be, I will say it like that, I've watched almost every descent(and worse) horror movie and I know one thing-if a movie needs 200 jump scares to scare you it isn't that great.The exorcist is really scary just from the story events and if you believe in such things you will and you are religious you will find it scary too.

Every little thing about this movie seems to have had a purpose, creating the perfect mood. Even just the first scene with the boy running is perfectly crafted. The way that the camera follows him and switches angles gives the audience a nervous feeling to dive into the movie with. The beginning of the movie is incredibly well-done in terms of sound as well. The diegetic commotion surrounding Father Merrin followed by almost complete silence until the non-diegetic, intense music is played when he faces the demon statue works very well to create an uneasy feel. The play with sound to create a mood is apparent throughout the film, especially with Regan's different, haunted voices and noises. It is not just sound that makes this movie extraordinary. The cinematography and editing are incredible. As the audience, we experience everything from excellent moving close up shots like in the subway with Father Damien walking to incredible, very quick editing to create a creepy feel to Father Damien's dream. The lighting throughout the film is also impressive and gets progressively darker following Regan's psychological state. Of course, the exorcism scenes themselves are also very well-done, combining all of the aspects previously discussed to create a terribly intense, horrific feel. I appreciated how this film actually followed a story unlike many horror movies today that really just feature jump scares. We are immersed in Regan's life as she battles what is inside her, and we become invested in the well-being of the characters we see. As a horror movie lover, this movie leaves me wanting to watch it again and again, appreciating the incredible artwork that made it the haunted film it is.

To this day it still seems like the best horror film in history.

After many years, watched it again (since it just appeared on HBO).Was very much looking forward to the horror it inspired 20 plus years ago.1st, the good: The acting is fine. Polished professionals.OK, now the "horror".When Regan threw up, her head turned 180 degrees, lifted the bed, said nasty things, etc...sorry, I laughed. Mild terror for a second, but then, amusement.Now in fairness, I'm a cafeteria Catholic (I believe in some aspects of religion, and at the same time know the earth to be billions of years old, not a the few thousand as the Bible claims).I don't believe in a Devil or evil spirits, and find possession as real as the alien in the movie "Alien". Prove it. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof".