Martin Scorsese Hailed The Exorcist as ‘Utterly Horrifying’

by

A truly remarkable, yet often overlooked, figure from the New Hollywood period is the director William Friedkin. Though admired by many film lovers and experts worldwide, he often lived in the shadow of the so-called ‘movie brats’ of the 1970s, who consistently grabbed headlines with each new release. Filmmakers like Spielberg, , Coppola, De Palma, and Lucas were fundamentally reshaping cinema with their innovative and genre-bending movies. While De Palma’s horror and thriller films are often seen as genre-defining classics, other significant horror directors were also emerging with important work in the 1970s. John Carpenter is a prime example, but so is William Friedkin. Friedkin could be considered an unofficial ‘movie brat,’ as were other ambitious genre directors who rose to prominence during the wave of new filmmaking that swept through American cinema.

I’ve always been a huge fan of William Friedkin, and it’s a shame that so many of his later films don’t get the recognition they deserve. After the ’70s, he continued to make movies, but a lot of people seem to have forgotten just how brilliant he was. He gave us classics like The French Connection, Sorcerer and To Live and Die in L.A., and honestly, he was as important as anyone in shaping genre films for the last fifty years. It’s amazing to think that even in 2011, he was *still* making films that were bold and really got under your skin. He didn’t get quite as much buzz as the other ‘movie brats’ after the ’70s, but he was still a major force in cinema throughout the ’80s, too. Of course, he’s probably best known for his 1973 horror , which so many people – including fellow ‘movie brat’ Martin Scorsese – still consider the greatest horror film of all time.

The Exorcist Changed Supernatural Horror Movies Forever

The horror genre is constantly evolving, making it one of the most dynamic in film. With countless ideas, narratives, and subgenres, horror has transformed over time like no other. Similar to many genres, the 1970s brought significant changes. Although the slasher subgenre was developing then, other types of horror films continued to be made, permanently altering the genre. Key horror films that defined their respective subgenres include Halloween, The Last House on the Left, Dawn of the Dead, The Omen, The Hills Have Eyes and Carrie, to name a few. When it comes to supernatural horror, though, The Exorcist was incredibly important, and it fundamentally changed how audiences experienced horror films.

It wasn’t just incredibly frightening, but it was also made during the ’70s. What’s still impressive today is how the film created its effects using practical methods – they’re as shocking, unsettling, and disturbing as anything you’ll find in the horror genre. The movie also creates a deeply unsettling feeling that the evil shown in The Exorcist will never end. While possession movies are now common, particularly in the 21st century, they all borrow from the themes, imagery, and atmosphere of the original 1973 supernatural film that redefined the genre.

While The Exorcist wasn’t the only supernatural horror film of 1973, this type of movie actually dates back to the very beginning of cinema. However, the 1970s marked a turning point, and the depiction of supernatural themes became genuinely terrifying for viewers. Other notable examples include Carrie and The Amityville Horror. Each film offered a unique style of horror or introduced new ideas that would later influence other scary movies. Nevertheless, all of these films followed William Friedkin’s groundbreaking supernatural horror film from 1973, which really set the standard for the genre.

Following the success of The Exorcist, which received Academy Award nominations and other honors, other film studios began creating their own supernatural horror movies. These films built on the popularity started by The Exorcist and contributed to the development of the horror genre, shaping the kinds of films viewers enjoy today. The genre evolved further in the ’80s with movies like Evil Dead and again in the ’90s with , but that’s what makes horror so compelling.

Horror is unique because it consistently changes and adapts to what audiences want. While the genre evolves, modern horror films still clearly build upon the groundbreaking work of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, released in 1973.

Martin Scorsese Thinks The Exorcist Is a Uniquely Horrifying Experience

I’ve always been fascinated by how directors approach different genres, and while he’s worked across so many, he’s particularly passionate about horror – it’s where he’s had some of his most memorable moviegoing experiences. He’s even dipped his toes into the horror thriller world himself, and there’s talk he might be doing another one soon, potentially with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence! People really connect with his films, even those that just brush up against horror, like Cape Fear and Shutter Island, so I think his opinions on other great movies really carry weight with fans. It’s natural to trust his taste!

Martin Scorsese has often been asked about the scariest movies, and he consistently highlights The Exorcist. He doesn’t just mention the film, but stresses how powerfully it affected viewers. Scorsese once described The Exorcist as “utterly horrifying,” adding that it remains just as frightening now as it was in 1973. He rightly points out that what makes The Exorcist so remarkable – its ability to still terrify – is something special to this 1973 film.

As a huge cinema fan, I’ve noticed something amazing about The Exorcist. Even today, most people seeing it for the first time react pretty much the same way audiences did back in 1973! It’s rare for a horror film to have that kind of lasting impact, and it really highlights just how special and unique it still is. It’s not often a film can still deliver the same scares decades later, and that’s a testament to its power.

He really enjoys the sequel, The Exorcist II, and actually thinks it’s better than the first movie. However, The Exorcist remains unique because it was the first film of its type. The movie tells the story of a young girl possessed by a demon, and it delves into difficult subjects like faith, sin, and the struggle between good and evil within people. Regan MacNeil is the girl tormented by the demon, and her mother, Chris (Ellen Burstyn), has to go through the most terrifying ordeal imaginable. It’s something no parent should ever see, and no child should ever have to experience.

The core of what makes The Exorcist so effective lies in how it portrays Regan MacNeil’s terrifying ordeal, and Friedkin’s direction is still considered a landmark achievement in the horror genre. The film doesn’t rely on jump scares; instead, it gradually builds suspense as the demonic possession intensifies, and this slow transformation makes each scene in Regan’s bedroom deeply unsettling for viewers. Beyond the mounting tension, the film’s disturbing visuals are powerful enough to shock, repulse, and make audiences question their decision to watch.

The film has a powerful and lasting effect on viewers, deeply impacting them. While audiences may not *want* the experience to stay with them, that’s precisely what happens with The Exorcist, solidifying its place as one of the scariest movies ever made.

Supernatural Horror Mimics Everything From The Exorcist

Most supernatural horror movies released today borrow heavily from The Exorcist. What makes the 1973 film stand out – and has continued to influence many modern supernatural horror films – is its unique approach. Although not all supernatural horror movies use the shocking and graphic imagery associated with body horror, nearly every contemporary horror film includes some form of intense, frightening visuals. This influence can be traced back to The Exorcist and the films it directly inspired during the ’70s and ’80s.

While The Exorcist has been directly copied and even had sequels made, it also essentially launched an entire movie genre. The unique ‘possession movie’ style we see in films like The Possession, The Conjuring, and The Last Exorcism, and many others, all originated with it. Though numerous films from the ’70s spawned their own horror sub-genres, The Exorcist feels particularly pervasive – audiences can find its influence in countless movies if they pay close attention. This is especially clear when considering William Friedkin’s film and its undeniable, lasting impact, even more than fifty years after its release.

Read More

2025-09-30 00:52