I made a new friend last night. His name is Pazuzu. I first met him when I was 14. He had a role in a movie as a stone statue and as an acorporeal living inside the flesh of a 12 year old girl.

I didn't know his name was Pazuzu, since he called himself 'The Devil'. A sneaky bastard, for sure. For nearly 20 years, I was afraid a eudemon. I remember I was very afraid to watch The Exorcist, due to its reputation. I carefully hid the rented VHS tape under my TV stand, just in case. You can never be sure about those just in cases, so it's always good to be sure about them.

Last night, however, curiosity got the better of me. I decided to revisit an old terror. It amused me. I can say for certainty that The Exorcist has not withstood the test of time. Once you peel the movie apart and figure out what's going on, it's not scary. I also ordered the book, to help me understand it even more. Perhaps the attic noise will be explained. In the movie, there is noise in the attic and the mother believes rats are responsible. I'm curious as to why attic noises had anything to do with the possession.

I disagree. I think The Exorcist has indeed withstood the test of time, and in my opinion it's a masterpiece that really knows what horror and terror is all about. The movie has very little blood, but it knows what true psychological horror is. Great movie, and just as frightening today as the day it was released (in my opinion). Far more frightening than nearly any movie released today (both American and abroad). Beautifully filmed, wonderfully acted, great script... a classic.

cheers,

-avatar!

Gonna agree with avatar! on this one. It's more about the psychological horror and the implications it brings.

I was somewhat into the Catholic faith when I watched it at age 14, and after for about a month, I slept with a bible under my bed. The music still creeps me out.

I've never watched The Exorcist, only seen a few of the more famous scenes. I do love Tubular Bells though. I just finished skimming Wikipedia for the story behind the movie, and was reminded of the Amityville Horror (which I also haven't seen but have read about). Interesting alleged accounts, surrounded by controversy.

What has freaked me out in the past is hearing some of the things my friends, or friends of friends have reported seeing. Much of that came from the early teen years though. For example, someone claiming to have stood before a dark bathroom mirror, saying "Bloody Mary" three times and turning around, and finding a demonic woman's visage reflected back at them.

Anyway, the closest thing to a horror film I'd seen at that age was probably Gremlins, which really isn't scary. More of a comedy now. Oh, and the Critters movies. Those rolling hairballs were awesome.

One one watching of The Exorcist on TV part way through the power went out.  And a bunch of girls down on the lower floor of my building screamed their heads off.  Kinda creepy. =p

I also think it has stood the test of time. Perhaps you were just suuuuuper duper impressionable when you first saw it at age 14?

I first saw it a year ago and was like "oh, so that's why everyone talks about what an important movie this is."

LET JESUS f--- YOU (while jamming a crucifix into the crotch) has got to be the most disturbing thing I've ever seen/heard.

I definitely agree that The Exorcist has withstood the test of time well, its a classic of the horror genre, and one of the few movies of that genre that could rightfully be called an "A" and not a "B"-movie. But...

Antichrist begs to differ!

Hmmm, I heard some good things about Antichrist, and some bad things.
I did really enjoy Riget. That being said, I'm not a LVT fan. However, I would give Antichrist a chance.

cheers,

-avatar!

Just blow on him. I have it on reliable sources that he's weak against wind attack.

A life of videogaming has played absolute havoc with my default perceptions of mythological beings. Sorry.

Sorry, my sources say that he's weak to light. And do not use Ice.

It is still a great movie. It just doesn't scare me anymore (it doesn't withstand the test of time in that sense).

That music kicks so much ass...

Pazuzu...I remembered hearing that name somewhere...

Understandable. But then, is there any film that CAN scare you at this point in your life?

It's like that with video games too. I wouldn't say there are any games now that truly "scare" me like fifteen years ago. Silent Hill puts me on edge, makes me jumpy, but I don't incur nightmares from it. I remember not even wanting to venture into new rooms when I played it the first time. Now it's a delicious thrill.

No movie since the Exorcist has made me afraid while not watching it. Even the VHS tape of the Exorcist made me uncomfortable.

There are movies that can scare me while watching them, but I don't retain the fear afterward. I can retain a feeling of disturbance, but that doesn't cause any problems, such as leaping to the bed (so nothing can grab my ankles) or sleeping with the lights on. I remember clearly, in my old house, a few times of terror before I was 10 years old. Our main TV viewing area was in the finished basement. My parents would often send me to bed first and carry my younger brother up later. When I got upstairs, I didn't dare negotiate the darkened hallway leading to the bedrooms. I stood in the kitchen and waited until I heard my parents walking up the stairs, then I'd dart to my bed.

On the other hand, the basement itself was terrifying. The laundry room was not finished and the entrance was a huge sliding door. My parents would often tell me to bring the dirty laundry downstairs. So I just threw it down the stairs. I got in trouble for that and they made me walk down there and throw it into the laundry room. Those are some of my worst memories and this is the first time I've consciously recalled them.

The scariest thing that ever happened to me was at age 7. My aunt and uncle owned a trailer before they bought a house. I loved going over there because I got to see my cousins and they had cable TV. One time, the movie 'Poltergeist' was playing. After it was over, my uncle made my cousin and I take a nap (forced naps were a part of my childhood). While we were asleep, my uncle slipped into the closet. He banged on the door and I started screaming. He slid out at the bottom, so we couldn't see him, and he started shaking the bed. He must've been having a great time, because the next day....

He told us a clown named Jack lived in his closet. There was a large beach ball in the living room. At the far end of the hallway you could see the entrance to his bedroom. He threw the beach ball down the hallway and it rolled in a little bit. He asked us to get the beach ball. Of course, we didn't set one f---ing foot in that hallway.

I have seen two movies within the past 5 years that gave me the chills while watching them:

1. A Tale of Two Sisters
2. The Eye (Hong Kong version)

There was also a part in Pandorum that made me uncomfortable. In the hunting grounds, people would be eaten alive right after their hypersleep chambers opened. What a pleasant way to wake up. (Imagine if that really happened to you.)

I think the scariest types of movies are the realistic ones, such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It is possible to be killed by someone with a chainsaw, but I wouldn't worry about some asian girl with long black hair killing you just by being within a few meters.