The Exorcist

The Exorcist, released in 1973, has become a classic horror film and a must see for all scary movie lovers! The story is about a 12-year-old girl named Regan living with her mother, who has just finished filming a movie at Georgetown. After Regan plays with a Ouija board and befriends an “imaginary friend” named Captain Howdy, she begins to act strangely: she uses foul language, has abnormal strength, and makes weird noises. Her strange behaviors elevate over time, becoming increasingly dangerous and eventually results in her demon-like appearance. Due to the gruesome and somewhat nauseating possession that overtakes Regan, her mother finally has an exorcist come to the house to get rid of the evil spirit inside of her daughter. Does the demon leave? You’ll have to watch to find out! The Exorcist was so revolutionary and terrifying that it was rumored the set of the movie was cursed! Yes, that’s right! CURSED!!! During the production process, well-known directors turned the movie down due to fear and superstition. The general public was so afraid of the movie that Linda Blair, the child actress who played Regan, had people run away from her in fear during the first couple years following the movie’s release.

The Call

The acclaimed crime thriller movie, The Call, came out in 2013 to shock the public with a fresh horror story on the very real issue of kidnapping. The movie takes place in Los Angeles, where a young girl, Autumn, is kidnapped and thrown into the back of a car by a psychotic serial killer. The heroine of the film, named Jordan, is a veteran 911 operator at the LA Police Department who, because of a past experience with the same killer, becomes traumatized by her work and instead instructs new operators on how to potentially save a life. However, when fate compels her to save the young victim of the murderer, she is able to bring the police closer to the killer. Despite her intelligent suggestions and ideas to bring Autumn out of the hands of the killer, Jordan soon realizes that she is the only one who can catch him because of their past interaction. Towards the end of the movie, Jordan continues to unearth the inner workings of the killer’s brain, discovering the purpose behind his twisted, unnatural and disturbing intentions. How does a 911 operator come face to face with a serial killer, and DO SHE AND AUTUMN SURVIVE?… I guess it’s time for another date with your TV to find out!

Scary Movies Today Compared to the Past

The Exorcist still holds up as a scary movie today! Yes, the special effects aren’t as good as today’s special effects; yes, the general public has seen movies with plots about exorcisms and the devil. However, the terrifying storyline, spooky jump scares, chilling music and sickening possession makes this movie a classic!

Modern day horror films have worked to make the effects, the situations, and sometimes the overall story more relatable to the public in an attempt to cultivate the greatest amount of fear. More fear? More talk. More talk? More advertising. The real situations found in The Call are not only terrifying but can also be educational. One scene places Autumn in the trunk of the murderer’s car, where she is panicked for her life and begs Jordan for her help; Jordan advises her to kick out one of the car’s tail lights and spill paint out of the hole to signal for help. This scene not only provides suspense but also provides people with the information on how to survive and fight back if they were ever put in that type of situation.

Overall, it suffices to say that there will always be new horror movies and the scare factor will continue to be pushed using new special effects and sound. However, when it comes to the classics, there are some horror movies that withstand the test of time.