SMITH: THE EXORIST TURNS 40

image credit: Stephen Whitmore from DirectTVDeal.com
This is by Alex Smith -- hope you enjoy it, I did.

In the year 1973, society, as we now know it, was shaped in ways that, at the time, were almost unimaginable. Countries around the word experienced a plethora of financial hardships, most notably caused by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) restricting oil flow, which caused gas prices to increase nearly 200%. Roe vs. Wade made abortion a constitutional American right. Student riots caused Greece to fall under Martial Law. American troops withdrew from Vietnam and Watergate hearings began, placing then-President Richard Nixon in the forefront of public scrutiny.

1973 also ushered in a new era of mainstream film, with the release of one of history’s most terrifying and socially-influential cinema masterpieces: The Exorcist.

Inspired by the 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty, and released to $66.3 million in initial revenue, the Exorcist deals with the demonic possession of 12-year-old Regan McNeil. The story was based upon, reportedly, a true-to-life account which took place in Maryland in 1949. Casting Linda Blair, a relatively unknown child-actor, the film established a new “norm” and set the bar for further horror films. To this day, it remains the foundation by which the genre was built and bears the mark of being the standard by which all others are judged.

Upon its release, The Exorcist ignited a firestorm of religious backlash for what many Catholics believed was a brazen attack on their faith. Its gruesome, grotesque and, sometimes, eerily-realistic footage and plotline, dealing with the rarely-discussed topic of satanic possession, caused many Catholics to renew their faith. The movie was so religiously controversial, in fact, that revered preachers, such as Billy Graham and the Pope, himself, were highly critical of its release, going so far as to refer to it as religious pornography.

The Exorcist, at the time, was also seen as a representation of youth rebellion and women’s revolt. The female protagonist, played by Blair, while possessed by the devil, rebelled against parental authority and the commands of moral character, portrayed in the form of Father Karras. Viewing her possession as a kind of manifestation of the ‘70s teenager, Blair’s character displayed strong sexuality, violent rage and feminist traits, which can be seen in overtones throughout the film. This connotation was also mirrored by famed horror writer Stephen King, who stated in his non-fiction essay collection Danse Macabre that it was The Exorcist was very much of its time, being “aptly suited in the wake of the youth upheavals of the late 1960s and early '70s.”

To date, the film which thrust director William Friedkin into movie history, has grossed over $441,071,011, worldwide. It has become known as the “Scariest Movie of All Time,” as selected by several popular trade organizations and has influenced popular culture in ways that continue to reverberate throughout the changing times. Friedkin’s masterpiece was, for lack of a better description, a true work of art. To this day, critics and fans continue to revere The Exorcist as one of film’s most iconic works, and one of horror’s scariest masterpieces.

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Author Bio: Alex Smith is a freelance entertainment and film blogger for DirectTVDeal.com. When he isn’t blogging, Alex spends his free time watching horror films and assuring his neighbors that the screaming is not an actual person in his apartment.

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