A young girl seems to be possessed by the devil, a couple of intrepid priests eventually take on the task of ridding little Regan of this unclean spirit.

What can be said about a movie this big? It's art. It’s must-watch. It’s a part of our culture. If you know anyone that doesn’t recognize the head-twisting scene, then you know an idiot, because literally everyone knows that. If you’re reading this and don’t know what I’m talking about, please leave now. You can come back after you watch The Exorcist.

This movie is about conflict, both obvious and subtle. We have the conflict of the possessed little girl and the priests struggling to save her, and the inner conflict in Father Karras as he struggles with his own faith and his guilt over his mother. While the first is black and white, the priest’s conflict is gray, and brings depth to the story that most horror movies miss.

The movie is beautifully done, every cut and light in the perfect place. Filled with images that not only pertain to the story, but evoke emotions within us whether we want them or not. As an example, just as the title music begins, we see two nuns walking by the cathedral, their robes flowing in the wind. Regardless of our feelings toward the church, it’s so easy to see it as both mysterious and majestic at the time.

There are many semi-subliminal single-frame shots in this film, usually of a demonic woman’s face. During filming the director fired starter pistols to surprise the actors and keep them nervous. The little girl and her mom were both wearing harnesses that were pulled violently by crew members to “throw them around.” Ellen Burstyn’s spine was injured when she was pulled to the floor.

The woman who did the possessed voice, Mercedes McCambridge, had to sue Warner Brothers for credit on the film, Linda Blair was given the Oscar based on the belief that it was her voice all along. McCambridge was fed raw eggs, alcohol and cigarettes, and then was strapped to a chair, causing her to form the unusual vocals.

There are tales about ominous events surrounding the year-long shoot, including the deaths of nine people associated with the production and stories about a mysterious fire that destroyed the set one weekend. The director eventually asked technical advisor Rev. Thomas Bermingham to exorcise the set. He refused, saying an exorcism might increase anxiety. Rev. Bermingham wound up visiting the set and gave a blessing and talk to reassure the cast and crew. Televangelist Billy Graham claimed an actual demon was living in the celluloid reels of this movie. Due to death threats against Linda Blair, Warner Bros had body guards protecting her for six months after the film's release.

Author William Peter Blatty once won $10,000 on the Groucho Marx show "You Bet Your Life" (1950). When Groucho asked what he planned to do with the money, he said he planned to take some time off to "work on a novel." This was the result. While he was in the process of actually writing the novel, he was collecting unemployment benefits.

When released in 1973, the film caused such mass hysteria, with people screaming, fainting and paramedics being called to theaters, making it one of the most controversial films ever made. A filmgoer who saw the movie in 1974 fainted and broke his jaw on the seat in front of him. He then sued Warner Brothers and the filmmakers, claiming that the use of subliminal imagery in the film had caused him to pass out. The studio settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

If adjusted for inflation, this would be the top grossing R-rated film of all time.

If possible, The Version You’ve Never Seen should be watched, it’s worth it for the spider walk scene alone, which is restored into the movie, not as an extra.

There's only one thing about The Exorcist that bugs me. The detective thinks there's a connection between the first death and the vandalism in the church because a guy's neck broken by being turned too far is a witchcraft-type murder. In my many years of watching, reading and dreaming horror, I've never heard of a sacrifice by neck-breaking. Not once. Very clumsy, could have been left out completely and not affected the storyline.

10 out of 10 defiled and vilified crosses

This is probably the best psychological battle I've seen captured in a horror film. Not just between Father Karras and the demon, but with the audience as well. I felt downright uncomfortable at times, watching this poor little girl deal with this. There were moments where I caught myself turning down the volume so the neighbors wouldn't hear what was going on.

This movie creates a strong sense of despair. You can't help but feel the mother's helplessness as she watches her liitle girl slip away and no one seems to be able to stop it, or even expain it. And the fact that they use a 'little girl' is really what makes the movie. I just don't think the possession would've been as impactful and disturbing had it been an adult.

I never really thought this movie was that scary, but it is definitely creepy. I'm in the minority, but I think the creepiest scene by far was the starcase descent, which unfortunately wasn't even in the theatrical version. After seeing it, I literally blurted out "Dang, that's messed up!" My speech is so eloquent when I'm watching horror movies.

This movie has one major downfall in my opinion. That is the complete lack of a backstory. I really wished they would have given a little bit of history or information on Father Merrin. Because they didn't, I didn't really care for the character at all. The very moment he enters the MacNeil household, the demon screams his name in anguish, so you know there's some juicy history there. But it isn't touched upon at all, which I thought was rather disappointing.

8 out of 10 holy bars of soap I would've used to wash out Regan / Pazazu's mouth with.