What's So Special About The Exorcist?!

I first watched it when I was around fifteen or sixteen. The first half bored me and the second half certainly had me pretty tense and rather sweaty palmed, but it didn't come anywhere near what I was expecting. Disappointed.
I then watched it a second time in my early twenties and felt pretty much the same as the first time! Dejected.
So now in my late twenties I decided to give it another chance.
Just like the previous times I sat alone, in the dark. And once again I watched the credits feeling the same way. Deflated.

Before you all start huffing, puffing and blowing my house down... I really did want to enjoy The Exorcist! I was desperate to be proven wrong. I wanted to be able to join in with everyone else when that damn title popped up instead of feeling like a leper! Trust me; "It ain't no fun kissin' when ya bottom lip is missin', leprosy! Leprosy!" Sorry I just had to sing that then, but do you see my point?!

I really do fail to see the hype that surrounds this movie. In the first half for example, am i supposed to be uncomfortable with the medical experiments? A few simple scientific tests? Or a teenager having a hissy fit? Did you see how over the top her mother was when she couldn't reach the girls dad on the telephone? Of course this kid is gonna have a tantrum like that. Its in her genes! And as we witness the girls decline as the demon 'Pazuzu' gradually takes over i didn't feel for a minute any suspense building. In fact I was frustrated at all the lengthy dialogue and too many unnecessary characters to take in when there was very little happening! Then once she is properly possessed, STILL very little happens.

I can appreciate that when it came out it was fresh and original. I understand it was the early seventies and you just didn't see stuff like this, but come on is it really that great? Seriously?!

I love to get creeped out by a scary movie! Feeling my heart pounding against my chest, sweaty and nervous, looking around the room every few minutes to check no one has suddenly joined you... I am mad for all that. Love it! But with The Exorcist it took me every ounce of will power to stick with the movie and not get distracted. And oh my did I want to give that poor girl a lozenge to help soothe her throat!!

So I came away with my head held high. Not being able to enjoy such an iconic movie is a bummer, but being honest with myself and persevering for three whole viewings... Well I think I deserve a sweetie and a sticker!

Later on laying in bed  -

I kept replaying the scenes through my head. The tormenting voice. Disgusting tongue action. Vile cursing (that darn 'c' word again!). Distorted face. The backwards language, in that tormenting voice. The way she lost control of her body. In her own bed. Like I was now in my own bed. What would I do if my bed started moving violently? What if something else took control of my body? What if I spoke with a voice that wasn't mine? But rude, tormenting and vulgar? What if...
'Hang on a minute' I thought 'I'm scared, I'm actually bloody scared!' I was clammy and on edge. I could hear my heart beating along like a train. My mind replaying scenes over and over in my head. Imagining it could happen to me. At any minute. My eyes were twitching around the darkness searching for something that wasn't there. It took me ages to shut my brain down and let sleep take me.

So although I can stand tall and admit that yes I, Miss Twisted, do not like The Exorcist, I must also give the film a silent nod of respect, because no matter how many views it took, it eventually did what it set out to do. It scared the crap out of me!

- Miss Twisted -