The Exorcist
1973
****½
Director: William Friedkin
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Rudolf Schündler
A disturbing and haunting story about a 12-year-old girl who becomes possessed by an evil spirit. A priest, who is battling demons of his own, attempts to help her. This hugely popular and immeasurably influential horror film is still very powerful. It's famous for its visual shocks, but most of the dread is in the quiet scenes. William Peter Blatty adapted his own 1971 novel and won an Oscar for the screenplay.
