May 6, 2008
There are few things more terrifying than the thought of losing control of your own actions. While the notion of having your body taken over by some unseen force is rather implausible, it's still extremely frightening. The Exorcist explores this chilling idea by telling the tale of a 12-year-old girl who is possessed by the Devil. Due to its religious themes and its vision of a child acting like a foul-mouthed demon, the film garnered a lot of controversy when it was released in 1973. The very things that some found repulsive about the movie are what make it an enduring horror classic.