* * * * (Out of * * * *)
1. Sorcerer (1977)
2. The Exorcist (1973)
3. The French Connection (1971)
4. Bug (2006)
5. Cruising (1980)
6. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
7. Killer Joe (2011)
8. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Season 8 (2006-2007)
8a. Episode 9: Cockroaches (2007)
(Television)
9. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour – Season 3 (1964-1965)
9a. Episode 29: Off Season (1965)
(Television)
* * * * (Out of * * * *) (Short Cinema)
1. The Twilight Zone – Season 1 (1985-1986)
1a. Episode 4-C: Nightcrawlers (1985)
(Television)
2. Tales from the Crypt – Season 4 (1992)
2a. Episode 4: On a Deadman’s Chest (1992)
(Cable/Television)
cinematiccoffee 
When I was younger I loved horror movies. The one I was never allowed to watch was The Exorcist. My mother was terrified by the film and wouldn’t allow me to buy, rent or watch it. She was not impressed when I convinced a friend to rent it one weekend.
So, I guess it was always the Holy Grail of horror movies for me. The one that was so scary that merely having it in the house would present problems. It didn’t disappointed. The directing, make-up, sound, and acting are all first-rate. I don’t think there’s a movie that is this scary that is also so good.
You are right 🙂 Everything about The Exorcist is masterful. Another thing interesting about The Exorcist is that it came out at a time when controversial material was considered box-office gold, which in this case was the 1970’s. I am glad that a friend was able to let you see it. Along with The French Connection, The Exorcist was one of Friedkin’s two big critical and commercial hits. Some of his later work like Sorcerer and To Live and Die in L.A. would only catch on years after their release though they did have their supporters at the time. He has also garnered an audience with His two recent films Bug (from 2006) and Killer Joe (from 2011). Speaking of The Exorcist though, British film critic Mark Kermode wrote a book about it (it is one of his favorite films) for the BFI Modern Classics series. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
P.S. here in the USA, Ken Russell’s The Devils is considered a Holy Grail in terms of controversial films of the 1970’s. It has only been available here on VHS in a butchered version. The UK I heard got an extended cut version back in 2012, but even that one is not considered definitive.
Friedkin perplexes me.The French Connection is one of my favorite films. He was clearly at the apex of the medium–critical and mass popularity–in the early to mid 70s. Yet, he fell off the map only to rebound with the very solid, in my opinion, To Live and Die in LA. Then he disappeared again with the exception of some very bad films. I don’t get it.
I will admit that Deal of the Century (1983), The Guardian (1990) and Blue Chips (1994) were either mediocre or downright terrible, but for me, he mostly comes off as a thought-provoking filmmaker whose films engage on both a visual and psychological level. His remake of Wages of Fear entitled Sorcerer was truly masterful especially with that drive on the rickety bridge scene and that Tangerine Dream music score that plays throughout. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
I see that you have ranked The Socerer #1. I haven’t seen it or The Wages of Fear. I’ll have to watch both.