Our search for the top horror movies is over and it's the 1973, Academy Award winning The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin, that tops our poll.
An adaptation of William Peter Blatty's novel of the same name The Exorcist centres around a young girl who is possessed by the devil.
The Exorcist went on to become one of the most financially successful horror movies of all time, as well as being one of very few movies in this genre to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Linda Blair plays Regan, a 12-year-old girl possessed by the devil.
After exhausting all the options of science, psychology, and medicine, Regan's mother (Ellen Burstyn) realizes the supernatural nature of her daughter's condition and resorts to a religious solution, turning to Father Karras (Jason Miller) for an exorcism.
Aided by the mysterious Jesuit exorcist Father Merrin (Max von Sydow), Karras must confront not only supernatural phenomena but also his own inadequate faith and displaced guilt over his mother's recent death, a personal torment Regan uses to manipulate him, but with disturbing results. Upon release the film caused outrage amongst the church with many leading a religious boycott against the film due to the horrendous special effects (360 degree head-rotation, self-mutilation/masturbation with a crucifix.The film was supposedly based upon an authentic, nearly two-month long exorcism performed in 1949 on a 14-year old boy in Mt. Rainier, Maryland by the Catholic Church.Despite these protests the film was popular with the general public who flocked to the cinema over the Christmas period of '73 to watch the film that had hit the headlines.More reports emerged that the film had caused some members of the audience, to scream, faint and vomit - but at the international box office The Exorcist grossed over $441 million.Ignoring all the controversy that surrounded the film it was nominated for ten Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actress for Ellen Burstyn , Best Supporting Actor for Jason Miller, Best Supporting Actress for Linda Blair and Best Director.
It went on to win two of the awards for Best Sound and best Adapted Screenplay.
But as with many successful horror movies there have been a string of sequels all trying to repeat the success, financially and critically, of the original.
In 1977 The Exorcist II: The Heretic was released to overwhelming criticsm, a third film followed in 1990.
Similarly Exorcist: The Beginning, which was released in 2004 was not well receieved.
Over the years, after the fuss had all died down, The Exorcist's critical reputation has grown with many calling this one of the best films ever made.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw