History NightmareFuel / TheExorcist

* Both the book and mFovie can become even scarier when one finds out that the book may have been based an actual exorcism conducted in the 1940s.

* This [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XuB8DJ0AI8 rare trailer]] for the film was banned for being too disturbing for audiences; it would contain flashing images of the faces of [[NightmareFace the demon and the possessed girl]]. Watch at your own risk!

* Both the book and movie can become even scarier when one finds out that the book may have been based an actual exorcism conducted in the 1940s.

* Start with the idea of your 12-year-old daughter being possessed by a demon and stabbing herself in the crotch with a crucifix. And there's the several flash frames of the ''insanely demonic-looking'' face of Pazuzu, shown on the right. You're not gonna sleep with knowing this.

* Regan's change in appearance towards the film's climax. There's a reason why this website has that infamous picture of her as the main photo on the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NightmareFuel/LiveActionFilms Nightmare Fuel/Film]] index page. Even the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxX3agQ0AFs screen tests]] for the make-up are unnerving…

** To elaborate, over the course of the film, Pazuzu makes Regan scratch herself, leaving scars on her face, but subtly [[BodyHorror her facial features gradually deteriorate with her complexion becoming unnaturally pale, her teeth becoming blackened, and her eyes gaining a vivid green]]. The implications is that the possession is gradually killing her and that Pazuzu’s claims of keeping her until she’s dead in the dirt all the more disturbing as it’s accelerating the process of decay.

* The movie doesn't even need anything supernatural to be terrifying. Witness the scene of Regan getting a carotid angiography. One of the background characters, the surgeon's assistant who preps Regan for her carotid angiograph, was played by Paul Bateson, who was later convicted of bashing a man's skull in, and suspected of killing six others.[[note]]With minimal evidence, however.[[/note]]

* Regan being tossed back and forth on her bed by Pazuzu, violently flopping from lying to seated while screaming in fear and pain for her mother to stop it from happening. Chris and the doctors have no idea what to do.

* Regan's change in appearance towards the film's climax. There's a reason why this website has that infamous picture of her as the main photo on the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NightmareFuel/LiveActionFilms Nightmare Fuel/Film]] index page. Even the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxX3agQ0AFs screen tests]] for the make-up are unnerving....

[[caption-width-right:350:[[SubliminalSeduction Blink, and you'll be]] [[NightmareFace glad you missed this.]]]]

* Regan's change in appearance towards the film's climax. There's a reason why this website has that infamous picture of her as the main photo on the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NightmareFuel/LiveActionFilms Nightmare Fuel/Film]] index page. Even the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB4KVUeU25A screen tests]] for the make-up are unnerving....

* The tension from Detective Kinderman pursuing the Burke case qualifies as well. Kinderman shows up to the MacNeil household as the exorcism takes place. Imagine having to explain to a detective that your daughter was responsible for someone's death and their only defense is demonic possession, which might be hard to gain evidence of in a court of law.

* Imagine what it was like to be Regan. Remember the words "Help Me" appearing on her skin? It's probably a very good thing she doesn't remember anything of what happened.

* The scene in the altered cut where Regan goes down the staircase walking on all fours in an unnatural position and vomits blood.

* An often-overlooked scene where we follow a vicar through a cathedral doing his daily chores. He brings in a pair of flower pots, setting one down at a statue, and then turns to put the other down. He then pauses, looking horrified. Cut to the [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUWF79wjKMs/T5i-g2b6-mI/AAAAAAAAC-s/9mn7GWDBXs8/s1600/The-Exorcist-Virgin-Mary-desecrated.png desecrated statue]] of the Virgin Mary, covered in what looks like blood, with supernatural spikes penetrating her breasts and womb area.

* An often-overlooked scene where we follow a vicar through a cathedral doing his daily chores. He brings in a pair of flower pots, setting one down at a statue, and then turns to put the other down. He then pauses, looking horrified. Cut to the [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUWF79wjKMs/T5i-g2b6-mI/AAAAAAAAC-s/9mn7GWDBXs8/s1600/The-Exorcist-Virgin-Mary-desecrated.png desecrated statue]] of the Virgin Mary, covered in what looks like blood, with spikes penetrating her breasts and womb area.

* An often-overlooked scene where we follow a vicar through a cathedral doing his daily chores. He brings in a pair of flower pots, setting one down at a statue, and then turns to put the other down. He then pauses, looking horrified. Cut to a statue of the Virgin Mary, covered in what looks like blood, with spikes penetrating her breasts and womb area.

* You don't even need a demon for this to be NightmareFuel. Imagine yourself as a parent, watching your child deteriorate steadily, knowing full-well that there's nothing you can do about it, and even the doctors with their medical expertise can't seem to figure out what's wrong with her, and how to help her. Yes, this movie is rife with AdultFear.

* Start with the idea of your 12-year-old daughter being possessed by a demon and stabbing herself in the crotch with a crucifix. And there's the several flash frames of the ''insanely demonic-looking'' face of Pazuzu, shown on the right.

* Regan's change in appearance towards the film's climax. There's a reason why this website has that infamous picture of her as the main photo on the NightmareFuel {{Film}} index page. Even the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB4KVUeU25A screen tests]] for the make-up are unnerving....

* You remember the creepy [[ExorcistHead neck twist]] in the movie? It's played ''straight'' into '''[[RealityEnsues reality]]''', as in Episode 2, we see a boy Marcus is trying to exorcise attempt the neck twist only to ''die'' halfway! Pazuzu later tries to it on Casey and ''almost succeeds''.