The rite of exorcism has been around for thousands of years and is practiced by a variety of religions. Since 250 Ad, a special group of Catholic clergy, known as exorcists, has received special training to evict demons from people. Prior to the 1970s, opinions on the practice landed somewhere between faith and superstition, depending […]
Continue readingChildren are often used to great effect in horror movies. When they’re potential victims, they can really get the audience invested in the story as no one wants to see harm come to something so harmless. Likewise, children can make perfect monsters because who would expect an innocent little kid to be the personification of […]
Continue readingThe opening of “Scary Movie 2” memorably features Natasha Lyonne in a parody of “The Exorcist.” The comedian appears as a demon-possessed woman who gets a visit from two priests, played by James Wood and Andy Richter. Lyonne reminded fans in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly that Marlon Brando was originally cast in Wood’s […]
Continue readingHorror movies cover a wide spectrum of the things that scare us, and creepy kids are responsible for some of the most haunting and iconic moments in movie history. Linda Blair terrified audiences as Regan MacNeil in “The Exorcist,” Lisa and Louise Burns as The Grady Sisters in “The Shining” are so recognizable, even people […]
Continue reading(Welcome to Scariest Scene Ever, a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror with your tour guides, horror experts Matt Donato and Ariel Fisher. In this edition, Ariel explains why this particular scene in “Hunters” is actually terrifying, and Matt provides an outsider’s perspective.)The notion of horror and what scares us is wholly […]
Continue readingWhen “The Exorcist” was released in 1973, Linda Blair was just 14 years old. Though the film generated a considerable amount of controversy, the young actress blew audiences away with her haunting performance as possessed preteen Regan MacNeil. While the role earned her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, it also became an inescapable source […]
Continue readingWe often think about the life-changing impact horror has on us. Whether it was Regan MacNeil doing the spider walk in “The Exorcist” that made us terrified of stairs, “Jaws” effectively making us never want to set foot in the water again, or “Psycho” forcing us to develop questionable hygiene habits, horror movies leave a […]
Continue readingDirector John Carpenter has directed some of the most iconic horror films of all time. In fact, his 1978 feature “Halloween” is as synonymous with the spooky season as trick or treating. But what movies is Carpenter planning to watch this Halloween?Le Cinema Club, a curated streaming platform that screens one movie a week for […]
Continue readingThere’s a point in William Peter Blatty’s incendiary 1971 horror novel “The Exorcist” when Father Karras asks Father Merrin what the purpose of possession might be — if, according to their religion, a demon cannot touch a victim’s will. Merrin considers this question, then thoughtfully replies: “I think the demon’s target is not the possessed; it […]
Continue readingThe overly derivative new chapter to the low-budget, high-profit horror franchise struggles to justify its existenceThere’s an odd comfort to the release of a new Paranormal Activity film just in time for Halloween, a prime spot it owned for five years after the Saw franchise released its grip and (temporarily) bled out. The repetitive yet […]
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