The Exorcist

William Friedkin's 1973 film opens as the behaviour of twelve-year-old Regan changes. Her mother turns first to doctors. When no medical explanation is found, they go to the church. The film builds its horror on loss of faith; the narrative gives the real test to a priest in doubt and does not accept the supernatural without argument. It is adapted from a novel. Ellen Burstyn and Max von Sydow appear. It provoked a large reaction on release and was banned in many countries; its sound design and effects influenced genre cinema for a long time. Who it's for: viewers of the classics of horror. Who it's not for: viewers for whom violence involving a child and religious content would be difficult.