When my brother and I were younger, we used to get into some skirmishes, but what siblings didn’t? Today, we’re the best of friends and I feel fortunate to go through life by his side. I consider siblings to be such blessings, though I doubt Laurie Strode would say the same, considering her brother carried around a huge kitchen knife trying to stab her.

Everyone knows of the serial killer Michael Myers, right? Well, this film is portrayed twenty years after he inevitably returns to find his sister Laurie, and kill her once and for all. Welcome to one last super uplifting horror movie review by yours truly.

A Brief Synopsis

Official Movie Poster

Halloween: H20 is encompassed by Laurie Strode’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) paranoia that her brother is coming after her. The original massacre occurred, of course, on Halloween. Thus, each October 31st causes memories to resurface and this one is especially horrible due to the twentieth anniversary of her family’s murder.

Now, Laurie Strode has assumed the identity of Keri Tate, a headmistress at her son John’s school, always looking out for his best interests. She faked her death in order to ensure that Michael would never be able to find her again. She’s basically the typical helicopter parent one would assume to find in movies, but with the added baggage of trauma and gory death.

Laurie and Josh

For the Halloween weekend, John’s school is planning a camping trip to Yosemite and he desperately wants to go with his girlfriend Molly. However, Laurie is hesitant to give him permission because of her inability to keep him protected.

Eventually, she allows him to go on the trip, but later that night, when she goes upstairs, she sees his camping bag stashed away in his closet, hardly touched. Now, Laurie has a reason to worry, and she must find her son before Michael does.

Laurie Facing Her Fear

Laurie’s maternal instinct was correct. John and Molly were watching a movie with their friends Charlie and Sarah instead of being in Yosemite. When John and Molly get impatient waiting for the other two, they walk upstairs to a nightmare that could only occur in one’s wildest dreams. However, this is reality for the two teenagers, and they must figure out a way to escape the murderous hands of Michael Myers.

My Feelings

The Halloween series has a total of thirteen movies; Halloween: H20 is the seventh and my personal favorite, so I thought it would be fitting to end this blog series on a high note. I recommend this film to anyone who so desperately wishes October 31st was right around the corner (like me), or if you’re just in the mood for a good scare.

I don’t know about you, but something about squawking, blood-thirsty pterodactyl-looking birds flying through the air gives me the heebie-jeebies. Not to mention, these animals are unable to see, but any movements that make a sound attracts them immediately; so, the family in the film must stay completely silent and whisper. Essentially, The Silence is my worst nightmare.

A Brief Synopsis

Official Movie Poster

Hugh Andrews, portrayed by Stanley Tucci, is the epitome of the overprotective father always worried about his deaf daughter Ally (Kiernan Shipka), and her peers at school that tend to pick on her.

The film opens at Hugh’s place of work, with his partner Glenn, portrayed by John Corbett.  The two men are speaking of Ally’s future plans to attend college, small-talk that fills a perfectly normal day at the office. In the middle of the night, however, Hugh’s family is awakened by dreadful news concerning flesh-eating animals termed “Vesps.”

The news reporters are unable to release a plethora of information on the animals because they are just as in-the-dark as their viewers. However, it is understood that sound attracts them, while staying as quiet as possible keeps them away.

The vesps originated from an underground cave in which they had been adapting and reproducing to basically take over the world. Stopping them, however, is a different story entirely.

While the news reporters ward off leaving the city, they decide it will be their best, and only, option. All hope seems lost, though, when officials form a border at the exit of the city, ensuring no one will leave. Glenn has an idea, but it ultimately ends in a fiery death. Without going into the gory details, the vesps get to Glenn before Hugh and his family are able.

The only thing going for the Andrews family is the fact that they have already had to adapt to Ally’s deafness by learning sign language; it is in this way that they can adapt as quickly to this new world as the vesps have caused such catastrophe.

A Family On Foot

Realizing they will not be able to drive any further, the Andrews family continues their journey on-foot. However, a near-death experience attempting to seek refuge causes Hugh’s wife Kelly (Miranda Otto) to get injured. Desperately in need of antibiotics, Hugh and Ally decide to make the trek to a nearby town in search of a pharmaceutical store.

The Reverend and His Followers

While there, they encounter a Reverend, begging them to join his cult entitled “The Hushed.” Without giving too much away, I can say that the Reverend is not who he says he is.

My Thoughts

While this film reminded me of Birdbox and A Quiet Place, I admire Kiernan Shipka and Stanley Tucci very much as actors. Though this horror film was a bit predictable, it was short and sweet, kept my attention, and even had me on the edge of my seat in several instances.

Official Movie Poster

I first fell in love with James McAvoy when I watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As a child, there was something about Mr. Tumnus that made me feel safe and secure; I think the root of those emotions was the actor himself.

However, the role McAvoy plays in Split is very contradictory to the kind faun that helped the little girl find her way. In fact, in this film, he captures three young girls and imprisons them in his home.

A Brief Synopsis

As revered a director as M. Night Shyamalan, his films are expected to give viewers everything they could ask for and more. In my opinion, he certainly delivers.

Split is a psychological thriller that portrays one man’s journey into insanity. Diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), has a whopping twenty-three distinct personalities.

A Few of Kevin’s Personalities

His psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), is a kind and patient woman, allowing Crumb to express himself in the personality that surfaces on the given day of their session. She has meticulously diagrammed how each personality differs from the last, but fears that the final dangerous personality, suppressed deep within him, is bound to appear at any moment.

After a birthday party, three teenage girls, Claire, Marcia and Casey, get into a car, patiently waiting for Claire’s father to finish putting the presents into the trunk. However, they are surprised to find Kevin climb into the driver’s seat, drugging them with a substance that immediately induces anesthesia.

After taking the girls back to his lair, he visits them repeatedly, each time with a different persona, allowing the captives to delve deeper into a state of utter fear and confusion. Casey, the cunning, is the only child that dares to engage with her captor, asking him questions and trying to understand his motives.

There are many layers to this film, and the viewer definitely has to peel them back as they would an onion. Flashing back and forth between Kevin’s visits with Dr. Fletcher, and his interactions with the girls, the viewer is led to wonder where the film is going, and what he truly desires to gain from keeping children locked in a room of his home.

Dr. Fletcher and Her Patient

In many ways, the film also brings awareness to the mental disorder known as dissociative identity disorder, as Dr. Fletcher views the condition as a portrayal of the brain’s potential rather than a disability at all.

However, there is no condoning of imprisoning three kids in one’s home; Dr. Fletcher is unaware of his recent actions until she begins to notice his personalities acting opposite than normal, or Kevin’s normal at least.

My Feelings

Split is a film that I thought about long after the final credits ran off the screen. I was amazed that there are people in the world, on a much lesser scale of course, that suffer from this mental disability.

The film is super thrilling with a major plot twist near the end; the viewers never shy from the edge of their seat. If you haven’t yet seen Split and the marvelous acting of James McAvoy, what’re you waiting for?

The perfect dress, a beautiful evening, and a handsome date – what could go wrong?

Prom is a right of passage for high school seniors; it is a way of reuniting one last time before life requires them to part ways. The night is supposed to be spent surrounded by friends and making memories, not spent worried about a homicidal maniac who just escaped from prison.

In all honesty, I was quite upset about not getting to have a Prom last year, but after watching this film, my perspective has changed.

A Brief Synopsis

Official Movie Poster

Prom Night (2008) is the tragic story of a girl who became the obsession of a former teacher at her school. In the typical “if I can’t have her, no one can” mindset, he, Richard Fenton, made it his mission to find her and murder the people she loved.

The night Donna’s ex teacher broke into her house and stabbed her mother will live on forever inside the depths of her deepest nightmares. Except, it was real, and the only thing keeping Donna sane is the promise that Fenton is locked up, hidden in a prison far, far away. She was just a freshmen then, but the pain of that memory never dulls.

Donna and Her Friends at Prom

Now a senior, she and her boyfriend Bobby are getting ready for the night of their dreams. Though, Donna finds it difficult to stay excited as she is unable to stop hallucinating images of Fenton. In the hair salon, in her bathroom, she just can’t shake him.

Deciding she is not going to let him control her thoughts anymore, Donna is comforted by her friends and begins to feel safe again. But, come on, what would a horror movie be with a happy ending?

At the police station, the man who put Fenton behind bars three years earlier, Detective Winn, gets a harrowing phone call. Richard Fenton has escaped from prison, and Donna is still his one and only focus.

Donna Face to Face with her Attacker

Driven into a frenzy, Detective Winn enlists the help of a junior investigator to attempt to keep Donna and her friends safe. However, it seems Fenton beat the men to the prom venue, and he has vengeance on his mind.

I simply cannot spoil the ending, but I will say that Donna is stronger than she seems and much smarter than she believes.

My Feelings

This film was unfortunately not as scary as I’d hoped for it to be, but I discovered through researching the movie that it is a remake, after the original 1980 Prom Night. Perhaps, I must watch the first to truly appreciate its successor. I do recommend this film because of the fun jump scares and the story of love mixed into a horrible situation.

The spring semester is here already? To think, just a few days ago, I was sleeping in until 11, enjoying far too many desserts made by my mom, and having at least two Harry Potter movie marathons per week. Though, I guess it is time to get back to work!

While browsing through the horror movie section of Netflix one day, Gothika was the first film to appear, a 2003 thriller starring Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz and Robert Downey Jr. Of course, I chose to keep the same blog topic for the spring semester – watching and writing about horror movies is just too exciting!

Official Movie Poster

A Brief Synopsis

Although Gothika wasn’t as frightening as the films I’ve reviewed in the past, it was a worthwhile psychological thriller. Dr. Miranda Grey, portrayed by Halle Berry, is a psychiatrist who works in the mental institution sector of a penitentiary alongside Pete Graham (Robert Downey Jr.). The film opens with Dr. Grey interviewing one of her patients, Chloe Sava, played by Penelope Cruz, who was formerly abused by her stepfather. Sava claims that the devil visits her each night in her cell, but Dr. Grey, of course, is reluctant to believe her.

Dr. Grey Speaking to the Girl

It is until she experiences an encounter of supernatural proportions that her beliefs begin to change. After leaving the mental institution one stormy night, she nearly hits a girl with her car. Terrified and shaken, she gets out of her car, into the pouring rain, to ensure the child is okay. Crying profusely, the girl appears deranged. The scene soon ends when the girl grabs Dr. Grey as they both are enveloped by a fiery mass.

Some time after, Dr. Grey awakens in the mental institution in which she worked, disoriented and extremely confused. She is accused of killing her own husband, but has no memory of anything after the run-in with the girl in the street. The audience is led to wonder if she is framed for her husband’s murder, or is someone in the institution is playing an absurd trick on her. However, to uncover this mystery, she must first escape the asylum. And, now that she’s considered one of the insane inmates, she enlists the help of her former patient, Chloe.

Dr. Grey with Inmate Chloe Sava

Without giving too much away, I will say that while Gothika does not make much sense, it does keep the viewer’s attention, which is all we can really ask for in the end. The film is a psychothriller that follows one woman’s journey into insanity, spiraling in and out of control as the storyline progresses.

My Thoughts

Yes, this movie is not the best horror film I’ve seen but, with actors like Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz, and Robert Downey Jr., even a rough plot can be enhanced. I recommend Gothika as a film to watch if you’re into deciphering hidden clues and predicting how a story so twisted could ever end.

Blog Post 10 is finally here and man, have I been looking forward to writing this review! The Silence of the Lambs is by far the best horror film of all time, in my humble opinion of course. But, don’t just take my word for it; this film was the first and only horror film to win the “Big Five Awards” at the Oscars in 1991- Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay.

Official Movie Poster

Star studded with actors like Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Scott Glen as Jack Crawford, this movie is the epitome of cinematic excellence.

A Brief Synopsis

Agent Clarice Starling

As a top student at the FBI’s training academy, Clarice Starling catches the eye of Jack Crawford, a senior director of the Behavioral Science Unit. Aware of her drive and determination, he asks her to visit the cannibalistic murderer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, at a maximum security psychiatric prison to conduct a psychological evaluation. Crawford hoped Lecter would provide a clearer picture of a new killer at rise – “Buffalo Bill”.

Lecter is seen as the omniscient presence that seems to know the goings on of the outside world, even though he has been trapped in a prison for almost seven years. Having already killed five victims, Buffalo Bill had a certain modus operandi about his choices in victims, all of which were slightly overweight young women who were stripped of large portions of their skin.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter Himself

Having no real breakthroughs, Crawford and his team of agents had been on Buffalo Bill’s trail for awhile; they requested the help of Lecter because he is aware of the ways in which serial killers think, because he is one. But, things take a sinister turn when Clarice learns of Lecter’s required payment for his knowledge of Buffalo Bill’s whereabouts.

After speaking to Lecter for the first time, Clarice realizes that she will have to play along with the deranged killer’s psychological games. More importantly, she has to reveal details about her past in order to emotionally open up to him.

However, when the sixth victim is discovered having a rare Death’s Head Moth purposefully placed in her throat, the agents deduce that there are hidden messages at play. Clarice is assigned to take the moth to two entomologists, who inform her of the special conditions that would be required to keep the insect alive. As a result, Starling and Crawford conclude that the moth symbolizes change, a symbolic representation of Buffalo Bill’s desire to transform.

Buffalo Bill

He yearns to become a transvestite, which is why he skins his victims. Disgusting I know, he is attempting to make a “woman suit” out of real human skin. But, when his seventh victim is Catherine Martin, daughter of Senator Ruth Martin, the hunt for the killer’s discovery becomes even more dire.

Lecter escapes his solitude because of his cunning ways, and with the voice of Hannibal inside of her head, Clarice strays from the other agents and finds Buffalo Bill’s lair herself. Killing him just before he tries to kill her, Clarice is congratulated by her seniors as she has finally graduated from the Academy, achieving FBI agent status.

Just to leave the audience on the edge of their seats, during Clarice’s graduation ceremony, she receives a cryptic phone call from Lecter. The audience is made aware that although one murderous man is out of operation, another waits in the wings, ready to make his next move.

My Feelings

I have probably seen this film too many times to count, which is an accurate depiction of my love and appreciation for the cinematography and casting of The Silence of the Lambs. I recommend it to anyone and everyone; THIS is the film to see!

I had been telling my mom about this film for weeks. Although we didn’t get to see it in the theatre, the moment it was available to rent, I begged her to watch it with me.

My mom, an unfortunate weenie when it comes to horror movies, put her fears aside, and mentally prepared herself by watching the trailer.

Although Ma was certainly not the scariest horror movie we’d ever seen, it was definitely the most deranged, as the film had more twists and turns than a cheap garden hose.

A Brief Synopsis

With an actress like Octavia Spencer as the film’s lead, you really can’t go wrong. In the film, she portrays a lonely, middle-aged woman who befriends some teenagers and decides to let them party in the basement of her home. One of whom is Maggie Thompson, a newbie to her mother Erica’s Ohio hometown; after Erica’s husband left her, she could think of no better reason to pack up and leave.

Official Movie Poster

Quickly making new friends, Maggie is drawn to the unpredictable and at times reckless Haley, Darrell, Chaz, and Andy. The quartet loves to party and is the stereotypical bunch of high school friends you see in most movies. Desperately needing a person of age to buy them alcohol in order to better their Friday night, they meet Sue Ann “Ma” Ellington, a veterinary technician.

The tables turn on the kids when Sue Ann anonymously reports the teenagers’ activities, but they get off the hook because of the officer’s history with Andy’s father, Ben. When all hope is seemingly lost for the group of teens, Sue Ann invites them over the next night to drink in her basement. Skeptical at first, the group decides that they cannot possibly turn down an opportunity to party.

As time goes on, and the teenagers keep returning to Sue Ann’s home to drink on the weekends, she even decorates her basement and invites other kids their age to join in on the fun. Insisting the kids call her “Ma”, she instantly becomes popular amongst the high school students.

It is not until Ma starts to harass the group by her overwhelming hospitality, that they begin to sense something is up with this lady. And, when Sue Ann sees Maggie kissing Andy, her newfound crush, she becomes jealous, as Ma is in love with him, for she was quite fond of his father when they went to high school together.

Ma becomes irate, as she drugs Maggie and steals her earrings as “payback.” The next morning, Maggie awakes with bruises and cuts all over her face; terrified, she tells Andy that she no longer wants to go to Sue Ann’s house, and he agrees that she is no longer the person they thought she was.

The Group of Teens Ma Befriends

Aware of the bitter taste she has left in the group’s mouth, she claims to have pancreatic cancer, which is the reason as to why she acts the way she does. An obvious lie, Haley begins to notice something else ominous about Ma –  a bracelet that she knew belonged to one of her other friends, Ma now wears on her wrist.

Ben, Andy’s Concerned Father

Ben, Andy’s father, appears at Sue Ann’s work for much more than a checkup for his cat. He invites Sue Ann out for drinks as a ploy to discover why his son has been spending so much time at her house, for he has a tracking device placed in Andy’s car. Ben warns Sue Ann to stay away from his son, calling her pathetic. But, Ma is not so easily discouraged.

And so, later that night, Sue Ann lures Ben to her house, where she knocks him out and eventually kills him. Worried about her friends as they celebrate Chaz’s birthday at Ma’s house, Maggie finally tells her mom about the time she’s spent at Sue Ann’s. Erica retaliates by grounding her daughter. But, when Maggie receives a text message from Ma of Andy in her basement, she sneaks out to confront him about going back on his promise to never return.

Soon realizing that only the original group of friends remain, Maggie discovers that all of her friends have been drugged when she attempts to get them to leave. Rendering Maggie unconscious, Ma has now trapped all of the teenagers in her basement.

In one swift movement, Maggie is able to escape the ropes that bind her, as she runs hand-in-hand with her friends out of the godforsaken house. They look back upon Ma’s home with disdain, as what once was the best place in town became a real-life nightmare.

My Thoughts

After watching this film, I thought about the reason as to why Sue Ann acted the way she did. Because she was bullied in high school, always on the outside forced to look in, I realized that she longed to be included, apart of the “cool kids.”

She saw in this group of teens what her younger self longed for, and became overzealous, to say the least, in her way of achieving inclusion.

In the end, this film definitely portrays a message, though aggressive in its manner. It is to treat others the way you wish to be treated. And, most importantly, to be careful around strangers; one can never be too cautious.

I dare say, this was probably the most messed up film I have ever seen, and that’s saying something, especially for me. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the movie, I loved it so much I made my parents watch. It just revealed hidden fears that I never knew I had.

A Brief Synopsis

Hush is a psychological thriller, following the life of a young, deaf and mute woman, named Maddie. Ironically, she has secluded herself by living in a house deep in the forest, far away from any neighbors; one would think a deaf person would want to be around the movement of bustling people. However, Maddie is a writer and enjoys being independent, as she is seen cooking dinner in the next few scenes, when a friend interrupts her nightly routine.

Official Movie Poster

Sarah, her close friend and neighbor, pops in for a quick visit, for she wanted to let Maddie know how much she enjoyed her recently published book. After some small talk in sign language that Sarah is attempting to learn, they say their goodbyes, and Maddie goes back to cooking.

As Maddie turns her back to the window, the audience is stunned as we are made aware of a screaming Sarah, pounding on the door for help. Crossbow-wielding maniac, a man in a mask (resemblant of psycho-killer Jason) slices Sarah’s throat open. With Maddie still left in the dark, she is unaware of the horrifying events that occurred just feet away from her stove.

The killer is made aware of Maddie’s condition when he knocks on her screen door with a bloody fist and receives an unwanted reaction: Maddie’s oblivion. And so, becoming fascinated with his new victim, he stalks her and decides to prolong her fate by toying with her emotions. Rotten Tomatoes put it best, “Hush navigates the bloody waters of home invasion thrillers and incisive slashers for a contemporary horror puree.”

He begins by stealing her cell phone and texting Maddie pictures of herself that night. Startled, Maddie immediately delves into a fight-or-flight response. Maddie is intelligent and will ultimately win this life-or-death battle by outsmarting her attacker.

The next kill comes when Sarah’s boyfriend appears in Maddie’s driveway, finding the masked intruder, and inquiring why all of her lights are turned off, for he was aware of his girlfriend’s visit earlier that night. The intruder, pretending to be a police officer, claims to have already called for “backup.”

After small talk that increasingly puts Sarah’s boyfriend on edge, the intruder finally makes his move and murders the failed rescuer. Maddie witnesses the kill and, with all hope seemingly lost, she succumbs to the horrors of her fate.

It is until Maddie musters the courage to get up and fight again, that she plans a way to defeat her assailant. Purposefully letting him into her home, she hides in the bathroom and waits for him with a kitchen knife as her weapon of choice.

The Stalking

And just when you thought you were on the edge of your seat, the intruder finds Maddie, with her back facing him, as he admires the “ease” with which he caught his victim. It is this scene where the mouse outsmarts the cat.

Feeling the intruder’s breath on her neck, due to his close proximity, in one swift movement, she turns and stabs him in the neck. The final scene portrays a tired Maddie, overcome with exhaustion, inactive on the front steps outside of her home, as the red and blue lights of true rescuers are on their way to save the day. She is alive and has survived.

My Thoughts

The Cat and Mouse – Face to Face

Although I cannot say the same for my poor parents whom I “strongly encouraged” to watch this film, I really enjoyed it. I am now terrified to stay in a house all alone, but thankfully, I am not deaf nor do I live in the middle of the woods.

In any true cinematic experience, there are moments where one’s heart stops, a tear is shed, or one’s mouth drops to the floor in shock and/or utter disbelief.

Of course, the movie is not without its flaws; some parts could be boring and too prolonged, and others may be crude or downright sickening. Nonetheless, it’s a great scare, JUST in time for Halloween!

A series so spine-tingling, they made four movies… and counting. The first chapter in the Insidious series definitely ranks near the top of my ten favorite horror movies of all time. I guess there’s just something about cheesy jump scares fabricated by possessed children that will always bring a smile to my face.

A Brief Synopsis

Insidious: Chapter 1, released in 2010, begins with scenes of a busy, happy family. Along with their three children, Renai and Josh Lambert have recently moved into a new home. Expectedly, paranormal oddities begin to occur in small doses here and there causing little concern to the family. It is not until a mysterious incident occurs in the attic, that puts Dalton, the eldest son, in a coma, that Renai and Josh begin to question everything.

Official Movie Poster

Worried as parents could be, the pair search for reasons to why this is happening to their child, and ways they can revive him from a seemingly endless sleep. He spends three months in the hospital, until his parents decide it is best to transport him home, where he will be most comfortable. However, in order to fix the problem transpiring in the present, the Lamberts must take a trip down memory lane.

Earlier in the film, Renai begins to unpack the moving boxes, and as she does so, she gets stuck looking through old photo albums, filled with pictures from her past. Dalton sees his mother and questions why there are no pictures of his father as a child. Trying to reason with her son, Renai states that her husband was shy and disliked taking photos of himself. 

The audience is not aware of this white lie until Lorraine, Josh’s mother, confirms the sinister events occurring inside of the home. When Dalton was still at the hospital, Lorraine stayed in her son’s home overnight to watch over her other two grandchildren as Josh and Renai were at the hospital for Dalton.

Renai and Josh Lambert

She recalls a nightmare that took place in Dalton’s room when she slept in his bed. In the dream, she saw a visitor in the corner of the room and asked, “Who are you”, to which the intruder replied, “A visitor”. Lorraine then asked, “What do you want?” and it answered “Dalton”.

This ungodly experience allows Lorraine to recollect another memory, one of her son’s childhood. Finally, the truth is exposed; throughout each photo taken of Josh growing up, a shadowy woman stood behind him. Thus, his fear of photos was established. The similarities in her son’s, and now her grandchild’s, hauntings prompts her to contact an old friend, who specializes in supernatural studies, named Elise Reiner.

Elise explains that Dalton has the ability to astral project when he falls asleep, also known as the ability for a person’s spirit to leave the physical body when the person is asleep. While the spirit can go anywhere, the physical body remains inactive, almost “dead”. 

Elise Reiner; Supernatural Specialist

Dalton is lost in “The Further”, as Elise describes, a place for the tormented souls of the dead. Dalton’s spirit is traversing another world, and he has left nothing behind but the lifeless body that lies asleep in his bed. Elise elaborates that because Josh experienced similar paranormal instances that his son is now going through, he has the ability to bring Dalton back from “The Further.”

As Josh finds himself within the demon’s lair, he discovers his son sobbing, chained to the floor. The only way for the spirit to lose its hold on both boys is to exclaim that they no longer fear its presence, which is exactly what they do…or so they thought.

Finally, after months of trauma, the family is happily reunited. However, something is not right with Josh, as Elise regrettably stumbles upon him while packing up the seance that allowed Josh to astral project. Noticing that his hands are old and dirty, resembling those of an old man, she knows something is inexplicably wrong. The demon has moved from Dalton’s body to Josh’s.

Emerging into a rage, Josh strangles Elise and chokes her to death. But, when Renai runs into the room, she finds everyone gone, including her deranged husband.

Ending in the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers, the audience is stuck on the edge of their seat as they must wait three years for the cinematic excellence that is Insidious: Chapter 2.

The mere thought of this film makes me shudder and although I wouldn’t say it was the scariest movie I’ve ever seen, it is definitely the most spine-chilling. Released in 1973, The Exorcist will forever be known as an oldie but a goodie.

A Brief Synopsis

Directed by William Friedkin, The Exorcist seeks to confront the reality of human suffering in a cinematic experience for viewers. The most harrowing part about this film, though, is the fact that a little girl is quite literally put through Hell in the process of a demonic possession.

Official Film Poster

The film begins with an introduction of an elderly priest named Lankester Merrin, as he is just concluding an archeological excavation in northern Iraq when he receives a hair-raising premonition.

Paradoxically, actress Chris MacNeil lives temporarily in Georgetown with her daughter Regan, alongside her housekeepers, Willie and Karl, an elderly Swiss couple. Hearing strange sounds emerging from Regan’s bedroom, and noticing furniture begins to move suspiciously around the house, she is perplexed.

Actress Chris MacNeil, Regan’s Mother

It is when Chris discovers a Ouija board, with which her daughter was playing, that she becomes immediately distressed. Soon after, Regan becomes angry and fidgety for she is beginning to change into someone that Chris does not recognize. Dr. Klein is called to the rescue when Chris seeks medical help; however, Regan’s issues seem to protrude the doctor’s area of expertise. And so, he recommends further tests, leaving Regan’s mother even more agitated.

Unable to explain the series of strange occurrences that have happened around her house, and realizing several of her business investments have gone awry, Chris resorts to speaking with Father Karras, a psychiatrist and Jesuit priest. As Regan begins to swear, spit and immediately forgets any abnormal thing she does, a team of men investigate this poor child’s disorder.

Dr. Klein induces Regan to a state of hypnosis, where the demon inside her claims to have ill wishes for the host’s (Regan’s) body. Desperate to save her daughter, Chris and the doctors agree to send Regan to a clinic in Dayton.

In a seemingly unforeseen turn of events, Burke Dennings, the director of Chris’s current acting project, is found under Regan’s window, deceased. The way in which Burke’s neck was twisted so violently leads the doctors to suggest a more permanent facility for the treatment of the child.

Chris and Regan return back home, in part to determine what to do next. Becoming increasingly more desperate, Chris now believes an exorcism may be the only solution, hence the title of the film. Father Karras is not as easily convinced, as he warns of the large amount of evidence needed for the Catholic church to conduct an exorcism.

The Possessed Child

However, when Karras sees Regan’s actions first-hand, his mind is changed and he reaches out to another priest, Father Merrin, who is more advanced in years and experience, for he has conducted the ritual before.

The End

As Merrin arrives, the exorcist himself, the ritual immediately begins. The audience is shocked when the demon recognizes Father Merrin’s face, for he battled the same entity, once before, during his archeological excavation in Iraq.

On the verge of death, Regan’s body is racked with torment as Father Karras and Father Mirren battle the demon for many sleepless days and nights. On one of the last days, Karras discovers Mirren dead and then proceeds to challenge the demon to possess him instead.

In a very uplifting end (not), Karras also perishes whilst attempting to free Regan of her demon. Although, Regan is finally free, as she and her mother decide to move back to Los Angeles. Happily ever after, the end.

My Thoughts

I watched this film with my family, for once my parents discovered I loved horror movies, they were relentless in getting me to watch the “classic” films, which in this instance consisted of 1970s cinematography. Although crude and very graphic at times, in the end, I loved the film because it was the perfect mix of crazy, absurd, and horrific. I recommend to any and all for a great Halloween scare!