HORROR 101 with Dr. AC: THE EXORCIST (1973) 50TH ANNIVERSARY ROUND TABLE

The Exorcist (1973) turns 50 this year. Is it still "the scariest movie ever made"?

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It’s amazing to believe that THE EXORCIST has been in our lives for a half century, because for many fans, it’s hard to imagine the horror landscape without it. Its release in the final days of December 1973 triggered a seismic shift in popular culture and the world has literally never been the same.

William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel had already become a sensation in the publishing world, and so a film version seemed inevitable, although it’s unlikely that anyone imagined so much of the sensational and explicit material from the printed page would end up on the big screen. Setting aside the sensational special effects, the idea of of a 12-year-old girl spewing shocking curse words and pea soup in equal measure in a Hollywood picture is still incredible to conceive, even in the adventurous, risk-taking environment of the early '70s.

And yet, it happened, and in the process became the highest grossing film of its time and garnered 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director (William Friedkin), honors which no horror film had ever before achieved. (It deservedly won for Best Screenplay and Sound.)

Tonight, we’ll be discussing the Exorcist legacy, its sequels, prequels, rip-offs, and lasting impact on pop culture. Joining AC in the studio is another fantastic guest panel, all shining stars in the Chicago Theatre firmament: Michelle Courvais, Chris Hainsworth, Katie McLean Hainsworth, Mandy Walsh, and Christopher M. Walsh.