Geena Davis names the scariest movie she’s ever seen: “I was scarred for life”
The ‘New Hollywood’ movement was a sight to see for all spectators, with audiences being shocked, disgusted, outraged and moved by the films that emerged from a new generation of daring auteurs. Whether it be Peter Bogdanovich and the simple power of Paper Moon to the grandeur of The Godfather, there were countless cinematic spectacles being created that changed the medium forever, with directors who advocated for bold stories and new ways of sharing them on the big screen.
The likes of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola broke into the industry with their sometimes extravagant budgets and controversial stories, injecting some much-needed change and originality into an industry that was severely floundering compared to the creative leaps being made in Europe. However, there was one director who was pivotal in this movement, with his horror classic sparking uproar and traumatising one actor for life.
William Friedkin will always be famous for being one of the most needlessly cruel and violent directors of all time, with many stories from former colleagues and co-stars who criticised his unpredictable outbursts and extreme way of drawing performances from his actors, resorting to methods such as slapping people in the face and nearly breaking someone’s back for an ‘authentic looking’ stunt. ‘No’ was never an answer he grew used to hearing, with the director punishing anyone who didn’t jump on board with his vision and going all guns blazing regardless of their consent.
He once halted the production of The Exorcist for an entire day because he wanted a shot of some bacon frying in a pan to look a very specific way, sending out production assistants on a wild goose chase to find bacon that would fry flat. After causing such a palaver over finding this bacon, they got the shot they wanted, only for it not to be used in the final cut of the film. This is to say, Friedkin was a complete maverick, a quality that could very much be felt in his work.
The Exorcist is one of his most fabled projects, with the church condemning the film and causing people to throw up in theatres at the sight of the neon-looking vomit that is projected from Linda Blair’s mouth. However, while many people love the film and return to if for these slightly nauseating qualities, Geena Davis was far from a fan and discussed her personal qualms with the film.
When discussing this, she said, “I was scarred for life when it came out. I already had enough problems with ghosts under the bed, ghosts in the closet and believing in every possible superstition. Seeing that added to the pile”. After plenty of experience working in similarly spooky genres, perhaps it is surprising that Davis hadn’t developed a stronger stomach at seeing this visual atrocities on screen.
But alas, The Exorcist has a reputation for a reason, and even the most seasoned horror fans have struggled to sit through the film in one setting, with the practical effects and terrifying performances leading it to remain as one of the most disgusting and unsettling films you will ever watch, and not one that Davis is keen to revisit.
