Ron Howard’s favourite horror movie: “It scared the crap out of me”
Having developed an impressive track record of writing and producing successful projects, Ron Howard has carved out a unique space for himself within Hollywood. As the co-founder of Imagine Entertainment, Howard has personally overseen the development of films and shows spanning various genres. A brilliant example of the latter is Arrested Development, one of the most influential meta-comedies of the 21st century.
Since starting out as a child actor, Howard has dedicated much of his life to the film industry. Along the way, he has been impacted by a wide range of influences that have shaped his sensibilities as a creative voice. During a conversation with A.Frame, the renowned director opened up about his favourite films, including his all-time top pick from the endlessly rich and extensive history of horror cinema.
In addition to discussing his admiration for filmmakers such as David Lean and Frank Capra, Howard singled out William Friedkin’s 1973 masterpiece The Exorcist as his favourite horror movie. Probably the most critically acclaimed addition to the genre in all of film history, Friedkin’s work permanently changed the public perception of horror movies and proved that it was possible to create nuanced visions while working within genre frameworks.
Howard said: “The Exorcist, I just love as a fan. It scared the crap out of me and my then-girlfriend, now wife, Cheryl. I don’t know how many times we stood in line for two hours in Westwood to see The Exorcist. That’s what you had to do in those days, and we did it over and over again. It slowly dawned on me that I loved this movie the way I loved the Roger Corman horror movies that I would see in the drive-in, but it was so elevated through this sophisticated writing and these excellent, nuanced performances.”
The filmmaker added: “It went from sort of cheap thrills to, by about the third time I saw it, I realised that it was just great contemporary cinema. And it was all the more terrifying because the horror just felt so every day, so regular, so part of our contemporary society. Of course, the filmmaking and the music are next-level. What Friedkin did with that, it was one of the movies announcing a new level of urgency and power that a Hollywood movie could carry with it.”
The first horror movie to be nominated for the coveted ‘Best Picture’ prize at the Academy Awards, The Exorcist played a seminal role in shaping the future of horror filmmaking. Perfectly utilising the enormous visual potential of the medium while also incorporating a brilliant sound design, The Exorcist will always be the first movie that is brought up whenever Friedkin’s contributions to cinema are discussed.
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