The classic movie Al Pacino is too scared to watch: “I think I’m strong enough to see it now”
Al Pacino never fails to surprise audiences, whether through his presence in bafflingly awful B-movies, his love for Shrek, or strange gaps in his cinematic knowledge. Yet despite this, he continues to be one of the most revered actors of his generation, marked in the Hollywood Hall of Fame as one of the all-time greats.
Whether through his aggressive performance in Scarface as a man consumed by his own ego or the high-stakes anxiety of Heat, Dog Day Afternoon and Glengarry Glen Ross, the actor shows versatility and fearlessness in each of his roles, being larger than life himself when on the silver screen and captivating audiences through his physical intensity yet unexpected vulnerability.
However, while he was worked with some of the most renowned directors of all time, this doesn’t always mean that he’s familiar with their work, citing one hugely iconic film that he failed to see, despite its cataclysmic effect on pop culture at the time and later collaboration with the notorious filmmaker.
William Friedkin might just be one of the most equally feared and beloved directors of the New Hollywood movement, crashing onto the scene with his abrasive approach to filmmaking and knack for disturbing stories. Over the years, he crafted a unique filmography that revolved around fear and taboo subjects that became associated with fear, playing on the subconscious of collective audiences through an ability to hone in on what truly terrified people the most. Whether it be female sexuality or an invasion of imaginary bugs, there is no doubt that Friedkin had his finger on the cultural pulse, whether liked or not.
But despite working with him on his 1980 film Cruising, which follows a man called Steve Burns who infiltrates the S&M subculture of New York to try and catch a sadistic serial killer, Pacino was not familiar with what remains his most talked-about film.
The Exorcist broke records at the time of its release in 1980, with audiences queuing around the block to see what all the fuss was about after the Catholic church condemned the film and others threw up during the screenings. The story of the little girl who becomes possessed by the devil might just be the most infamous in horror history, along with the on-set stories about how Friedkin conducted himself during the production. From his betrayal of Ellen Burstyn when encouraging her to perform a dangerous stunt that gave her back problems for life, or slapping a real priest in the face to ‘get him in the mood’ for a scene, the director’s methods came under fire when people learnt that the production had nearly been as disturbing as the film.
But while Pacino was a huge fan of the director, he just couldn’t muster the courage to watch his most influential film, saying, “I didn’t even see ‘The Exorcist’ in my life,” Pacino said, adding, “It’s a great film, I hear. I should see it. I think I’m strong enough to see it now.”
While many are intimidated by the strange powers of The Exorcist, it is ultimately unavoidable, and there is no doubt that Pacino has now been lured by its mysticism and timeless legacy.
