Well, this topic came up today in the office where I work. I had to admit that even now, many years after I first saw this movie, it scares me to death. If I think about it in the middle of the night, game over -- I will lie/lay there until dawn, afraid to open my eyes, afraid to close them.

Many factors play into this -- including the fact that I have mystical tendencies, and the fact that I first saw this movie on Easter Sunday (yep, Easter Sunday -- sheesh -- big mistake for a graduate of Catholic elementary school). But the biggest factor of all was the brilliance of the original author William Peter Blatty, and all of the folks associated with the movie. They permanently scarred me in a very good/bad way. I'll never forgive them, but if I had it to do over again, I'd see the movie. Maybe not on Easter (I'm not that crazy) but I'd see it over and over again, as I've done over the ensuing years.

I saw the Exorcist sequels and prequels too. I liked both prequels, but they didn't scare me. And the sequels? I didn't even finish watching.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose ? Yep, that was effective. I'm afraid to look at the clock when I wake up in the middle of the night. If you saw the flick, you know why. If you didn't, you should see it.

Other movies that scared me? But not nearly as much. Stephen King's It -- because clowns are so totally creepy, and Stephen King knows why -- it's that painted-on smile that covers that evil mouth. Ugh. Then there's Poltergeist and its progeny (with decreasing levels of scariness).

The Ring ? Creepy, but not scary. In fact, it's only The Exorcist that really qualifies as lastingly scary to me. It was terrifying, and it still is. That says a lot about that movie, but these days, it probably says more about me .

TTYL. -- Kate