10 Movie Characters That Shocked The World

To say that the landscape of American cinema was changing in the 1970s is an understatement. With the Hays code all-but ignored, like Warren Beatty, Roman Polanski and William Friedkin were ushering in a new wave of films, inspired by the French New Wave. Beginning with Bonnie and Clyde and ending with the dawn of the Blockbuster in 1975, films shown in regular theatres were starting to challenge their audiences.

The Exorcist, from William Peter Blatty's novel, was insanely successful upon release, earning a Best Picture nomination. But perhaps the best way to encapsulate what makes Linda Blair's tortured, violent, shockingly confrontational portrayal of young Reagan is to relate a story Friedkin told. While auditioning, the director asked her if she knew what masturbation was.

"It's like jerking off, isn't it?" the 12-year-old said and was hired shortly thereafter.

And Reagan, cherubic features and all, shocked audiences with the extreme vulgarity she espouses in the latter half of the film. Not only did it terrify and upset, Blair received death threats from religious zealots claiming she glorified Satan.