10 Perfect Horror Movie Lines
8. "The power of Christ compels you!" - The Exorcist
Much like unforgettable quotes in the vein of "You're going to need a bigger boat" or "I have a bad feeling about this", one is immediately aware of what film is being referred to when they hear this immortal line.
Instantly synonymous with the original cultural phenomenon, 1973's The Exorcist, the Catholic rite of exorcism intoned by Fathers Merrin and Karras - desperately trying to save the soul of young Regan MacNeil from a hideous demonic possession - is one of horror's most enduring and celebrated soundbites.
"The power of Christ compels you!"
Sadly, the quote does little to actually assist the unfortunate priests with their morbid task as Regan proceeds to levitate, spew nauseating amounts of green vomit and twist her head around like the most depraved action figure you've ever imagined across the course of the terrifyingly seminal film.
With that being said, the inefficacy of the priests' intonation highlights the extent of the evil they are confronted with in chilling clarity, adding an extra layer of unsettled fear to a scene that gave fright fans nightmares for years.
2023 viewers may laugh and scoff at The Exorcist's outdated effects and cinematic style, but the nightmarishly demonic sounds emanating from Regan as the outline of her possessor is revealed in a haze of smoke remains a perfectly harrowing visual to this day. They just don't make horror films of this calibre anymore.