10 Pre-2000 Movies With Special Effects That Still Hold Up Today

5. The Exorcist (1973)

Is this still the scariest film ever made? Of course it's all a matter of opinion but you can be sure that, even 41 years later, it can definately stake its claim to that honour. Part of the scares come from the fact that the central focus of the movie is a 12 year old girl who is possessed by a demon, leading to a number of extremely disturbing scenes made even more distressing by the fact that they are being performed by someone so young. As is often the case, a lot of praise should be reserved for Linda Blair's mesmerising portrayal of Regan; the young girl at the centre of this demonic storm. But a lot needs to said for the make-up and effects which still have the power to unsettle- as the movie progresses, and Regan's possession becomes more and more severe, we see her face become a horribly disfugured version of the little girl at the beginning of the movie with her voice also taking on a disturbingly demonic tone. Scenes such as the pea soup vomit, the head spinning or the bed levitation could easily, and forgivably, look rather hokey by today's standards, but that is simply not the case. Watching it today, you will be instantly hooked back in, never once doubting the reality of what you are seeing. It's a masterpiece in atmosphere and, along with The Shining and Halloween, will forever remain in the horror hall of fame but, unlike the aforementioned movies, it relies much more on its special effects; making them that bit more impressive.