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The Exorcist
Movie

The Exorcist

1973 • Horror

Woke Score
1.4
out of 10

Plot

A visiting actress in Washington, D.C., notices dramatic and dangerous changes in the behavior and physical make-up of her 12-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, a young priest at nearby Georgetown University begins to doubt his faith while dealing with his mother's terminal sickness. And, book-ending the story, a frail, elderly priest recognizes the necessity for a show-down with an old demonic enemy.

Overall Series Review

The Exorcist (1973) is a powerful supernatural horror film that centers on a battle between good and evil, specifically the demonic possession of a young girl and the subsequent efforts of her mother and two Catholic priests to save her soul. The narrative is driven by timeless, universal themes of faith, doubt, and the tension between science and religion, rather than modern sociopolitical concerns. The film's primary focus is on the intensely personal crises of the characters, particularly Father Karras's loss and eventual recovery of faith through a profound, self-sacrificial act. The core conflict affirms the reality of an objective, transcendent moral order by demonstrating that scientific and secular solutions are utterly ineffective against a truly spiritual evil. The film’s atmosphere of chaos and profanity is rooted in the demon’s deliberate perversion of the sacred and the domestic, not in a critique of Western civilization or traditional morality.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The plot and character arcs are universally centered on a spiritual conflict, with characters judged solely by their faith, doubt, and moral choices. The narrative avoids any reliance on racial or intersectional identity, and all main roles are cast without regard for political messaging, focusing on character merit.

Oikophobia1/10

The central conflict is the defense of a traditional American home and a child’s innocence against an external, ancient demonic invader. The climax requires the institution of the Catholic Church to provide the only functional defense against chaos, affirming institutional strength rather than deconstructing it. The setting in Georgetown is framed as a place under attack, not a corrupt foundation.

Feminism3/10

Chris MacNeil is a divorced, career-focused single mother, which some interpretations view as leaving a domestic vacuum for the demonic force to enter. However, her character is defined by her fierce, unyielding maternal drive to save her daughter, tirelessly seeking help through all channels. This portrayal of a strong, sacrificing mother, where her devotion is the catalyst for the ultimate solution, counterbalances any potential 'Girl Boss' critique.

LGBTQ+1/10

The film does not contain any centering or affirmation of alternative sexualities or gender ideology. The sexually transgressive and profane dialogue and actions that manifest through the possessed child are presented as pure, corrupting evil and sacrilege, not as an expression of legitimate identity or social commentary.

Anti-Theism1/10

The core theme pits secular science against spiritual reality, where medical professionals ultimately concede they have no solution. The spiritual battle affirms the existence of a higher moral law and Objective Truth, as faith, embodied by the self-sacrificing priests, is the only force capable of defeating the demon.