TCM or The Exorcist: Which was more shocking?

The original 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre vs. The Exorcist: Which was more shocking, not SCARY, or HORRIFYING, but more shocking. One movie depicts a 12 year old little girl masturbating with a crucifix bellowing, "Let Jesus f**k you!!", and vomiting green slime on priests, and another movie that shows an inbred, cannibalistic hillbilly impaling teenagers on meathooks and eviscerating them with a chainsaw. In my opinion, both movies are classic examples of horror, and a must own for any horror buffs collection, although some of you may disagree. We can all admit that when these two movie were released in the mid-1970's, they were VERY shocking to the unsuspecting American public. Some reports were conformed, of people watching both movies in theaters, of people walikng out in a state of shock, some fainting, and some even RUNNING out screaming. What is your opinion? Which movie do you think was more shocking? Why?

I am not a real religous person,so for me,I would simply say ''TCM''

Eh, "The Exorcist" is a good film without the overt, over the top, "Oh My God" blasphemy. That said, it was all for shock value. "TCM" and its realism is still the real shock sensation.

I don't think being religious or not should impede an honest answer. I'm an atheist, and the first time I watched The Exorcist at age 10 it shocked me, not only the crucifix masturbation scene and the blatant blashphemy, but the rest of the dialogue and some of the visuals. Especially if you read the book, there are MANY more shocking passages therein. The only reason it truly shocked me is because at that time in my life I was never exposed to such displays. The same with TCM and the violence, although I will agree with what Backfire says about "implied violence" when we never actually see the damage Leatherface does to the teens when he attacks them and we are left to what our imaginations conjure up within. Can what we "see" as violence in our minds be construed as shocking?

With that said, I should have included in my opening another important question: What do YOU construe as shocking? Would you agree that these two films are, indeed, on a certain level, truly shocking?

Both of them are to a certain level,for sure.But finding ''TCM'' more offensive is my personal opinion.

Originally posted by Impediment
I don't think being religious or not should impede an honest answer.

No,I totally disagree with that,What you are basicly saying is that a deeply ''religous'' person would not find this more offensive than someone''who would ''happily'' burn 10 bibles for a bit of weed''.

Somehow.............I dont think so 😐

The Exorcist is Amazingly Over rated. Either way TCM.

ive always liked the exorcist, people say its borin but i think the character development is important, people need a bit more of an attention span. its better than just some random dumb teenagers getting sliced up. im sounding like im hating tcm, im not. its gritty, wierd and a true classic but in my opinion i would rather watch the exorcist.

Originally posted by Impediment
With that said, I should have included in my opening another important question: What do YOU construe as shocking? Would you agree that these two films are, indeed, on a certain level, truly shocking?

They were when they were released, but with so many ACTUAL shocking scandals in the church, and a general desensitization of the public in general, "The Exorcist" falls kind of flat in the way of shock value. The horrific implications even now in TCM are still somewhat shocking, because it's still one of the most depraved movies around.

Originally posted by kmcdude
No, I totally disagree with that, What you are basicly saying is that a deeply ''religous'' person would not find this more offensive than someone''who would ''happily'' burn 10 bibles for a bit of weed''.

Somehow.............I dont think so

Well, thats not necessarily what I meant, Dude. But what if that "deeply religious" person or any other of these Christians didn't flip out "Billy Graham" style and burn copies of the Exorcist novel and curse the name of William Peter Blatty and realize that The Exorcist, shocking as it is, is actually a story of faith and strength, and the the triumph over evil?

Originally posted by Cinemaddiction
They were when they were released, but with so many ACTUAL shocking scandals in the church, and a general desensitization of the public in general, "The Exorcist" falls kind of flat in the way of shock value. The horrific implications even now in TCM are still somewhat shocking, because it's still one of the most depraved movies around.

I will strongly agree that the public in general has been VERY desensitized since the 1970's, but I would not necessarily say that The Exorcist has shock value for only those of a certain faith structure. Is that what you're saying, CD?

Originally posted by Impediment
The original 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre vs. The Exorcist: Which was more shocking, not SCARY, or HORRIFYING, but more shocking. One movie depicts a 12 year old little girl masturbating with a crucifix bellowing, "Let Jesus f**k you!!", and vomiting green slime on priests, and another movie that shows an inbred, cannibalistic hillbilly impaling teenagers on meathooks and eviscerating them with a chainsaw. In my opinion, both movies are classic examples of horror, and a must own for any horror buffs collection, although some of you may disagree. We can all admit that when these two movie were released in the mid-1970's, they were VERY shocking to the unsuspecting American public. Some reports were conformed, of people watching both movies in theaters, of people walikng out in a state of shock, some fainting, and some even RUNNING out screaming. What is your opinion? Which movie do you think was more shocking? Why?

Just the idea of TCM of being real gave it a more chilling effect over the unealistic Exorcist.

Originally posted by Impediment

I will strongly agree that the public in general has been VERY desensitized since the 1970's, but I would not necessarily say that The Exorcist has shock value for only those of a certain faith structure. Is that what you're saying, CD?

Not at all. Just saying now, regardless of your religious stance, the blasphemous approach in "The Exorcist" really isn't all that over the top. Atleast not to me this day and age.

Originally posted by Hornyman
Just the idea of TCM of being real gave it a more chilling effect over the unealistic Exorcist.

I disagree. TCM is very believable and is based on real events, with a touch of imbelishment, of course. However, The Exorcist is very realistic in ways. Aside from the religious aspect, and the demonic possesion mumbo-jumbo, Father Karras explained to Chris Macneil that exorcisms have become a thing of the past ever since the discovery of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and the like. So the behavior of Regan can be construed very much as realistic, i.e. her violent rages, her words and actions, and masturbations LOL.

tcm all the way exorcist is boring as hell

all i can say is get an attention span.

The exorcist bothered me for weeks after I watched it. It was those pale faces. Scared the living shit out of me.

TCM, simply because it's stood the test of time much better then the exorcist, IMO.

At the time it was made there had been nothing as depraved, raw, relentless or psychologically brutal as TCM, it used unique and new formulas that had never before been used in the genre, it's use of simple banging, rather then having an actual soundtrack, it's raw, honest depiction of the events on screen, and most importantly, there was never any lead up to any of the major events. The first time we see leatherface is one of the most shocking, surprising and disturbing scene in any horror film, because there was absolutely no lead up too it. There was no pounding music to increase the feeling of suspense and to let the audience know that something bad was going to happen soon, there was nothing to hint that anything was about to happen. One minute, they're looking for gas, the next, a faceless man appears and kills one of the main characters with a hammer, and then disappears as quickly as he appeared. Just one of the many amazing, shocking and unique styles of horror that have never been used as effectively since then. Even today, it's still incredibly jarring and shocking in it's style, depravity and raw soundtrack.

The exorcist was shocking in it's own right, but it was in a more basic "I can't believe they said that/did that/showed that" type of thing, nothing really more then that.

agreed. The Exorcist was dull as all hell for me, not because i have a short attention span, but the movie really did nothing to hold my attention to begin with. TCM on the other hand was compelling, you watch, out of nowhere a guy with a hammer and chainsaw appear and neck on of the characters, you want to know whats gonna happen, you want to watch on, unlike The Exorcist which just drags on for bloody ages. so TCM = shocking and refreshing The Exorcist = dull

Obviously we come to a branch in horror movie fans. One class likes to think and allow their mind to explore the possiblities in the film event occuring which in turn makes the fear linger long after its conclusion. The other rather not use a brain cell just watch mindless killing and gore repeatedly flashed across the screen until eventually it causes a short circuit in the brain which causes their fear switch to finally click on. But I geuss that just my opinion you all free to agree or disagree.