Page One: “The Exorcist” (1973)

Written for the screen by William Peter Blatty based on his novel.

The original trailer for the movie:

I saw the movie opening weekend. The theater completely freaked out. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a visceral response to a film quite like that. There must have been twenty people or so who left because they couldn’t handle it.

If you watch the movie today, there’s such a slow buildup to the action, a long first act… but it’s great the way it builds the tension, bit by bit.

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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