The Exorcist and 4 disturbing movies that made audiences ill

The Exorcist is one of the most terrifying films to ever grace the silver screen. It was so disturbing that some audience members fainted. What other movies have had the same effect?

The Exorcist is a classic production that never fails to make critics’ lists for one of the best horror movies of all time. When it was released in 1973, according to The New York Times, some audience members were so disturbed that they fainted or actually became ill.

In addition to The Exorcist, other productions such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes and Evil Dead have also had the same effect on moviegoers. We decided to take a look at some other productions that have a reputation for being terrifying.

The Conjuring 2

This particular installment in the James Wan franchise introduced the viewing audience to Valak, a demon that masqueraded as a nun. While this film had its moments, in our opinion, it wasn’t quite as horrifying as the original story.

Looper reported that an elderly gentleman from India complained of chest pains toward the end of The Conjuring 2. He fainted and was rushed to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

As if that weren’t a strange occurrence, the man’s body and the attendant that was handling it were reported missing. Is his disappearance indicative of something supernatural taking place? Guess this incident will just remain a mystery.

The Green Inferno

Eli Roth is known for his visceral films like the Hostel series and The Green Inferno. Not one to shy away from blood and gore, it wouldn’t be entirely unbelievable if someone had an adverse reaction to one of his works.

The Green Inferno deals with cannibalism and features extremely graphic scenes of ritual behavior. Newshub recounted the fact that a woman fainted at a screening of the production at the Deauville American Film Festival in France in 2015.

Later that day, Roth posted on Instagram informing his followers about what happened declaring it to be “the best review ever!!!!”

Freaks (1932)

Tod Browning’s classic horror work is about a money hungry trapeze artist in a circus named Cleopatra who marries Hans, a fellow performer only because he has an inheritance. He is madly in love with her but she has other designs.

Cleo has plans to steal his money and run off with her lover, Hercules, the strong man. However, once her true intentions are revealed, Hans and his fellow troupe members exact a horrendous revenge on the pair while chanting ominously, “One of us! One of us!”

Legend has it that a woman who witnessed a test screening ended up having a miscarriage. Whether or not this really occurred has never been proven.

Dracula (1931)

The original version of Bram Stoker’s cursed Count (also directed by Tod Browning) starring Bela Lugosi doesn’t seem frightening in retrospect. There is no gratuitous violence, bloodshed or gore.

Whenever Lugosi would bite the neck of one of his victims, it was said that women in the audience literally swooned. Since the actor was considered handsome, the mere fact that he was visiting the fairer sex in their bedrooms was perceived as being scandalous.

One could say that they were overcome with the idea of being one of his “Children of the Night.”

All of these films can be viewed on Amazon Prime and VUDU.

What horror films disturb you? Let us know in the comments.