--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great thing about 'The Exorcist' is…" description: "\"The great thing about 'The Exorcist' is it's dead serious horror. No comedy, no self-reference, it's a documentary style.\" — Leigh Whannell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/leigh-whannell-4824_comedy_the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it_834988.jpg" --- # The great thing about 'The Exorcist' is it's dead serious… ![“The great thing about 'The Exorcist' is it's dead serious horror. No comedy, no self-reference, it's a documentary style.” quote by Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/leigh-whannell-4824_comedy_the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it_834988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/leigh-whannell-4824_comedy_the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it_834988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/leigh-whannell-4824_comedy_the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it_834988.jpg) > “The great thing about 'The Exorcist' is it's dead serious horror. No comedy, no self-reference, it's a documentary style.” [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Exorcist presents horror without humor or self-awareness, creating a serious documentary-like experience. **In simple terms:** Exorcist is pure, serious horror. Key Takeaway Appreciate horror that stays true to tone. Themes horror authenticity genre purity Mood thoughtful serious Type critical genre analysis When to use this quote - movie night - film analysis - creative writing Key Concepts film theory psychology of fear Questions to Reflect On - Why avoid comedy in horror? - How does seriousness affect fear? A Different Perspective May limit audience appeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) ## Related quotes > [It's in the public domain. That's one of the reasons I do it so much. But luckily, it's a brilliant film \[ Night Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/it-s-in-the-public-domain-that-s-one-of-the-reasons-i-do-it-so-much/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [Somewhere along the way, the ability to make terrifying big budget films like 'The Exorcist' or 'The Shining' was lost, and I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/somewhere-along-the-way-the-ability-to-make-terrifying-big-budget/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [To me, horror and comedy never work. Never worked for me, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/to-me-horror-and-comedy-never-work-never-worked-for-me-anyway/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [I love mixing horror with comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-pascal/i-love-mixing-horror-with-comedy/) [Pedro Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-pascal/) > [“I think that horror and comedy go together for the same reason sweet and sour go together. They compliment each other because both sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cross/i-think-that-horror-and-comedy-go-together-for-the-same-reason-sweet/) [Alistair Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cross/) > [In particular, what I loved about 'Creep' and 'The One I Love' was the combination of naturalism, horror, and comedy that felt kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-duplass/in-particular-what-i-loved-about-creep-and-the-one-i-love-was-the/) [Mark Duplass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-duplass/) > ['Stree' is a horror comedy in which a bridal ghost who is back in town to take revenge from men, she is the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/stree-is-a-horror-comedy-in-which-a-bridal-ghost-who-is-back-in-town/) [Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/) > [I'm really excited to get into the horror-comedy space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-redd/i-m-really-excited-to-get-into-the-horror-comedy-space/) [Chris Redd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-redd/) > [For the first time I tried to involve an important social message about transgenders in the horror comedy genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghava-lawrence/for-the-first-time-i-tried-to-involve-an-important-social-message/) [Raghava Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghava-lawrence/) > [There are a few genres that I am quite sceptical about, for example, horror and comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit-saraf/there-are-a-few-genres-that-i-am-quite-sceptical-about-for-example/) [Rohit Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohit-saraf/) > [I'm a fan of horror-comedy after 'Stree.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sharma/i-m-a-fan-of-horror-comedy-after-stree/) [Varun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sharma/) > [Loads of stuff that I've done has always had a hint of comedy. I did this show called 'Psychoville' that's a horror-comedy. Because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/loads-of-stuff-that-i-ve-done-has-always-had-a-hint-of-comedy-i-did/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [It is pitiful working in the industry and I see the flaws all the time. Though, if I have to watch something, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/it-is-pitiful-working-in-the-industry-and-i-see-the-flaws-all-the/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [The stuff I write with Joe Lo Truglio tends to lean towards horror-comedy and horror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-marino/the-stuff-i-write-with-joe-lo-truglio-tends-to-lean-towards-horror/) [Ken Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-marino/) > [Horror comedy - very rare in Bollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhu-deva/horror-comedy-very-rare-in-bollywood/) [Prabhu Deva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhu-deva/) ## More by Leigh Whannell > [I will say that when it comes to the horror genre, for me, the scariest thing is when something is actually in the frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-will-say-that-when-it-comes-to-the-horror-genre-for-me-the-scariest/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I do try and keep my scripts quite economical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-do-try-and-keep-my-scripts-quite-economical/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I couldn't believe that people went to see 'Saw,' that people actually lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-couldn-t-believe-that-people-went-to-see-saw-that-people-actually/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [After 'Saw,' we got offered every horror remake under the sun, and I was just always thinking, 'I don't see how this could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/after-saw-we-got-offered-every-horror-remake-under-the-sun-and-i-was/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I loved 'The Conjuring' so much. It's really scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-loved-the-conjuring-so-much-it-s-really-scary/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [If you chose to be an actor, if you take that baton and say 'OK, this is what I want to do with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/if-you-chose-to-be-an-actor-if-you-take-that-baton-and-say-ok-this-is/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [When I directed the third 'Insidious' film I loved it so much that I decided this is what I want to do from now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-i-directed-the-third-insidious-film-i-loved-it-so-much-that-i/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I'm not actually terrified of technology. Though I'm certainly not an early adopter, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-m-not-actually-terrified-of-technology-though-i-m-certainly-not-an/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I found myself in this conundrum of loving acting, but not liking the path that you have to take to do it. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-found-myself-in-this-conundrum-of-loving-acting-but-not-liking-the/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [Saw' definitely had an edge to it that wasn't American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/saw-definitely-had-an-edge-to-it-that-wasn-t-american/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [If you look back at a film like 'Dawn of the Dead' - You can either watch it as a straight-up genre film and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/if-you-look-back-at-a-film-like-dawn-of-the-dead-you-can-either-watch/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [You might not have the biggest budget or resources or cast, but if you have a great story, people will latch onto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/you-might-not-have-the-biggest-budget-or-resources-or-cast-but-if-you/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [The movies sort of tell you what they want to be as you're writing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-movies-sort-of-tell-you-what-they-want-to-be-as-you-re-writing/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [When 'Psycho' came out back in 1960, it was seen as an abomination and as this really gory thing. We all watch 'Psycho' today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-psycho-came-out-back-in-1960-it-was-seen-as-an-abomination-and/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [Writing a screenplay is an act of faith. First, that it's interesting enough that anyone would want to make it. Secondly, that anybody would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/writing-a-screenplay-is-an-act-of-faith-first-that-it-s-interesting/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) [Explore all 106 Leigh Whannell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The great thing about 'The Exorcist' is it's dead serious horror. No comedy, no self-reference, it's a documentary style.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leigh Whannell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it-s-dead-serious-horror-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it-s-dead-serious-horror-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/leigh-whannell-4824_comedy_the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it_834988.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/leigh-whannell-4824_comedy_the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it_834988.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/leigh-whannell-4824_comedy_the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it_834988.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The great thing about 'The Exorcist' is it's dead serious horror. No comedy, no self-reference, it's a…” — Leigh Whannell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leigh Whannell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The great thing about 'The Exorcist'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it-s-dead-serious-horror-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-great-thing-about-the-exorcist-is-it-s-dead-serious-horror-no/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```