Why horror kills at the box office

The Exorcist, written by William Peter Blatty, tells the story of Regan MacNeil, a 12-year-old girl who becomes possessed by an evil spirit. Her mother, Chris MacNeil, a successful actress, seeks help from two priests: Father Damien Karras, a Jesuit priest and psychiatrist struggling with his faith, and Father Lankester Merrin, an elderly priest with experience in exorcisms. The novel explores themes of faith, redemption, and the battle between good and evil as the priests perform an exorcism to save Regan. The story is intense and graphic, delving into the psychological and supernatural aspects of the possession and the exorcism process. It was inspired by a real-life case of demonic possession in the 1940s and has become a classic in the horror genre.

Published in 1967, 'Rosemary's Baby' is a classic horror novel by Ira Levin. The story revolves around Rosemary Woodhouse and her husband Guy, who move into the historic and eerie Bramford apartment building in New York City. As Rosemary becomes pregnant, she begins to suspect that her neighbors, the Castevets, and her husband are involved in a Satanic cult that intends to use her baby for sinister purposes. The novel builds tension through Rosemary's growing paranoia and her desperate attempts to uncover the truth, culminating in a chilling revelation about her child's true nature. The book is praised for its masterful blend of psychological suspense and horror, setting the stage for the modern horror genre.