It versus the Exorcist

[Schmidty]

When I was staying after waiting for the teachers attention, I decided to read some more of the "Danse Macabre" before I had to return it to the library. Then another teacher walked in and asked me what I was reading. After getting a whole conversation that "It" was scary and how the teacher had to put a towel over the book because the cover scared her and blah-blah-blah. Then the other teacher said that the Exorcist was scary too.(At this point I think these teachers are being ridiculous.) So what I wanna know is "It" more scarier than "The Exorcist" or vice versa?

[J.T. Adams]

The Exorcist for me.

[GNTLGNT]

The Exorcist is a classic, but it bored the dog snot out of me...whereas IT has haunted me for years...

[Spideyman]

IT was way more scarier. Details, description, nightmares!!

[~Ally~]

Well they are two very different stories and will affect people in varying ways, yet asking a question like that on SK's website is likely to lead to a biased result.
IT is my favourite story of all time...I've just recently finished another re~read. IT's like my comfort blanket.

However, The Exorcist is another favourite story of mine. In fact, they have just released a 40th anniversary revised and expanded edition that I'm going to buy. The movie version of The Exorcist is not scary, although I can understand why it was deemed the "scariest movie ever" for the generation when it was released. I guess over time we have become hardened to horrors on~screen, therefore many people now view The Exorcist as tame. But the book?? Now that's a different story! I find this immensely more intense and scarier than the movie. As always there's a lot more detail in written format, but this story really got inside my head and under my skin.

Anyhoo, all waffling aside, have you read either story? The best way to judge is from your own perspective, not what other people feel.
IT is my favourite story, but The Exorcist isn't far behind.

[Schmidty]

I did realize the bias results I would get. I haven't read either story but I have seen the movies in which neither have scared me.(After a while I can predict when the monster is going to jump out or I can tell when the monster is computer generated, which I hate.) I do plan to read both books as soon as I find the time.

But now I have another thought/question.

What would it be like if Stephen King wrote a text book on chemistry or math ( Attack of the 7's sounds kinda funny)?
Maybe school for some people will be more interesting.

[Out of Order]

I would go with The Exorcist in this match-up with IT, when talking movies, while IT gets the nod in print form.

[~Ally~]

I haven't read either story but I have seen the movies in which neither have scared me.

Yup, neither of the movies have ever scared me, but both of the books have, no matter how many times I've read them.

For me there's nothing scarier than the images our own mind can create when reading these type of books.

And just remember..."Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win."

[wick]

It most definitely. It gave me nightmares not to be believed, and to make matters worse at the time my room was decorated with clowns.

[bryantburnette]

If we're talking novels, it's It by a mile.

If we're talking movies, it's The Exorcist by two miles.