i just learned that, in looking up a few details to refresh my memory today. such a crazy movie. i remember it being truly horrific and upsetting in my early 20s, but i was reminded most of the violence is off camera/implied while you're watching the reactions of the children. so its not gross, or as bill would say, "not exploitative" which drove his interest in directing. like he was worried some other director would fuck it up by making a graphically violent modern slasher.

its interesting to see how controversial it is too, for effectively using horror movie techniques from 1950s hollywood, mostly taking place in the 1970s. admittedly, the plot concept is pretty ballsy even today.

like some people hate it and, perhaps more frighteningly, some see it as confirmation of their religious extremism. yikes!

to me its just horror done extremely well, because i am still horrified by it's story decades later. kudos to paxton. what a fucking movie.