Nicolas Cage has appeared in many movies that are a bit strange. However, there are few genuine horror films in his work. The actor himself likes creepy flicks and names the scariest scene he has ever seen.
Nicolas Cage is a popular actor known for his often quirky roles on screen. These include films like Face/Off, Ghost Rider, and Mandy. In 2024, he was also seen in a horror-thriller called Longlegs which comes highly recommended.
As a cinema viewer, Cage enjoys truly intense horror films, which is reflected in the ones he has named as his favorites. He crowned the scariest scene in cinematic history.
Finest horror from the 1970s
What horror films does Cage like? Often, particularly modern genre representatives focus on effective staging, gore, and as hard kills as possible. Nicolas Cage revealed in a conversation with NME that he does not like this type of horror.
I don’t watch such films; they make me sick. I don’t like it when women are tortured in movies or young people are stabbed or similar. I find that disgusting and quite repulsive. But I like the charm of older horror films like the Hammer horror films I grew up with.
Nicolas Cage
The actor particularly favors atmospheric and psychological horror. However, not only old films count. Modern horror films have also convinced Cage, such as The Witch, Babadook, and It Follows. All three rely heavily on an eerie atmosphere and less on spectacular scenes.
Furthermore, Cage praises the ghost stories of Japanese horror cinema, specifically naming Ringu from 1998. The film was remade in the USA in 2001 as The Ring, but lost some of the terror of the original.
When it comes to naming the scariest scene of all time, Cage does not need to think long. He awards this title to the film The Exorcist by director William Friedkin:
I think “The Exorcist” really set new standards. The last exorcism scene in this film is, in my opinion, the scariest film scene in cinema history.
Nicolas Cage
The mentioned scene lasts about 8 minutes and is hardly surpassed in intensity. In it, the two priests try to free the young girl Regan from the demon Pazuzu. The fact that the possessed one is a child only makes it worse. Her body contorts and flies into the air, her face is distorted, and the sounds Regan makes send chills down the spine.
That Cage’s choice falls on The Exorcist is not surprising. The film is still considered one of the best genre representatives and does not shy away from comparison with modern films – on the contrary. While today’s horror films often focus on visual effects and a lot of fluff, The Exorcist captivates with its simplicity and comparatively manageable story.
Nicolas Cage was only 9 years old at the time of the film’s release. It is not entirely clear whether he had seen it back then, but even adults can find the film profoundly impactful. What do you think about it? Have you seen it? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. The actor has a recommendation in his own work: “For me like a folk song” – Nicolas Cage explains which of his films you must absolutely see
