In the movie The Exorcist lighting is such a huge part of the feel of the movie. The movie is part of the supernatural horror genre and in that sense most of the scariest scenes are shot with low key lighting.One of the most iconic images showing classic low key lighting is the picture used in the advertising of the movie.

    In this picture we see the dark silhouette of the priest most of the picture draped in darkness. We have read from our test that one feature of low key lighting is "a single source of light, coming from the back or the side of the main characters" (Goodykoontz, 2014). This is very obvious in the picture above. That with the misty and grainy look of the picture gives the feeling of dread and foreboding. As the movie progresses we see them use dim low lighting where shadows are visible and as the scenes become more and more scary the lighting gets darker with more focused light to the actors from the back or side. The coloring of the film is also subdued and muted. Between the lighting and the use of muted color we get the overall feeling that things are not going to turn out well for some of the characters. In the following clip you can see how the lighting and color use is very much part of the mise en scene, 

If the cinematographer had chosen to use a more commercial three point lighting I do not believe we would have been so freaked out. Whats the first thing we do when alone and scared in the dark? We turn on the lights. Watching a scary movie is easier to get through if in watched in the daytime or with a house full of lights on, well done Owen Roizman.

References :

Goodykoontz, B. &. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Image retrieved from website: 

https://verdoux.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/the-exorcist.jpg

daisyhinojosa23, (2010, Dec, 12) The Exorcist, Video retrieved from Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6nmnPfs3EQ