Quentin Tarantino Reveals the Horror Film He Thinks Is Absolutely Killer

Quentin Tarantino has always been very serious about how movies should be watched. He strongly believes in real film, especially 35mm, and not digital formats. That belief shapes everything he does at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles, the theater he owns and programs himself.

Many of the films shown there are classic titles, and horror movies often take center stage during October. One screening that still gets talked about involved the 1973 horror classic The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin.

The film tells the story of a young girl who becomes possessed and the disturbing effort to save her. Getting the movie ready for the New Beverly was not easy. Friedkin was known for being very strict about how his films were shown, and he usually did not allow physical film prints to be used.

Tarantino explained what happened during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. He said Friedkin normally only approved digital versions for modern screenings. That created a problem because the New Beverly does not use digital projection at all.

Instead of giving up, Tarantino decided to contact Friedkin directly and ask for special permission to show a 35mm print he already had. The request worked. Friedkin allowed Warner Bros. to approve the screening for a short run.

Tarantino later described the experience as unforgettable. “It was mesmerizing and absolutely killer,” he said, adding that he watched the film twice in one month and felt its power every time.

The screening also made Tarantino reflect on his own limits as a filmmaker. He admitted that he could never make a movie like The Exorcist. He explained that Friedkin’s calm, serious tone and steady pace were things he personally could not match. He said trying to do that kind of film would feel like working at half speed.

Even while thinking about past classics, Tarantino remains busy. As of February, he is getting attention for returning to acting in the drama Only What We Carry. The film is directed by Jamie Adams and stars Simon Pegg and Sofia Boutella.

Tarantino plays a publisher living in Normandy, which marks his biggest acting role in about thirty years. The movie is expected to premiere at upcoming film festivals. He is also active as a writer. Tarantino wrote the script for The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

David Fincher is directing the film, while Brad Pitt returns as the stuntman Cliff Booth. The story is set in the late 1970s and follows Booth as a Hollywood fixer. A teaser shown during the Super Bowl helped build early excitement for the project.

At the same time, the New Beverly Cinema continues to do well under Tarantino’s care. He has also been working on projects outside traditional film, including a Kill Bill experience for Fortnite and the upcoming digital release of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair on February 17.

Do you think letting David Fincher direct The Adventures of Cliff Booth will bring something new to the characters, or should Tarantino always stay behind the camera for his own stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.