The distorted, agonised voice of Pazuzu from The Exorcist, heard during the exorcism scenes and reused in horror edits and memes for shock and dread.
The clip captures Pazuzu, the demon possessing Regan in The Exorcist, in a moment of torment rather than menace, with a raw, guttural voice that cracks, growls and strains as if the entity itself is being hurt. Layered groans, raspy breathing and distorted vocal effects make it feel unnatural and deeply unsettling, far removed from a normal human scream. Played on its own, it instantly creates dread, disgust or dark humour depending on context, because listeners recognise the famous horror voice and expect something terrible to follow. It works best as a sudden shock, leaving the audience uneasy long after the eleven seconds end.
The Exorcist, released in 1973, remains one of the most influential horror films ever made, and Pazuzu is the ancient demon that possesses young Regan MacNeil. The demon's voice, created through vocal performance and sound design rather than a single natural scream, became instantly recognisable to horror fans. Short clips from the exorcism scenes have circulated for years on soundboards, video edits and social media, where the sound signals demonic possession or extreme terror without needing any visual context. Its fame and raw, unsettling tone keep it in regular use for Halloween content and horror parodies.