Backstory & Behind the Scenes of ’The Exorcist’

"What an excellent day for an exorcism." William Friedkin's The Exorcist is one of the greatest horror movies in the history of cinema. The movie follows a mother trying to save her daughter from demonic possession and is based on William Peter Blatty’s immensely popular 1971 novel. The Exorcist was released in theaters on December 26, 1973 and stars Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, and Max von Sydow. The production has a reputation as a cursed movie due to strange events that occurred while the movie was filming. Today we are taking a look behind the scenes and exploring the lore, superstition, and stories surrounding this classic.

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Episode Sources:

YouTube - The Exorcist | Audience Reactions 

“What it Was Really Like to See The Exorcist in 1973” by Benjamin Faldo, March 22, 2022, Looper

“Review of The Exorcist” by Roger Ebert, December 26, 1973, rogerebert.com

“Was ‘The Exorcist’ a Cursed Production?” By Rihanna Malays, October 11, 2022, Collider

“Audiences had some intense reactions to The Exorcist in 1973” by Mike Vanderbilt, May 21, 2015, AV Club

“Mercedes McCambridge, 87, Actress Known for Strong Roles” by The Associated Press, March 18, 2004, The New York Times

“30 Wild Details Behind The Making of The Exorcist” by Christopher Fiduccia, October 21, 2018, Screen Rant

“The Real and Terrifying Injury Caused on the Set of The Exorcist” by Maria Felix, June 28, 2021, Looper

The Exorcist” Blog Post by nitrategeek on October 24, 2011, Stories Behind the Screen

“Boy whose case inspired The Exorcist is named by US magazine” by Maya Yang, December 20, 2021, The Guardian

“Priest Frees Mt. Rainier Boy Reported Held in Devil’s Grip” by Bill Brinkley, August 20, 1949, Washington Post

“Will the Real Devil Speak Up? Yes!” By Charles Higham, January 27, 1974, The New York Times

“Why Was The Exorcist So Controversial?” By Aya Tsintziras, March 6, 2023, Game Rant

“Pazuzu: Mesopotamian religion” by Rebecca M. Kulik, Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Britannica.com

“Banned, cursed, evil and adored - what makes The Exorcist so terrifying?” By Matt Glasby, September 25, 2020, Flicks

“True Horror Inside The Exorcist curse - from mysterious cast deaths to a frame fire and broken jaw as film is set for a reboot” by Josh Saunders, July 28, 2021, The U.S. Sun

"The Exorcist: Believer’ is the Official Title of David Gordon Green’s Sequel” by John Squires, April 26, 2023, Bloody-Disgusting.com

 

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