50 years ago, a feature film was supposed to leave an indelible mark on the collective imagination, but also on horror cinema as a whole. His title: The Exorcist, the undisputed masterpiece of the late William Friedkin. And even after five decades, the film continues to expand its legacy, with a sixth chapter set to hit theaters in just a few days.
Whether you’re a horror fan or not, the simple mention of the title “The Exorcist” stirs up a precise, often visceral memory in each of us. For some, it evokes a feeling of pure terror. For others, it’s trips with friends to the local video store to put together the perfect program for an evening full of strong emotions. And for true fans of horror cinema, it’s the pleasure of seeing one of the most important works of the 20th century for the first time.
Not less.
Because “The Exorcist” is immediately imprinted in our memory as soon as we discover it. Let’s be honest, we all thought twice before swallowing a big mouthful of weight soup, a food that served as a stand-in during the filming of the unforgettable projectile regurgitation scenes. The film adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s novel is about a little girl who is possessed by a powerful demon who will make life difficult for the priests charged with saving her soul.
A spot at the Oscars
“The Exorcist” paved the way for genre films at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, with William Friedkin’s work becoming the first to receive a Best Picture nomination. She finally managed to get her hands on two golden statuettes, the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and the one for Sound Mixing. That same year, the film also won three Golden Globes, including Best Supporting Actress for Linda Blair.
These awards had a high symbolic value: the doors were now open for cinema in this genre. Films like Jaws, Silence of the Lambs and Get Out followed in the footsteps of The Exorcist and were featured in the most prestigious categories at future ceremonies.
Sequels and Derivatives
However, the reputation of William Friedkin’s film took a hit a few years after its release when The Exorcist II: The Heretic hit theaters. This unanimously criticized (the word is used very liberally) work by John Boorman was long considered the worst sequel in the history of cinema. Even the undeniable charisma of Linda Blair and the presence of Louise Fletcher (“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”) in the credits couldn’t make up for the incoherent plot and ridiculous dialogue delivered here.
In the years that followed, the saga was expanded with four more sequels (let’s be honest: of varying quality) and a television series, only to be dormant again… until today.
Polarizing figure
Therefore, in a few days we will be able to discover the new film “The Exorcist: Devotion”, made available by the American filmmaker David Gordon Green. The latter has been a particularly polarizing figure in the world of horror since he breathed new life into the Halloween saga in 2018 with a vision that divided fans, to say the least.
Will you be able to attract more fans this time? There is hope, especially since actress Ellen Burstyn accepted his invitation to take on the role of Chris MacNeil for the first time since the original work. And even though Linda Blair didn’t want to appear on screen, she was still hired as a consultant for this project.
With another chapter already confirmed – The Exorcist: Deceiver will be released in April 2025 – horror fans are keeping their fingers crossed.
– The Exorcist: Devotion releases October 6th.