Posted on 08/12/2004 5:59:12 PM PDT by missyme
Did the Classic Horror Flick Haunt More Than Just the Audience?
When The Exorcist was released late in 1973, it sparked a visceral reaction from the public--literally. There were reports of people vomiting from the fright of a story about a young girl possessed by a demon.
The movie went on to become a massive hit, but few of those who flocked to the film knew about its grueling, nearly yearlong shoot or the tragedies that befell some of the cast and crew. Misfortune also followed the movie's sequels, leading some to wonder: Was there a curse on The Exorcist?
As its prequel, Exorcist: The Beginning, makes its way to theaters, E! delves into the mystery with a new E! True Hollywood Story, premiering Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. We go behind the scenes of the controversial film and reveal just why some believe the movie was cursed.
Whether you buy into curses or not, one thing is indisputable: The filming of The Exorcist was tough on all concerned. From a director who liked to startle his cast to a 12-year-old actress spouting some truly disturbing dialogue to the infamous "pea soup" scene, few escaped the production unscathed.
Subsequent Exorcist films had their share of bad luck as well--although many critics believe that's a result of questionable filmmaking more than any curse. Still, the mystery surrounding the films remains.
Think you can turn heads with your Exorcist knowledge? Then take our devilishly designed quiz, and watch the the Story to find out more about The Exorcist.
The movie URBAN LEGEND touched on all these and was actually pretty good.
It was actually a young boy. Watch "Possession" with Timothy Dalton. It's a haunting movie about the true story.
I may have watched a later version instead of the original Exorcist...who knows.
I never was scared when it came to these Bloody Horror films it was the eerie type movies that would freak me out
When I was a Kid I loved programs like One Step Beyond, Alfred Hitchcock and Twilight Zone plus Chiller they were based on real type situations...
Wait until Dark was a pretty scarry movie also...
The thing about Ouija boards was from the good Father's writings, not mine. I don't beleive in occult crapola. Just MHO.
I saw Possessed, and it was very haunting to say the least. Knowing that most of it was factual really made it stay in my mind.
I think so..The movie starts out in Africa and one of the Preists doing excorcisms out there...One of the priests dies in the movie falls out the window on the steel gate..
I should clarify that I don't believe in things like Ouija boards, voodoo dolls, and that Harry Potter is evil. Actual demonic possession I am not sure about.
The first film begins with Fr. Lankester Merrin, SJ working as an archaeologist in Iraq where there is a statue of an ancient demon. I don't recall much explanation of his background in that film except that he has had "experience" with exorcism before in Africa which almost "killed him." They also refer to him as working on a book at a Jesuit theology college in Maryland (Woodstock College) where he is shown being summoned to perform the exorcism in Washington near Georgetown University. The second film alludes more to Fr. Merrin having performed an exorcism on a boy in Africa, but that film Exorcist II: The Heretic is more focused on another character (Fr. Lamont, played by Richard Burton) who is experiencing some sort of crisis of faith.
There are a couple of "urban legend" type motifs in The Exorcist, which itself has taken on legendary status. The part where they find the one character dead at the bottom of the steps with his "head turned completely around" is one. The police detective (Kindermann) talks about this as a possible sign of a "witchcraft type murder." This is the strange bizarre death motif. There must be something uncanny or highly bizarre and weird about the manner of death, as if killed by occult supernatural force. Something hard to explain or almost impossible. The other is the Ouija board and the imaginary playmate of the little girl, "Captain Howdy." There are entire books now written about the dangers of Ouija boards. But the role of the Ouija is taken from the actual 1949 case. The boy's Aunt was into spiritualism and playing with the Ouija.
If anyone wants to check out a real creepy howler, Eye of the Devil, a Sharon Tate/David Niven film from the '60s is one to rent.
Metrosexual.
http://www.liketelevision.com/web1/classictv/1step/
Do you remember these horror programs?
Hey - it was a Catholic college (and haunted) - what was I to do?
Shouldn't have acted like a...beeyotch! ;)
I dealt with horror movies better than that when I was 10 years old. Really!
I told you - it was a Catholic college!
Well, I suppose that could add an extra element to things...
Are you trying to dig up dirt, or what? ;)
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