Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The "Exorcist" Returns
http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/TheExorcist/index.html ^ | August 12th, 2004

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.


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: movies; theexorcist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 221-237 next last
To: missyme
Possession on aisle three, possession on aisle three...


61 posted on 08/12/2004 6:52:17 PM PDT by Begin (RIP RWR 1911-2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sunshine55

http://mfile.akamai.com/3171/wm2/muze.download.akamai.com/2890/us/uswm2/108/131108_1_01.asx?obj=v21223


62 posted on 08/12/2004 6:52:25 PM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ErnBatavia

I am not ashamed to say that, as a horror-movie wuss, I haven't seen it. :) I did see the original HALLOWEEN, which is the scariest film -I've- ever seen!


63 posted on 08/12/2004 6:52:44 PM PDT by TheBigB (I'm more frustrated than a legless Ethiopian watching a doughnut roll down a hill.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: rwfromkansas
I guess the devil likes to make his presence known.

Actually, the opposite is generally true. He'd love for us to believe that he doesn't exist. It seems that he can't help himself sometimes, especially when he's being "outed."

64 posted on 08/12/2004 6:53:00 PM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: TheBigB

"Stay away from anything dealing with the occult, including Ouija boards."

You're right. Years ago, at work, we had a lull. One of the girls brought in a Ouija board. We were fooling around with it just for fun. A co-worker came in into our office (by the way, she was a Republican and conservative, the last person on the face of the earth who you would ever think knew anything about the occult). She told us that we had to call on a spirit. Our spirit was "J" from "Hel" and he was nine years old.

We ditched the board. Don't mess with it.


65 posted on 08/12/2004 6:53:00 PM PDT by ladylib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Begin

Terry Kerry?


66 posted on 08/12/2004 6:54:06 PM PDT by ladylib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: missyme

I saw the original Exorcist when it came out and was scared out of my wits. The next week, I decided to go see it again...what a difference! When you know what is coming, it changes everything -- the film was so awful that I laughed at myself for ever being scared by it. It reminded me of the time I was in Disneyland as a kid riding the Peter Pan ride (do they even still have it anymore or has it gone the way of the rocketship to the moon?) The ride got stuck for a while and I was up in the air, hovering over a beautiful nighttime scene of 19th century London. Then the "work lights" came on as they attempted to get the ride back on-line. The harsh lights revealed that quaint London was a crappy, paint-blistered collection of propped-up cardboard. I had the same reaction when seeing The Exorcist a second time -- all the seams were showing.


67 posted on 08/12/2004 6:54:09 PM PDT by Harpo Speaks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TheBigB; All
Halloween is Bambi compared to The Exorcist.

What's this Hill House movie? What's it about? Is it also based on actual events?

68 posted on 08/12/2004 6:54:41 PM PDT by workerbee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: missyme

I saw the original Exorcist when it came out and was scared out of my wits. The next week, I decided to go see it again...what a difference! When you know what is coming, it changes everything -- the film was so awful that I laughed at myself for ever being scared by it. It reminded me of the time I was in Disneyland as a kid riding the Peter Pan ride (do they even still have it anymore or has it gone the way of the rocketship to the moon?) The ride got stuck for a while and I was up in the air, hovering over a beautiful nighttime scene of 19th century London. Then the "work lights" came on as they attempted to get the ride back on-line. The harsh lights revealed that quaint London was a crappy, paint-blistered collection of propped-up cardboard. I had the same reaction when seeing The Exorcist a second time -- all the seams were showing.


69 posted on 08/12/2004 6:55:17 PM PDT by Harpo Speaks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ladylib
We ditched the board.

You have to burn it, you know. Check your local fire regs first, of course.

70 posted on 08/12/2004 6:56:12 PM PDT by RightWhale (Withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and establish property rights)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: FlJoePa

If you like these types of movies, you should check out "Lost Souls," starring Wynona Ryder. Not quite up to the level of the others we've touched upon, but one "hell" of a good movie, nonetheless.


71 posted on 08/12/2004 6:56:29 PM PDT by NCPAC ((Live without Fear: Don't worry about what may happen. Concentrate on what must be done.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: TheBigB

Aunt died from being possessed?


72 posted on 08/12/2004 6:56:51 PM PDT by missyme
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: TheBigB
One must remember that the book and especially the movie have certain sensational, "hollywoodesque" elements which are purely fictional.

Fr. Lebar, the exorcist for the archdiocese of NY, stated in an interview on Catholic Answers that the movie portrayal is accurate, but it represents a conflation of all of the phenomena that he's experienced when performing exorcisms.

He's seen the posessed levitate. He's heard people speak in dead languages. He's even seen the head-spinning thing. He said it's an illusion, similar to the way ice skaters and ballerinas pirouette. The head doesn't actually rotate 180 degrees. The body rotates as well.

73 posted on 08/12/2004 6:57:01 PM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: missyme

Um, no. Postulation is that her death is what led to the possession of the boy. Go back and re-read my original posting. Slowly.


74 posted on 08/12/2004 6:59:14 PM PDT by TheBigB (I'm more frustrated than a legless Ethiopian watching a doughnut roll down a hill.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: zip

ping


75 posted on 08/12/2004 7:00:00 PM PDT by Mrs Zip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ladylib

I remember some stupid thing in high school where you looked in the mirror and said some evil ladies name 3 times and she was suppose to appear in the mirror I never did but I had friends that did and saw her oh well..I am pretty much a chicken when it comes to scarry stuff....


76 posted on 08/12/2004 7:00:21 PM PDT by missyme
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Aquinasfan

Do you know if Lebar involved in any of the investigations of the Amityville house? I thought I remember hearing the Church did look into that but don't know if any of it was ever substantiated as satanic.


77 posted on 08/12/2004 7:04:28 PM PDT by workerbee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: workerbee

I agree Halloween, Freddie none of the Horror movies compare to the Excorcist...The Music is awful when there in Africa it is freaky the whole movie leaves you in a frozen state of fear....


78 posted on 08/12/2004 7:04:30 PM PDT by missyme
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale

We gave it to Jimmy, one of the maintenance men at work. He said he chucked it in the furnace.


79 posted on 08/12/2004 7:04:50 PM PDT by ladylib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: missyme; since1868
I thought it was a true story about a little girl in Baltimore Maryland? 20 posted on 08/12/2004 6:30:29 PM PDT by missyme

Boy in Maryland, yes, but closer to Washington. Cottage City or Mt. Rainier, Maryland (Washington, DC suburbs) depending on which version of the story is followed. He was examined by a Lutheran pastor before being referred to the Catholic Church. A Fr. Hughes attempted the first exorcism in Maryland, but suffered a serious injury (lacerated arm). The boy was taken to Georgetown University hospital and then to St. Louis University. Fr. William Bowdern, SJ, of St. Louis, performed the exorcism.

This was in 1949.

80 posted on 08/12/2004 7:05:02 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 221-237 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson