This year’s Elevenses film club Spooktober special goes deep into the first horror film ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture: The Exorcist (1973). Elysia, David, and John bring their range of experiences – from lifelong aficionado to first-time watcher – into a discussion delving into the special collaboration between book author / screenwriter William Blatty and director William Friedkin, and how this movie helped to define their already exceptional careers. Along the way, they discuss the franchise as a whole, the alleged “curse” behind the production, behind-the-scenes stories, and what’s coming next in The Exorcist universe.

The Exorcist franchise:

• The original trilogy: The Exorcist (1973), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), Exorcist III (1990)
• William Blatty’s Trilogy of Faith books: The Exorcist (1971), The Ninth Configuration (1978) [1980 film adaptation], Legion (1983, adapted into Exorcist III)
• The dueling prequels: Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) vs. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
• Alternative sequels: The Exorcist TV series: (2016-2017, 2 seasons, 10 eps ea.) vs. The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
• The Mike Flanagan “reboot” (partial sequel to Exorcist III): The Exorcist: Martyrs (2027) [trailer]

Other key links discussed:

• SNL parody: The Exorcist 2 (feat. Richard Pryor)
• Documentaries about the original film: The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist (1998) and Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019)
• The Exorcist II documentary: Boorman and the Devil (2026) [trailer]

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