TITLE: The Exorcist Legacy
AUTHOR: Nat Segaloff
PUBLISHER: Citadel
ISBN: 978-0806541945
PODCAST EPISODE: Episode 139
REVIEWER: Hilary Wilson
It’s safe to say that The Exorcist (1973) is one of the most recognizable films in existence. Alluded to by countless other pieces of culture, it is also widely considered one of, if not the, scariest film ever made - even the film set was said to be cursed. The book it was based on is routinely rated one of the scariest books ever written. In a true testament to the popularity of THE EXORCIST, legend trippers and the deeply curious have spent decades trying to find the identity of the boy whose exorcism first inspired Blatty to write the book that started it all, along with the house where the exorcisms took place. All of this isn’t even touching upon the ever-growing list of sequels and prequels studios have produced in hopes of catching the initial film’s lightning in a bottle. None have quite reached that acclaim, but all have been the source of endless debate online. What is it about THE EXORCIST that grips us?
Writer, producer, journalist, publicist, and all-around raconteur Nat Segaloff is uniquely positioned to answer this question. He debuted in Hollywood at the tail end of its Golden Age and hasn’t left since. He penned the definitive biography on William Friedkin, the director of THE EXORCIST among many other classic movies, and struck up a long-lasting friendship with William Peter Blatty, who authored the original book and film script to the movie. In THE EXORCIST LEGACY (Kensington, 2023) Segaloff gives us the definitive book on the history of this film franchise that was never intended to have even a single sequel, whilst also examining the books and true stories behind it all.
Segaloff offers synopses of not only the books and films, but also compares the different versions of the films. These analyses often include interviews with the writers and directors themselves, which creates a more intimate understanding of the media and how it came to be. The book includes a more levelheaded consideration of the curse on the set of the original movie, and an understanding of how and why THE EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC ended up being the universally panned film that it was.
In addition, Segaloff also considers the rites of exorcism itself, and why they persist into modern day. He also examines why the story has had the enduring appeal that it has. Why is it that this film, now 50 years old, still provokes such a strong reaction in younger audiences? Why is it that as people age, the film only gets more frightening - even to secular audiences? To learn some of the possible answers, you’ll have to read the book. When you do, a rewatch of the film will reveal things that even long-time fans likely miss. After all, it’s an excellent day for an exorcism, isn’t it?
AUTHOR: Nat Segaloff
PUBLISHER: Citadel
ISBN: 978-0806541945
PODCAST EPISODE: Episode 139
REVIEWER: Hilary Wilson
It’s safe to say that The Exorcist (1973) is one of the most recognizable films in existence. Alluded to by countless other pieces of culture, it is also widely considered one of, if not the, scariest film ever made - even the film set was said to be cursed. The book it was based on is routinely rated one of the scariest books ever written. In a true testament to the popularity of THE EXORCIST, legend trippers and the deeply curious have spent decades trying to find the identity of the boy whose exorcism first inspired Blatty to write the book that started it all, along with the house where the exorcisms took place. All of this isn’t even touching upon the ever-growing list of sequels and prequels studios have produced in hopes of catching the initial film’s lightning in a bottle. None have quite reached that acclaim, but all have been the source of endless debate online. What is it about THE EXORCIST that grips us?
Writer, producer, journalist, publicist, and all-around raconteur Nat Segaloff is uniquely positioned to answer this question. He debuted in Hollywood at the tail end of its Golden Age and hasn’t left since. He penned the definitive biography on William Friedkin, the director of THE EXORCIST among many other classic movies, and struck up a long-lasting friendship with William Peter Blatty, who authored the original book and film script to the movie. In THE EXORCIST LEGACY (Kensington, 2023) Segaloff gives us the definitive book on the history of this film franchise that was never intended to have even a single sequel, whilst also examining the books and true stories behind it all.
Segaloff offers synopses of not only the books and films, but also compares the different versions of the films. These analyses often include interviews with the writers and directors themselves, which creates a more intimate understanding of the media and how it came to be. The book includes a more levelheaded consideration of the curse on the set of the original movie, and an understanding of how and why THE EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC ended up being the universally panned film that it was.
In addition, Segaloff also considers the rites of exorcism itself, and why they persist into modern day. He also examines why the story has had the enduring appeal that it has. Why is it that this film, now 50 years old, still provokes such a strong reaction in younger audiences? Why is it that as people age, the film only gets more frightening - even to secular audiences? To learn some of the possible answers, you’ll have to read the book. When you do, a rewatch of the film will reveal things that even long-time fans likely miss. After all, it’s an excellent day for an exorcism, isn’t it?