The Exorcist

(Paperback, 2nd edition)

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Inspired by an alleged real case of demonic possession in 1949, The Exorcist became an international phenomenon on its release in 1973. A blockbusting adaptation of a best-selling novel, it was praised as deeply spiritual by some sections of the Catholic Church while being picketed by the Festival of Light and branded Satanic by the evangelist Billy Graham. Banned on video in the UK for nearly fifteen years, the film still retains an extraordinary power to shock and startle. Mark Kermodes compelling study of this horror classic was originally published in 1997, and then extensively updated and expanded in 2003 to incorporate the discovery of new material. This revised edition documents the deletion and reinstatement of key scenes that have now been integrated into the film to create The Exorcist: The Version Youve Never Seen. Candid interviews with director William Friedkin and writer/producer William Peter Blatty reveal the behind the-scenes battles which took place during the production. In addition, exclusive stills reveal the truth about the legendary subliminal images allegedly lurking within the celluloid.

Author Bio

Mark Kermode is a writer and broadcaster. He is chief film critic for The Observer, and co-presenter of Kermode and Mayos Film Review on BBC Radio 5 and The Film Review on the BBC News channel. He is the author of several books including How Does it Feel, Hatchet Job, Its Only a Movie, and The Good, the Bad and the Multiplex, and two other BFI Film Classics on Silent Running and The Shawshank Redemption.