The Exorcist - EWTN with William Blatty and William Friedkin

[@fritzidler9871]

"The Exorcist" is the book William Peter Blatty was born to write. An English major, an established professional writer, years of thought and research based on a real life exorcism he was obsessed by, along with his personal life and emotions, went into this novel. No one else could have pulled this off so brilliantly, or disturbingly.

[@fjgasior]

Eternal rest grant unto William Blatty, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Rest in peace, Mr. Blatty. Thank you for your art.

[@foosbooze263]

These guys were the best. It saddens me that Mr. Friedkin no longer gets to see or talk to his dear friend Mr. Batty. Life is too short. You never have enough time.

[@Powwer69]

I saw the whole movie when I was 9 yrs old, and it terrified me. I couldn't sleep right for a week, probably more. It drove me to research deeper into Christianity. This is my favorite horror film because it's the only movie that still scares me to this day. No other horror movie even holds a candle to this film. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a first edition of the book. Sadly, ill never be able to get it signed.

[@skummtoons6686]

The book is scarier than the movie. You put in your own visuals and interpretation of it. I saw the re-release in the theater. WAY better than home viewing. Sound, atmosphere, nowhere to run, etc. Hahaha.

[@skummtoons6686]

@Su Ya Rouhola It messes with your mind.. Eg: When Kinderman (the cop) was outside sitting in his car and looked up at the window and saw Regan's shadow floating around the room. THAT TELLS YOU SHE CAN GET OUT OF THE STRAPS!!! That freaked me out.

[@skummtoons6686]

@Su Ya Rouhola Definitely, me too. I'm 52 and still get freaked out. Or the part when the nanny, Sharon calls father Karras over in the middle of the night to see "help me" appear on Regan's stomach. WHY WAS SHE IN THAT ROOM CHANGING HER NIGHTGOWN?? Does that really matter?? Hahaha. Not me, no way. "Stay the hell out of there lady!". Idk, just a movie but still. Hehe 😀

[@skummtoons6686]

@Su Ya Rouhola Hahaha, and I apologise for that. 😀. The scary thing is, that possibly could actually happen and according to Blatty and a priest, it did happen in the 40's. That's what gave Blatty the idea to write the book. It's like the more times you see it, the more you like it. How many other movies can you say made the audience pass out, throw up, run out of the theater all together in fear? None that I can think of.

[@skummtoons6686]

@Su Ya Rouhola Yes it was, only it was a 14yr old boy. Guess it took 2-3 months for him to be rid of the demon. The boy is still alive to this day, but doesn't remember any of it. Ok, I'll stop for now., haha😀 you don't need to be freaked out any more than you are now. Good talking with you, 🙏🙏📿

[@rickykilby4672]

Simply a great film,acting direction,story,sound design all excellent ,a cinematic masterpiece

[@iranforever1566]

I can not believe why he did not win the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director ........ The Academy Award sometimes really kills !! Anyway, this movie is really a masterpiece of world cinema, even higher than Hitchcock! I would love to know if Hitchcock, Kubrick, Fellini, Kurosawa and other world-renowned directors can see this film and what do they think about such a masterpiece?

[@ThomasLuca]

Both Bills are a #MasterofCinema and #MasterofStorytelling

[@ferabra8939]

The Exorcist is movie making at its best. The film has multiple layers apart from the obvious that make it work. Very interesting to hear them say that Shirley MacLaine was indeed the model for Chris.

[@sheamalvasio2832]

I always knew this movie was about faith and the mystery of ones destiny on this planet. Good vs evil the ability to live a fearless life and to stare evil in the face. The ability to rise up and marvel in your beauty in the streets of God.

[@elliemccarthy3487]

It’s more than a horror , it’s a psychological masterpiece

[@colderbeer]

WOW....Never realized that in THE EXORCIST, the Devil's real target was Father Karras, and not the young girl. Blatty saying this gives me a new perspective.....awesome interview.

[@worldprez6655]

Yeah that makes a lot of sense

[@joancacia7714]

It was Fr Merrin, not Fr Karras.

[@colderbeer]

Yeah, the demon took pleasure at mocking Father Karras for sure....

[@corybritton1804]

You Too thank you, none of the rest of us watched the movie, dork

[@deepalall647]

Watch The Exorcist III and you will understand more.

[@tomblinzig7307]

R.I.P. William Peter Blatty. You will be missed. 😔

[@GucciGambino1967]

I was in 7th grade & seen it on a reel film projector at a youth fellowship @ church for Christ sakes! True story.

[@israelbishop9296]

LMAO

[@lwmson]

I thought that deleting that "spider walk" scene was a terrible mistake. Of all of the filmed scenes, that the scariest.

[@mmoran3]

They wanted to use the spiderwalk scene badly, however, they couldn't find a way to hide the wires attached to the actress in that scene. They finally decided to exclude it rather than risk the audience noticing them in the final cut. Of course years later in 2000 when they re released the movie, they had the technology to remove the wires in the scene.

[@joancacia7714]

I was 14 when I saw this movie in the theater (yeah, I snuck in, lol). I had to sleep for 2 weeks on the sofa (my dad slept on the other sofa due to his back issues) bc I was afraid to sleep in my bedroom. 4 years later I had become a Catholic (albeit the Traditional form bc they're the only ones that still truly believe in the devil's existence.) I am now 57 and have never once regretted entering the Church! Oh, and I wear a blessed St Benedict Medal 24/7, it contains an exorcism prayer.

[@georgeroberts9111]

Dear Joan. I'm happy you feel the Roman Church has filled your void. I'm Protestant, and yes, the movie bothered me GREATLY. It changed my ENTIRE LIFE. It put a face on EVIL. NOW... I'm no longer afraid. JESUS CHRIST is My TRUE SALVATION. I do wish to ask you what you think of Mary being deified as equal to GOD. We Protestant do not have all the SAINTS and such. Purgatory is NOT REAL~! find it in the Bible and get back to me. respectfully GR~!

[@joancacia7714]

Well, based on your comments its very clear you don't understand what the Catholic Faith actually teaches. Mary is not deified as a goddess as you claim. Catholics ask her to intercede for them, the same as if we would ask someone we know to intercede (pray) for us as well. That is why the term ora pro nobis (pray for us) is applied after Mary is addressed. You see, there is the Church Suffering (Christians in purgatory temporarily), the Church Triumphant (Christians who have passed to the next life), and the Church Militant (living Christians). ALL are part of the Church, whether living or dead and so we ask their intercession. As for purgatory, it is a very ancient belief that originated in Judaism...something I know a lot about since I grew up an Orthodox Jew. Purgatory (praying for the dead) is in the real Bible, not the one protestants use. It is found in the LXX (Septuagint), the Bible used by Jesus and the first Christians, in 2 Maccabees. You see, the protestants left out several books from the actual Bible. For your info, I have had much experience with protestantism, my husband is an ex protestant, and I attended a number of protestant churches to rule them out possibly, before becoming a Catholic. I never felt the presence of Christ until I entered a Catholic Church, and that is because they and only they have the Real Presence of Christ in them.

[@BirdsnBlooms1]

The Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus. She isn't an ordinary woman. She is Blessed, as Archangel Gabriel proclaimed.

[@BirdsnBlooms1]

Guess you never read The Bible, Bob. Read Matthew and Luke.

[@BirdsnBlooms1]

Bob, did you know Muslims believe in the Virgin Mary?

[@chickenpotpie84]

Don't play with The Board and u have nothing to worry about. Somethings are just better left alone......... I'm telling u

[@terrycrotts2522]

That first line was one of the most powerful lines ever spoken in a movie. Still gives me chills. Ellen burnstyn was fantastic.

[@iranforever1566]

I can not believe why he did not win the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director ........ The Academy Award sometimes really kills !! Anyway, this movie is really a masterpiece of world cinema, even higher than Hitchcock! I would love to know if Hitchcock, Kubrick, Fellini, Kurosawa and other world-renowned directors can see this film and what do they think about such a masterpiece?

[@eugeniasyro7315]

The book is ten times scarier than the movie. It really gets into your Psyche.

[@foosbooze263]

For me the movie does too. It sticks with me for weeks afterwards. I don’t dare read the book. Lol

[@grahamlive]

Even though Blatty and Friedkin the film is about faith and their belief in demons and angels etc. but even as an atheist I appreciate and love this movie.

[@deepalall647]

It's a psychological thriller that's why people love it.Religion is just one of the characters in the movie.

[@oscardelgado2109]

La mejor pelìcula de terror de todos los tiempos...sin duda alguna!!!!

[@iranforever1566]

I can not believe why he did not win the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director ........ The Academy Award sometimes really kills !! Anyway, this movie is really a masterpiece of world cinema, even higher than Hitchcock! I would love to know if Hitchcock, Kubrick, Fellini, Kurosawa and other world-renowned directors can see this film and what do they think about such a masterpiece?

[@elliemccarthy3487]

I prefer the scene of the two priests talking about why ?

[@elliemccarthy3487]

What a review of the best film ever made go to the source

[@anthonycarpenter6317]

I think Exorcist 3 is just as good and is my fav movie even over the Original..But the Original is without a doubt the Scariest Movie of All Time!!

[@johnnymclaneutah]

oh no... you can't say that! you gotta like the original more than anything because of reasons.

[@lwmson]

Exorcist 3 good? You're the only person I ever heard say that. Both sequels to the Exorcist are considered to be the worst sequels ever made.

[@lwmson]

@mistersurrealist To each it's own. But all I know is that you belong to a VERY small minority.

[@lwmson]

@mistersurrealist I dunno . I'm 57 and I saw the original movie when I was a kid and I'll forget the impact it had, so maybe it depends on the standard it's measured by. Maybe those like you who i assume are much younger than me, measure the movie by a general standard and not the original. But as I said to each it's own.

[@ULTRAWIDE.]

joe jones not sure where you got your info from the but the second one is considered one of the worst films ever made. Not the third. While not as good as the original it’s thought of as a pretty decent follow up.

[@teressakarr3610]

Blattey is right,that conversation should have been left in. The head spin should have been left out. Great that friedkin realized this in his lifetime. One of the greatest movie ever made .

[@CelticSaint]

RIP Mr Blatty.

[@David-sc2ir]

About five years before 'The Exorcists' was 'Night Of the Living Dead'. That was far scarier to me as a kid. What I can't figure out is why the heck my parents let a 11 year old watch either one of these? Love both movies... total classics!

[@MistressMary...22-u9j]

exorcist, jaws and texas chainsaw massacre scared audiances more than any other movies, the 70s knew how to make films

[@Abr022575]

It is rich how these guys banter about the subject matter like it is an open mic night at Joey Bishop's place

[@cfx5000]

That scene. Where the two priests are both sitting in the stairwell, is the most profound scene in the film. They are exhausted both mentally and physically as is the audience and or the watcher. Everyone at this point is convinced the battle is futile.

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

dude, this movie came out in 1973, one year before i was born

[@Viperkal]

At 3:02, Raymond putting on his brave face.

[@happy543210]

i prefer the original rather than the re-edit. i don't care what anybody says.

[@kidpoker9408]

agree i dont like the demon face

[@happy543210]

@Frank Fuentes go fuck yourself

[@foosbooze263]

I agree. Although I wish there was a new cut that kept the Father Karras-Marrin staircase scene, the scene with the doctor and Chris about what Regan said, the original (tongue not blood) spider walk only added to the original theatrical. I love the theatrical and its perfect. However these scenes wouldn’t hurt the film in any way. The “new” ending is too happy for me, the digital faces are terrible (why is one on the stove?). Karras’s mom’s face on his before he jumps out window? Lmfao. Both cuts have their merits but theatrical was/is and always be perfect.

[@VCRrepairman]

I might be in an extreme minority but I have read and listen to the audio-book of "The exorcist" and in the beginning around 1:30 William when speaking to (the director) William says "Oh, Billy I love you" almost the same way Rags and Chris say it to each other.........weird observation, I know..........Be Well

[@43Aquaman]

You know what's really weird? Your inappropriate use of ellipses...

[@leolopez_0728]

RIP: William Peter Blatty, Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller, Lee J. Cobb. I first saw this film in 1974 and did not have a full night sleep for a year. Some effects look corny today but the message remains the same.

[@melgrant7404]

Er those effects were superb not at all corny.

[@pinehawk9600]

Corny? I guess you love CGI

[@smit4459]

Great interview! What are your top five William Friedkin films? My favorite are (1) "The Exorcist: Director's Cut", (2) "12 Angry Men", (3) "Rampage", (4) "Rules of Engagement", and (5) "To Live and Die in LA".

[@MrTCist]

I had the great pleasure of seeing "Sorceror" on the big screen just the other day and man alive, it is a muscular masterpiece. Outstanding. So with that i would say mine are as follows; (1) "Sorceror", (2) "The Exorcist", (3) "The French Connection", (4) "Bug" and (5) "To Live and Die in LA". I have to give an honourable mention to "Killer Joe" as well.

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

dude, this movie was scary

[@NaYawkr]

Demons surround every one of us. Padre Pio in life was once asked how many demons there are in the world, and the future saint said, " If you could see them, they would blot out the sun " 1/3 of all the angels fell from heaven. If anyone wants a factual account of exorcism, read the book " Hostage To The Devil " written by Father Malachi Martin, an actual Vatican Exorcist, it is a factual account of 5 different exorcisms. It is NOT a novel.

[@cindyabramowicz4346]

Hostage to the Devil is a scary read. Only read it during the daytime - not before going to sleep!

[@ArsPraestigium]

Malachi Martin was not a recognized exorcist (by the Roman Catholic Church), but he was certainly an interesting guy.

[@MistressMary...22-u9j]

I read the book and it was full of true accounts of real possessions and explanations of mental illness and sadly of devil worship which I did not like reading. but I felt for the main characters and loved Father Karras

[@eddietoruno284]

my favorite line... VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER.... 👿🤮

[@desgraciadasuerte7674]

He said " Bad things happen to Good People " ! And WHY this happen ? And Karma then ? I dont understand .. Can somebody explain this to me please 😕

[@Monkofmagnesia]

I never read the book but the movie gives clues as to why it was happening. The girl was messing around with a OUIJA board and was open to demonic possession. As such, she became possessed. The movie also hints that she was possessed by a demon Fr. Merrin had exorcised years ago in Africa. "Nearly killed him," says one priest (in the scene where the bishop is trying to figure out what exorcist he should send). Poor girl! She had a lot of Desgracia Da Suerte.

[@randaljbatty]

Possession seems to exist. My wife has explained seeing women in a Russian Orthodox church she attended regularly uttering sounds and behavior that exceed normal human capacity. She witnesses it with her own senses, thus I have no reason to doubt her. I cannot fathom any reason why she would invent these claims. In any case we hear about possession around the world. The Catholic church is never going to give us stats on this supernatural behavior, and we all might be better off for it. I happen to be an agnostic, which leaves the door open to events that we cannot explain through pure science. The thing that gets me is why evil may run rampant upon the Earth, but it's counterpart seems so absent.

[@se7ve7ns]

"...The thing that gets me is why evil may run rampant.." best explained... 'God gave us limited wisdom but no limits what so ever to our stupidity' part of truth of our God-given 'free will' hence your '..but it's counterpart seems so absent..." emphasis on the 'seems'...

[@randaljbatty]

@@se7ve7ns It may not be a case of "stupidity" but more a tendency to focus on the negative. You can see this in the "news." The media has recognized our fascination with calamities, e.g., riots, earthquakes, fires, war, etc. And yet there may be miracles happening all over the world upon which we place little or no attention. This imbalance (if it is such) could suggest that God is in play but we give him no recognition. Our concentration upon evil may be blinding us. I see this as an outcome of Darwin's theory. In order to survive, we've always had to recognize our protagonists and (to the extent possible) either destroy them or reduce their numbers so that they pose a nominal threat. There isn't much we can do against hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and other natural phenomenon, but we continue to see threats from other societies, other men. I've always thought that if there is an evil, there must be a counterpart. I am not religious, but I leave the door open. The supernatural may "just" be a realm of science we haven't connected to. There is no need to shut this door -- or any door. Always try to keep an open mind because reality may be far stranger than we can (or dare) imagine.

[@christophercharles3426]

I must have seen this film at least 15 times.. 1st time on a pirate video copy at 12 yrs old when that was only way to get hold of it ...was banned for over 20yrs and everybody said stay away from it as I was growing up.. literally grew up on horror films.. Halloween.. Fog Omen etc..now I'm 40 and this is probably the only film that bothered me..but each time I see it there is something new I notice each time... Don't make films like this or any other past classics anymore...

[@celticlofts]

What's the scariest thing I've ever seen on film? ... the 2016 presidential election result.

[@MistressMary...22-u9j]

scary? but Hillary lost!

[@brians1902]

Kind of annoying at the end of the book when Chris, Reagan's Mom is asked if she thinks her daughter was really possessed and two priests gave their lives say 'I don't know'.

[@ThomasLuca]

Blatty's mamma called him Willie. So, Willie is still a #MasterStoryteller that we can all learn from especially you students in film school. So get studying!

[@elliemccarthy3487]

THERE IS DEMONIC & vile black magic , I’m a huge science obsessed, I also have experienced the other sides of life , rip Blatty, his book was from a real life experience of a boy who was possessed

[@richardcarpenter24]

Why do people call this a horror film? It's a psychological thriller

[@se7ve7ns]

Probably coz a lot of people get 'horrified' when bodies get mangled twisted n tortured, heads spin, self mutilation, extreme expletives ... and ... did I miss something Oh .... yeah .... pea soup vomit and your right..... it wouldn't be as good without the [based on true events] 'psychological thrill'

[@CraigMansfield]

what's "EWTN"?

[@se7ve7ns]

Eternal Word Television Network, been running since 1981 free to air satellite. Founded by Mother Angelica 1923 - 2016 (God rest her beautiful soul)

[@CraigMansfield]

Thank you

[@PoFFizdaMan]

Listen to this incredible reading of the original book by William Peter Blatty himself: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIqaiYKuedZnfcU

[@John-ku5uu]

The thesis title is THE EXORCIST. Otherwise it would be called THE EVIL CHILD or something.

[@tommy1138]

The ending of the "Director's Cut" is extremely weak. The other scenes inserted back into the film are fine (the "spider-walk" looks like it was done with wire work), but the scene with Father Dyer standing beside the house (with the shot of the steps) is brilliant. And when the Exorcist theme kicks in and Dyer begins to walk, it sends chills down the spine. The Director's Cut ending is a lighthearted conversation about free movie passes and Casablanca. Bad call. I only watch the original theatrical cut.

[@teeniebeenie8774]

'not about special effects' ???? really?

[@corybritton1804]

teenie beenie , teenie Brain, shut up dork

[@mmoran3]

I think he's referring to cgi ...

[@jimgarrison7340]

Glad they didn't go with Shirley on this one. The casting was superb as it was. Burstyn I thought was too feminist for the part. I wonder if they had chosen a very vulnerable actress like Carrol Baker, if that would have worked?

[@darkhoursofday6250]

Blatty will be missed. Sadly, while I love Exorcist, the better book in my opinion is Legion (it's sequel). Few have read that but it is amazing.

[@happyclam1266]

This interviewer is the worst. He seems to want so desperately to be as or more important than the interview subjects. Multiple times he cuts off William Blatty when he's about to say something interesting. Love the Billy and Billy show, though..

[@jillsandwitch67]

blatty is spilling his very soul talking about the nature of his faith, and this idiot just grins at him and totally dismisses what he's saying to talk to friedkin

[@orpheus9037]

No surprise that Catholic propagandist Arroyo would do a piece on The Exorcist; the Catholic Church, aside from its involvement in the making of the film, has always looked upon The Exorcist as a recruitment vehicle. Hilarious to think The Exorcist was likely one of the most shocking and obscene spectacles ever committed to celluloid, at least as of 1973, but the Catholic League of Decency did not condemn it as it had countless other films, many dealing with the mildest of sexual content. Among some of the great films condemned: 8 1/2; Spartacus; Baby Doll; Smiles of a Summer Night

[@se7ve7ns]

Actually that is incorrect and a fabrication Originally a 'ban' was put on by the Church amongst many others missing off your list. The Church did not make the movie (as you suggest 'a recruitment vehicle') these are a few of the movies originally released with a 'ban' www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-shocking/condemned-10-movies-the-catholic-church-forbids-you-to-see/

[@conlaiarla]

Don't know what is wrong with you but if I were you I would take a long hard look at myself. You have problems.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Too bad Christopher Hitchens wasn’t around to straighten it out.

[@Monkofmagnesia]

LOL!

[@ryangettig274]

Dumb&Dumber ....

[@Malignus68]

William Friedkin is so pretentious talking about this movie, you'd think he had cured cancer.

[@colderbeer]

It ain't bragging if you can back it up, and Friedkin (and Blatty) delivered a masterpiece.

[@jillsandwitch67]

this interviewer is extremely annoying