The Making of The Exorcist Was A Sh*t Show

Exorcising a little girl is hard. Let’s talk about how difficult it was to make The Exorcist, from William Friedkin’s manic directing style to the endless rumors about how cursed the movie was.
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In the entertainment world, there are millions of dollars on the line and troubled productions are bound to happen. And we are going to talk about these disastrous, never ending, and sometimes dangerous productions. From the creators of WTF Happened To This Movie?, It Was A Sh*t Show is a video essay/documentary/podcast series looking at some of your favorite films and tv shows, and why they were such a nightmare to make.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:28 - William Friedkin Meets William Peter Blatty
01:59 - Blatty Writes the Novel: The Exorcist
02:45 - Finding a Director for The Exorcist
03:52 - Friedkin's Rise in Hollywood
05:18 - Casting Jason Miller & Linda Blair
07:32 - The Concept of Intervention
08:33 - The Terrifying and Obsessive Director
11:00 - Visual Effects Before Computers
11:42 - Torturing a Child Actor
12:54 - A Cursed Production: Fires, Deaths & Bad Omens
14:33 - Fighting Over the Final Edit
16:01 - The Exorcist Releases December 26, 1973
16:22 - Exorcism Hysteria Across the Globe
17:58 - The Legacy of The Exorcist
19:48 - Friedkin Apologizes to Blatty
Sources:
AFI: catalog.afi.com/Catalog/movie...
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: books.google.com/books/about/...
Film School Rejects: filmschoolrejects.com/banned-...
The Friedkin Connection: www.google.com/books/edition/...
The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/books/201...
The Numbers: www.the-numbers.com/movie/Exo...
Raising Hell: www.google.com/books/edition/...
Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/exor...
Washingtonian: www.washingtonian.com/2015/10...
WTF Podcast with Marc Maron: • Video
Featured Footage:
10 (1979)
The Blob (1988)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Doc (1971)
The Exorcist (1973) and special features
The Final Destination (2009)
The French Connection (1971)
The Graduate (1967)
Gremlins (1984)
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2001-2007)
Gunn (1967)
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
The Night of the Following Day (1969)
Peter Gunn (1958-1961)
The Pink Panther (1963)
Roar (1981)
The Shining (1980) and special features
The Simpsons (1989- )
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
That Championship Season (1982)
1973 Academy Awards
1974 Academy Awards
The Cultural Impact of ‘The Exorcist’: thefilmstage.com/the-cultural...
The Exorcist: 45th Anniversary Celebration
Fantasy Film Festival: • FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL:...
The Tonight Show: • Jan. 17, 1974
Music:
Henry Mancini - Peter Gunn
Leonard Slatkin - Fantasia For Strings
Leonard Slatkin - Five Pieces For Orchestra, OP 10
Leonard Slatkin - Kanon For Orchestra And Tape
Leonard Slatkin - Polymorphia
Leonard Slatkin - Windharp
Michael Hoenig - The Blob (Original Soundtrack)
Mike Oldfield - Georgetown / "Tubular Bells"
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Ryan Hudson - Sh*t Show Theme
#itwasashtshow #exorcist #halloween

[@robdixson196]

Imagine believing what you were seeing was real, and running AT the screen.

[@sylviehristova6545]

Hah, brave people I guess.

[@emosam07]

Fight or flight? 50/50

[@ronnie_5150]

It's hilarious how some people think what they are watching is real. I can recall an interview with Glenn Close after she did 'Fatal Attraction'. All the hate mail and having to hire a body guard. As if she, and Linda Blair are actually the characters they play.

[@FlyingMonkies325]

Different times people weren't as desentisced as we are now but some people really are just that impressionable it's crazy lol and some people have REALLY sensitive minds and i feel like those who first go to see a movie are like "oh that's interesting, it can't be that scary" but they end up being the super sensitive empathic bunch😂thus everyone running out of the cinema, but sending death threats? that was just the crazy bunch who probably already had mental health issues and shouldn't have gone to see it which is on them really. I won't ever watch it i don't like it really... and i see the grudge for nearly a week after watching it which isn't that bad but it kinda messes with you a bit psychologically after LOL i look under my covers after lmao i won't ever watch very scary movies or tv shows though, i tried watching Walking Dead and that was bad... and after just 1 episode it made me feel depressed noop... something at the level of True Blood that has a lighter and more adventurous tone to it is my limit, or Scream.

[@DavidFrancis24824]

Honestly, that would be awesome to be able to get that scared and affected by a movie. This would be impossible today, because people have access to almost anything. I don't now if thats good or bad.

[@markheywood5626]

How Linda Blair didn't win an Oscar for it is more shocking.

[@brandonsytes8373]

During the Oscar campaign season.... it was revealed that they used a dummy for certain sequences as a stand in for Blair & that it was another persons voice for the possession scenes. Those 2 factors cost Blair the Oscar. -- Plus, Ryan O Neal was hot stuff in Hollywood at that time cause of Love Story and having an opportunity to award his daughter, Tatum, an award.... they jumped at it. - A combo of those factors.

[@garychambers5850]

@@brandonsytes8373 _Dam, I thought The Exorcist was a much better film!_

[@MyRobin38]

she deserved the oscar that year

[@deeceea9488]

Ellen Burstyn as well.

[@spankynater4242]

She has a cute speaking voice as an adult.

[@DonMachado]

My step-dad took me out of my 7th grade history class to see the movie. Years later, they released the extended cut in theaters and I took him to see it with me. It was a nice bookend to the movie for us both.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Awww! What a lovely comment for a scary movie. Hahaha.

[@mn-ru4li]

I love my dad, but I wish I had yours, now

[@Winteramen]

My family decided to watch it for home movie night. I was 6 years old. I didn't want to watch it, so my family said i can go to the room, but because i was scared of being alone, i watched the movie. That girl's face haunted my nights for a while.

[@NealJansen]

good move. Instead of learning renowned history, you ended up experiencing it.

[@DonMachado]

@@paintwrosee Well, I was primed earlier when a family friend took me to see Jaws at the theater when I was 8 years old. 😀

[@_gremlinboy]

Linda Blair just seems like a delightful lady and it's really horrific to hear that she wasn't taken care of well at all as a child on the set. Especially since they worked to foster trust and a parental bond with her, that sounds downright traumatic. I really think the movie could have been just as good without abusing the actors

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Exactly!

[@_gremlinboy]

@@ItWasAShtShow it always upsets me when people justify this stuff with acting like the movie would have failed without the exploitation, so thank you for affirming that this is not the prevailing notion!

[@mophead_xu]

yeah the "trust" and "surrogate parent" thing seemed nice at first, but then as the video continued imo it sounded more like manipulation than genuine affection or care. maybe they didnt intend that, idk. but what i do know is that a kid who had been made to believe that adults around them only had their best interest in mind, would be less likely to protest or go against the adults, even if/when their well being is genuinely at risk.

[@Jack13001]

Completely agree, nobody should defend friedkin for his behaviour. The ends absolutely do not justify the means. If you cannot create the movie you want without abusing actors, you should not be making movies, simple as. There are many perfectly pleasant directors who have gotten outstanding performances from actors, it’s simply a power trip when directors argue for abuse to coax better performances imo.

[@DavidFrancis24824]

@@ItWasAShtShow I agree, but I think we have gone too far in the other direction now. We are way too sensitive and soft now. We need to find a happy medium without resulting to abusive tactics.

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

It still makes me laugh how Max Von Sydow's old-man makeup in this movie was pretty much on point for how he would look as an actual old man.

[@SweetJeopardy]

The makeup effects in this movie are s-tier and hold up to this day.

[@fairlyvague82]

Haha that’s what I’ve always thought! You can watch The Exorcist and then one of his last movies and wonder how the guy didn’t age in 40 years!

[@chrismills9620]

I thought he just looked old for his whole life 🤣

[@mooganify]

well that was the same for Marlon Brando

[@azurephoenix9546]

If i recall correctly, they pulled his skin and applied liquid latex skin coat, which naturally forms into very real looking wrinkles when released, the same technique they used for Theodin in the LOTR series. We used it for plays in high school when we did Harvey, especially. It certainly can turn a 16 year old into an old man with eerie accuracy.

[@a.walters123]

It’s really messed up how they deliberately injured Ellen Burstyn to get that good shot. She permanently injured her spine in that scene.

[@user-cvbnm]

Yea, In fact, Linda Blair injured her back as well during the scene where the bed was shaking while she yelled “Make it stop it hurts” She was in real pain, and this eventually lead to scoliosis kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqKniHScnqusbbMsi=Zc-mWElpe7gs_NXC

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

And people hate on Kubrick just for trying to get a good spoken performance--!?

[@ronnie_5150]

It's telling how desensitized people have become. Look at the reactions from in 1973 when first released. I remember seeing it in the theatre when it was re-released in the 90's. People were laughing during some of the scenes.

[@nemodapimpfish]

Because it's so unrealistic it's impossible it's funny because it's so fake

[@dkahl2803]

@@nemodapimpfish punctuation, please!

[@tombrunila2695]

Don't believe everything the marketing department of the production company has fed the media!

[@markstiburski9136]

@@nemodapimpfish it's fake are u serious wow what a revelation you've uncovered movies are fake you're kidding me?

[@theblackflame4002]

worse example is the remake of Last House on the Left which of course featured even more over the top violence than the original, but the tone of the violence in the early seventies version was supposed to disturb the viewer and have them rooting for the parents to kill the assholes. When I went to see the remake-only because my daughter talked me into going with her- a bunch of college age assholes were cheering and clapping during the ridiculously graphic rape scene and chanting "give it to her" We ended up leaving before either my daughter or myself ended up smacking one of them.

[@jtoland2333]

The way Linda Blair was treated would be illegal today, and should've been back then.

[@inderdhillon95]

I belong to a generation who take risks to be on top . But today's generation is so soft that's why for last 20 years no film has break any record

[@PyrrhusBrin]

@@inderdhillon95 fancy way of saying "my generation faced abuse but we make excuses for it because otherwise we have to face the trauma".

[@stependragon]

@@PyrrhusBrin Totally putting words in the mouth of the other guy. Cinema and art in general can be a difficult road to walk on. Nowadays actors in those hugely expensive blockbusters, and nowadays films are totally forgettable compared to the likes of Linda Blair and The Exorcist.

[@bobd2078]

@@inderdhillon95 your generation got bootytickled whenever someone from a different race drinks out of the same water fountain as you 🤡. And films are constantly breaking records. So wtf are you even talking about

[@OrphanCrippler1]

@@PyrrhusBrin Nah, the other person is correct

[@Stiffdistantandweird]

“…..left the crew wondering if the film was cursed. Then a pigeon flew into a circuit box and the house set burned to the ground.” So perfectly understated 😊

[@jeffreywarf]

Less than .01% of the time, abusive creatives make something that changes the world. That doesn't justify the overwhelming abuse that exists in the industry that mostly amounts to nothing but trauma for everyone except the abuser.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

This guy gets! I had one commenter jumping down my throat defending abusive tactics to create art, and it’s like, so you’re terrible…

[@mantrabeeg]

@@ItWasAShtShow I think in that case, you could do one about the shining too

[@jtoland2333]

The fact that Linda Blair protested against that crucifix scene and was told "Oh yes you will!" and made to do so anyway is straight up child abuse and the director should've been arrested.

[@trajancanada]

@@mantrabeeg True. The way Shelley Duvall was treated on the set of Shining was awful. By Kubrick most of all. His own daughter documented it on camera. No excuses.

[@theblackflame4002]

True, but it also depends on the abuser is. Tarantino has not only admitted he knew Weinstein was raping women and was too worried about his career to say anything making him a rape enabler and accomplice to rape, but he is also abusive to women on the set But he's everyone's hero and people flock to see his movies because oh, he's so cool! and trust me, nothing he has made has "changed the world" his work is pandering homages he plays off as being his own.

[@a.walters123]

Linda Blair should have won an Oscar, not just the acting, but the sheer absolute true horror she went through filming this. 100% this was one of the most trying and arduous films one could experience.

[@ProfessorKenneth]

This movie was a master piece. So was the novel. Very frightening read.

[@FatherLokk]

Yes It Truly Was And The Novel Is Even More Frightening Than The Film. I Have The 40Th Anniversary Update Copy Of The Novel And It's A Phenomenon 😱

[@ThecrazyJH96]

Meh

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

It's the first book I ever read, front to back, in a single sitting...

[@-MrFozzy-]

NEEEEEEEEEEERDSSSS

[@blackleague212]

They had me at the Peeing on the floor scene lmao I also saw this after reading the book, my mother was a librarian for many years before and after college... shes a damn monster lmao the things I read as a kid ...

[@John_McDonnell_76]

Best horror movie of all time, still. Linda Blair said, that the scene where she was pulled up, and down on her back over and over and over, hurt her back so bad, she has lifelong pain to this day.

[@MrFreeGman]

Hollywood: Abusing kids for our entertainment for over a century!

[@dalovelee666]

Having back pain is something I wouldn’t wish on my enemy. I wonder how she could be forgiving of what she went through.

[@hiimlovebug]

im pretty sure she actually broke her spine? Heard it somewhere, not sure.

[@dannygjk]

@@hiimlovebug She probably broke a vertebra and at least one disk. I broke one and damaged a disk about 10-12 years ago and my back was never the same.

[@Tazzie1312]

The bed thing with Linda FRACTURED HER SPINE. She could have been paralyzed. I've had that same injury - most people either need surgery or months of rest and bracing to heal it.

[@robbiejohnson6569]

This story should totally be made into its own film.

[@disposable_income_andy]

Yeah there needs to be films or anthologies done about film creation and the hell it was, like The Disaster Artist for The Room. I can just imagine one of a Kubrick film cutting back and forth in a montage of an actor doing something and him saying to do another take.

[@rixx46]

This is a really well produced compendium of a much examined film. I’ve known Linda since ‘77 and worked with her many times. Linda is a truly wonderful person who mostly devotes herself to helping animals. It was YEARS before we talked about the movie. The only thing here that she would differ with is Freidkin’s story about her audition. I doubt very much she said anything about the girl masturbating with a crucifix or if she had read the book at all. She told me when they did that she scene she honestly had no idea what she was supposedly doing… She thought she was “stabbing herself”. They had her punching the crucifix into a sponge in a Tupperware container soaked in fake blood between her knees. She also told me she STILL has had back problems from the damage done to her by the bed mechanism that made her flip back-and-forth. Linda didn’t have the best of mothers and often was left without any support or supervision on the set. Her older sister was supposed to be there all the time but often wasn’t around.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Pretty messed up and still very sad.

[@blackleague212]

I agree this was well researched and written. I wonder if this was for this dudes schooling in film, or just a fan video... youtube decided to bring me here.

[@floop74]

@@ItWasAShtShow Indeed. No movie is worth exploiting people, treating them like shit and injuring someone for life

[@marinazolotic4347]

Hollywood is guilty of a lot of child exploitation and abuse. That’s why many child actors end up on drugs and with other issues. Blair must have been a strong girl with a good head on her shoulders to survive the ordeal and grow into a stable adult. Kubrick was also known for pushing his actors over the edge. The Shining completely ruined Shelly Duvall. I don’t know how to feel about that seeing as Kubrick is one of my favourite directors.

[@spankynater4242]

I’ve worked with Linda many times since then, and you were nowhere near.

[@leedad]

Its ridiculous that Linda Blair didn't win an Oscar for this film, her performance is one of the reasons the film works, her acting from normal goofy teen to possession is what grounds film and gives it a sense of reality.

[@rixx46]

I am not sure audiences today appreciate what are unique film experience this movie was at the time it came out. We are so accustomed now to watching whatever movie we want in the comfort of our own home in the context of our space. Back in “those days“ you could ONLY see in film (like this one) in a movie theater… In the dark… with hundreds of other people in the exact context and atmosphere that the filmmaker intended. It’s an entirely different experience from watching it at home. You could never see that movie on TV until the home video experience was even possible a decade or more later. So the intensity of the reaction may be hard for anyone to fathom today.

[@southlondon86]

Sir surely it was broadcast on TV 3 to 4 years after its theatrical run?

[@Bambuzzsprosse]

I think watching a movie alone draws you into its atmosphere and intensity WAY more than watching it with a big group of people because you constantly get reminded that you are sitting in a cinema when someone for example coughs, gasps, laughs etc. Watching a movie alone leaves you and the movie, nothing else and that's the biggest immersion one can get.

[@squamish4244]

Not to mention audiences were not desensitized to that sort of content and the special effects.

[@hayleedaniels6077]

So true! I can’t relate to this movie, but we saw Lights Out in theaters. It was the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. 2nd to Insidious. Watching them at home isn’t near as scary. We still love going to the movies.

[@hayleedaniels6077]

@@Bambuzzsprosse I could see that! They aren’t bad cuddled up with a partner but I’m not brave enough to watch alone. 😅

[@MrDlt123]

I watched 'The Exorcist' at 8 years old in 1973 despite warnings from my Uncle. I can remember laying asleep that night terrified that a demon could suddenly take over my body and I wouldnt be able to do anything about it.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

And you still can’t!

[@shelfdefence1112]

@@ItWasAShtShow you went straight for the throat here lmao

[@michelleanguiano4744]

I was 7 my parents took me to see it remade in theaters. Had a phobia for years, I really felt I was going to be possessed. I would sleepwalk after and would stare at my parents while I slept.

[@dw6418]

@@michelleanguiano4744 that is disgusting. Your parents are abusive

[@brendabullard8246]

So sorry, way too young. I was 23 and slept with a light on for 6 months!

[@rse1113]

Max von Sydow’s makeup work to me is still the best aging effect in film history. He looked so much like a priest in his 70s that I didn’t know he was only in his 40s at the time. Still holds up to this day.

[@26michaeluk]

That makeup was super accurate to how the actor actually aged.

[@darkness8151]

Fun fact. Almost 15yrs later, Linda Blair went on to play a similar role of the one she plays in the Exorcist. The movie is called Repossessed. A spoof movie Starring Leslie Nielsen and Linda Blair

[@ItWasAShtShow]

I think I mention in our podcast that when I was little I thought those two movies were the same thing.

[@darkness8151]

@@ItWasAShtShow yup you definitely did. I actually just finished watching that exact episode you are talking about. I used to watch both versions growing up but never that was Linda Blair til I rewatched it in my 20s

[@hoodcoyko8329]

Repossessed was a masterpiece! Lol

[@macwyll]

Linda Blair seems very sweet and has great sense of humor. She played herself in a parody called The Blair Bitch Project. She was hilarious! It made me admire her even more.

[@sitcomsTV]

Its not a good movie. One can hardly get a laugh out of it. Directing makes such a difference.

[@bestdadakasongoku4157]

“They were almost like surrogate parents to her” oh that’s swee-“the cries for help were again…real” holy shit

[@johnnymarin5035]

Friedkin didn't intend for that to happen. That actually was an accident. He still used the shot for the movie though.

[@davissmedley5937]

Considering how badly he treated Shelley Duvall when making The Shining, I doubt Kubrick directing would’ve made the set any less uncomfortable for everyone involved :/

[@synthraofficial5366]

Yea these two directors go on my shit list as people. I don't care how good the movies were.

[@jenneacubero1036]

To be fair, (according to IMDB), Kubrick was said to be protective over Danny's actor to point where dolls were used when the more tense scenes were made. It's still terrible with what went on with Shelley Duvall and Scatman Crothers though.

[@davissmedley5937]

@@jenneacubero1036 crap…what did he do to Scatman Crothers?

[@jenneacubero1036]

@@davissmedley5937 Poor Scatman nearly broke down with all the retakes Kubrick made him do.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

@@jenneacubero1036 I never knew that

[@darkpitch1]

There was nothing else like it at the time. It still sends chills down my spine. 80’s and 90’s slashers don’t and will never have anything on “The Exorcist”.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

Agreed - a lot of them are gross and sickening and hilarious, but legitimately scary? No.

[@kylemonsterdrywallfistbump5948]

A sequel or a "soft reboot" is coming out called :the exorcist: Believer" takes place in modern times however it's 40+ years after regan's exorcism

[@vampvhs]

It was scary enough to live on in internet history as the cheapest troll on KZbin, the classic jumpscare. That face scarred me for years as a kid on the internet, I couldn’t look at that face in any context, it was too much for me, until one day I physically had to face my fear and look up the picture to stare at until I deemed it not scary anymore. Oh yeah and that wasn’t too long ago, many years ago, but I was way older than I’d like to admit, it truly haunted me for that long. GG Linda Blair, you unwillingly lived rent free in my scarred young mind for years thanks to the early days of KZbin

[@Spiral_Out]

My experience with her face is similar 😂 I had nightmares for three years. This was before the days of KZbin.

[@danarseptiyanto4066]

@@Spiral_Out Oh yea, she was the face of that troll website. I swear I saw her face somewhere but couldnt remember it

[@vinaamii3915]

I relate so much. That image lived in my head for so many years, it was traumatizing. My uncle pranked me with the whole scary maze game thing. He was so mean... 😂

[@PEPERSTEAK]

look up inland empire hallway phantom

[@xternal3650]

I scrolled until i could find a comment about this, that low quality png image of linda blair messed me up for the early half of my life! Couldn't look at it in any context!

[@rajendranadarajan8931]

I was 13 years old around the late 90s and got hooked on those popular slasher films at the time like Scream, Urban Legend, I Know What You Did Last Summer. My mom recommended the Exorcist to me. What kind of mother would do that ?? I had a few sleepless night after watching it !

[@hellomark1]

I love the horror genre, but most of them I just watch with a casual "huh, that's pretty neat" interest. But this film, even to this day, if I watch it, will leave me awake at night. I think the only other film to do that was Paranormal Activity.

[@rixx46]

Not great for a 13 year old! BUT your mom must have known you could handle it (given your taste).

[@Rahul-yj3lf]

The awesome kinda mother.

[@bobsmith-hd2hi]

your mom is awesome

[@otaking3582]

Exorcist isn't even that scary.

[@D0NTST4RT]

Imagine running around a film set and from the corner of your eye you see the director backhanding an actual priest

[@blackamerican40]

The French Connection and The Exorcist will always be his two masterpieces!!

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Find 'Sorcerer.' I would argue his best work...

[@urameshii6672]

@@hugh-johnfleming289 agreed, such a incredible film

[@luisdezz4528]

And Cruising

[@rezervoardogs]

Killer Joe and To live and die in L.A.

[@acekelly1000]

@@luisdezz4528 Great underrated movie. Pre HIV/AIDS.

[@rocznik83]

This movie scarred me for life. Shouldn't have watched it at a young age. But oh well... I collect movies. Own several hundreds of dvd's, blu rays, tapes. .. And even if this movie is a genuine classic, a must own in any movie buffs collection, I refuse to own a copy. I just don't want it anywhere near me.

[@timorean320]

Me too, I had nightmares for months. Many Dreams of Satan. it's odd, I have had so many dreams, I can recognize his presence before he appears, creepy crap.

[@cpt.lounatic4010]

My dad snuck into a theatre to see this when he was young and it scarred him for life. Any movie or media with suspense at all or anything horror themed he would stop what he was doing, come into the room and freeze in front of the screen before shutting the whole tv off. I was never able to watch horror movies unless i snuck them at friends houses. This movie broke people.

[@rocznik83]

That subliminal glimpse of that demonic face alone is pure nightmare fuel. I always thought it is kind of ironic how literally fractions of seconds of this film can be much scarier than entire films in the genre. In this regard i think The Exorcist is similar to Rosemary's Baby. You don't really see the horror, you kind of "sense it" the entire time, which is much worse.

[@cincin4515]

I had collections too but felt the need to remove the DVD from my home. It was giving me the creeps.

[@fjosephgonzales6870]

I feel that way about another movie, "The Mothman Prophecies" (2002, Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Debra Messing); it just feels cursed or something, or I feel that maybe it will put a curse on me (sounds silly, I know). But, interestingly, I own at least 2 copies of "The Exorcist."

[@konradtheman]

Just a little correction: exorcism is not "a long abandoned practice". The Catholic church still has the practice. It still trains priests to be exorcists, although admittedly with the rise of knowledge about mental illness, the amount of actual exorcisms performed I think has significantly cratered. In fact, I think most catholics wouldn't know that it's still a thing and probably wouldn't approve of such an "occult" practice being performed on any fellow parishioners (or children for that matter). Especially now after this movie.

[@josephnarvaez9507]

They examined "possessed" people by consulting non-catholic experts (psychologists) if they're really possessed or just mentally ill

[@Nontoxicz]

So this movie was made to keep people possessed by demonw basically.

[@jtoland2333]

We Protestant and nondenominational Christians also believe in exorcism. We also have demonologists among us. Some of you may laugh, but when you realize that the war between good and evil is real, you realize there's more going on behind the scenes than we may realize.

[@portraitofablueavatar114]

Its still practiced in the Philippines. Just this month we've had 2 priests called because of an exorcism

[@anonview]

Roman Catholic here, and yes, exorcism is still being taught to and practiced by priests. There are new rules in place, though, such as "possessed" individuals needing to consult with medical experts first to rule out psychiatric illnesses. Ideally, only cases unresolved by medical/scientific intervention can undergo exorcism.

[@michellezavala1355]

I love hearing the story about how my parents (Dad was stationed in California) waited in line for a couple of hours and we're trying to catch the late afternoon showing because everyone knows the monsters come out at night 😆. Mom said that when the previous movie goers came out? THEY RAN. FAINTED. CRIED DEMANDING A PRIEST. My parents were stoked! I was 6 months old at the time and Mom said that I slept through the entire movie.. 😆. Long story short my parents slept with me and the lights on for a week 😂. By far, in my entire 48 yrs of living, this is THE BEST AND ONLY HORROR MOVIE THAT TRULY SCARED 😳 ME TO MY CORE.

[@greywolf0167]

Its true people fainted around here to

[@michellezavala1355]

And when it was re released? GOD, THE EXPERIENCE WAS EVERYTHING I HOPED IT WOULD BE 💖

[@mafemartinez2235]

Great anecdotes

[@cnashford2]

How old were you when you saw it yourself?

[@michellezavala1355]

@@cnashford2 wasn't allowed to see it until I turned 12.

[@jaygarcia8508]

There's something about the horror aspect of this film that absolutely gets under your skin. It's extremely atmospheric & nightmare inducing. It doesn't rely on jump scares. There's something very much horrific & unsettling about it. Upon your first viewing of it, you get the feeling that you shouldn't be watching it. It's absolutely a great horror/dramma. The acting & directing are both incredible. Today's horror movies still aspire to come close to this. The film itself is a timeless masterpiece & film making at it's absolute best.

[@sitcomsTV]

That and the authenticity and the priests's struggles. Or that circle of friends in the party. Its very interesting.

[@thiscorrosion900]

I've written an essay on Blatty and his primary supernatural/theological novels (and the films, secondarily) that was reprinted in a book on Blatty's work in 2007 or so from McFarland Press. Anyway, my feeling on the film is that the overriding tone of it, and the way Friedkin roots in "reality," or everyday reality that is intruded upon by the supernatural, is what is partially what's so disturbing about it. It's more atmospheric than documentary style, but the juxtaposition between such mundane scenes as Chris filming the movie on campus, Karras's ordeals in NYC and with his mother, etc., and the unsettling prologue in Iraq, for example, all add up to a movie that starts off slow and foreboding, but build ands builds the tension and anxiety. The scene that really creeps me out is one of the quietest: the one in which Jason Miller is worrying over the audio recording of Regan "speaking in tongues," in the dark campus room at night, etc. Nothing happens, per se, but it is chilling. It will give you grey hairs! Hehe. There's a total feeling of impending doom or dread in the whole short scene. Then later it turns out that Regan or Pazuzu was speaking ENGLISH backwards! "No Won Maiii No One Me" etc. The "over the top" bits with Regan when she's possessed are some of my least favorite parts, honestly,. although it also serves to further the plot. The dialogue between the priests and Pazuzu is great, however. Ellen Burstyn as Chris as a mother at the end of her tether, who is NOT religious and really does not believe, is brilliant. Jason Miller is the true heart and soul of the movie, though, (and novel) it all hinges upon his guilt and wavering faith. In the novel, almost every adult character has mountains of hidden guilt and shame going on in the background. There's an unspoken theme of "did we do this? did we bring this evil on ourselves?" Burke Dennings attacks Karl the housekeeper etc. that he's some former Nazi or whatever, etc. And maybe he was! Touches like the terrifying nightmare that Karras has (with the demon face which was totally or almost totally subliminal) juxtapose harsh reality (cutting right to Regan's medical tortures etc.) with suggestions of fate and supernatural manifestations. I am not Catholic and don't at all subscribe to Blatty's totally religious grounding and point of view, but I find his novels make for gripping supernatural thrillers. His main theme in most of those books is why God created the world as it is, why evil, why good, why does evil often seem to win, and other existential concerns. The movie, at least for two hours, even if you're not Catholic, makes the supernatural seem real. The cast takes a lot of credit for that, too. I think though Friedkin was right to cut the extra 12 minutes, because it made for a tauter, less expositional "talky" film. The spiderwalk segment seems hokey and laughable to me I'm glad it was cut! Just my own opinion. I'm surprised they didn't cut the Iraq sequence, although, slow as it is, it helps set up the concept that this is an old, old battle, and that Merrin has met the demon before, of course, which it's explained later that he has. I agree it's also transgressive for the time it was made, and even now, it pushes the envelope of what a major Hollywood film could do, but is also spectacularly subversive in many ways. It also made a "serious" non-hokey intellectual horror film possible, although I fear that the sensational FX aspect helped create the slasher genre of horror, of which I'm not much of a fan, at all, personally. However, the "nasty" or slasher horror genre was already coming along by the early 70s, it must be said. Once you got a movie like Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left, 1972, while not being supernatural, it was clear the horror genre was coming into its own with more graphic, frank, adult fare. Whether or not you loved it or hated it. The Exorcist has a brain and a heart, it has Blatty's views and philosophy, and it tries to make a point or ask questions about existence. It's not just jump scares and pea soup! LOL In Legion, Blatty tries to come up with some theory of making sense of what the devil really is, what evil really is, and that the universe is Lucifer trying to get back/reconcile to God or whatever, as voiced by Lt. Bill Kinderman in the novel and movie, Exorcist III. In real life, we have serial killers such as The Gemini or the Zodiac, and they don't require Satan to power their evil behavior. Blatty would ask, why would a "GOOD" God create such human beings? For what purpose? What purpose does that serve? Etc. No easy answers. And he also asks why cancer, why Aztecs ripping out living hearts, etc. etc. in the course of the novel Legion. But Kinderman notes there is also kindness and good in the world. Free choice doesn't seem to really cover it, at all. Anybody who claims to know all the answers, is lying. I daresay. I don't! But I'm also not religious.

[@thesummerland6165]

it's primal deep ingrained archetypal fear

[@skivvy3565]

Imagine that back then, a child talking back to her parents was the most shocking thing I had ever seen as a kid. And it literally startled me into being one of my earliest memories. Now compare that to a normal xboxlive or fortnitr freakout by an 8 year old. Oh how far we’ve come

[@jessicapazo7718]

Friedkin slapped the priest???!!!

[@billvegas8146]

Kubrick would just do 125 takes until you trembled with exhaustion. Ask Shelley Duvall. The slap is quicker.

[@mr.bill.8236]

Hands down, one of the most frightening movies I've ever seen. This movie messed me up as a kid. In fact, I debated watching this video.

[@Alonso-Santiago]

The same happened to me. This movie was a life changer.

[@bondeappetite703]

Same. Hated this. Scarred for life lol.

[@kaybroughton4909]

same here too. I was almost 13 how I got into the Cinema I will never know. Afterwards I couldn't sleep for weeks, used to imagine her sitting in the rocking chair in my room. I still feel afraid when I see clips. I watch modern horror but nothing affects me like that did at 12. It is like a form of ptsd.

[@mr.bill.8236]

@@kaybroughton4909 I was cool with the original but when the directors cut came out and she spider walked down the stairs... that scared the hell out of me. I've never watched it since.

[@kellyharris8976]

This really broke down how incredibly talented, and strong, Linda Blair was and still is.

[@chilltownallstar]

Still easily one of the scariest and best horror movies to this day.

[@RWAC685]

This Is Hands Down One Of The GREATEST HORROR MOVIES EVER MADE.

[@mikekrause3671]

agree. there have been several other exorcism/possession films too and none can still touch this ,

[@marksism4292]

I met Linda Blair a few years ago, she was very nice and loved speaking with her fans. Her resilience and fondness for her legacy is astounding considering what she went through to make the movie.

[@ukmedicfrcs]

My favourite " horror " movie. When I was 10 I watched this with my hands over my eyes peeking through my fingers. After it was over and I was in bed, I woke my parents up telling them my bed was shaking lol.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Oh you devil you!

[@dwade6322]

This film is truly amazing...If theres any film that scares you from the last 40 years its because of this film being made first and what it created...Linda Blair was such a cute kid NOBODY could have expected her to put out that kind of performance..The story about how that actual priest gave the actor that necklace?? Sent chills up my spine.

[@alexpowers5117]

Movies never scared me fire work did

[@c.moriarty1178]

Well said, D Wade. Heat nation approves

[@davidmurciaaristizabal5381]

RIP William Firedkin, a true cinema legend

[@Aster_Risk]

My mom allowed my older sister and I to watch Hellraiser at ages two and three. Yet we were eight and nine before she let us watch this. This was 1999 or 2000 and we were raised on horror movies. Except for the crab walk down the stairs and the needle going into Reagan's neck, this movie didn't reallyscare us. My mom was shocked we weren't scared, because this movie really was the scariest thing to most people for decades. I have a lot of respect for this movie as a horror fan even though it doesn't personally scare me. The way Friedkin treated people, particularly Linda, is much scarier to me.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

I agree. Personally its not scary to me, but I'm disgusted by Friedkin's treatment. You'd be surprised by how many people think it was totally justified, because "art".

[@existenceisrelative]

There are two versions of the Mercedes McCambridge story. The director says she insisted on being tied down for the authenticity. The actress says the director was fixated on the idea but she just wanted to act.

[@garyr7027]

Watched this movie alone for the first time when I was 18 on satellite TV late one night... 10 years after initial release. Scared the crap out of me when I got to my bedroom for bed, when all a sudden a mirror fell down off my dresser. No joke, I kept the light on all night that night.

[@Alonso-Santiago]

Gary, I will inform you of this. When you seek the devil in movies, music, or occult activities, the devil you will get. He will respond to your invitation.

[@chriscuomo9334]

@@Alonso-Santiago hola. People can watch these movies without seeking the devil. If i were him in fact I’d hate these movies. ✝️

[@mondomacabromajor5731]

Making any film is a shit show .... if you get 70% of what you wanted - be happy!

[@Ramsey276one]

YIKES

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Having grown up in "Hollywood'," my Dad in the thick and my Mom worked in TV for decades, most do NOT understand the crucible of fire most productions are. The layers of stupidity and hubris one must excavate to get a simple good story on film is "Homeric." When something like this film IS made and all the dominos fall in place is nothing short of a miracle. All those moving parts, they all want to do as they wish or just succumb to the gravity, first set in line and then called to motion... It is a fascinating process.

[@mondomacabromajor5731]

@@hugh-johnfleming289 Agreed. Having directed my own feature film and worked on 40+ other films, i know what you mean about "Homeric" !!!! The last two feature films i worked on were an utter debacle of mismanagement and having inexperienced morons in charge that led to many people leaving the film industry and looking for real work!

[@southlondon86]

@@mondomacabromajor5731 More details if you will sir.

[@mondomacabromajor5731]

@@southlondon86 HA - i could go on for hours... the problem is these days production companies employ 'kids' and teach them on the job - who teaches them - the old school technicians who have been through the hard yards and learnt from mistakes. Then the 'kids' somehow get to run the show and all the old school technicians quit from disgust. The whole face of film making is changing and CGI is taking over every aspect of big films now the 'kids' are in charge. Low budget films is where the fun and magic still remains.

[@AlcvinRyuzenRamos]

The most terrifying film I've ever seen! What an incredible work of art!

[@clemflynn7067]

This is my first time to watch some of your documentaries. I have watched three in a row now. You are so very talented. The narration is impeccable; I do hope that you are at least a voice over actor in your real life job position. If not, you are missing your calling. These three documentaries I have watched so far are absolutely excellent! The very least I can say is fantastic job, as words do not express how excellent this is. I’ve been unable to leave my seat or push pause they’re so good.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Wow! That’s a lot of kind words. Thanks so much! Though, I think my voice sounds like if broken glass had nasal congestion…

[@lloydonlead]

I read the book at 8 years old. My parents never knew I lifted the book on their shelf. I saw a special re- release at age 13 with my mom. How many mom's would do that. It blew me away. Flat out masterpiece. Still watch every Halloween. Honorable mention: The Omen, The Shining and Poltergeist.

[@dw6418]

Your mom was sick

[@RichardLucas]

It was the scariest movie ever made, and I just happened to be a kid (and able to be frightened by it) when I first saw it. From my point of view, it was worth it. A year or two later, I saw Poltergeist, and after that I was too old to be frightened by a film, anymore. I feel lucky that I saw both of those films at an age where they would hit me hard.

[@cnashford2]

I wish I could say the same! 😢 I've never saw "Poltergeist," but I was definitely a little too old when I saw "The Exorcist." All I could manage was laughter at the pea soup-like stuff coming from Regan's mouth.

[@RichardLucas]

@@cnashford2 It helps that I was awash in rural, backwards theology when I was a child. Demonic possession could be a real thing to that child's mind.

[@michaell6807]

@@RichardLucas wouldn't rule it out so fast. Possessed people is something that's been mentioned since the bible.

[@RichardLucas]

@@michaell6807 The Bible's original authors (Hebrews) were impressed by the Greeks and their method was an attempt to rationalize their population. Academic examination of the Bible reveals a different document than religious environments that view it as scripture. Turns out a lot of theology that is supposedly "Bible based" is no such thing. Most of the hot-button, social issues are actually just error. Paul, for example, didn't even develop an afterlife theology until churches started writing letters saying Aunt Martha died before seeing Jesus, is she still gonna see him? Lol. Oh, what a tangled he weaved. Wove. Whatever. So, no. Demonic possession was brought in with certain populations and not others. The NT was kind of like the Federalist papers in that everybody whom they wanted to buy in was given a reason to buy in. Some of those populations believed in demons. Error.

[@ML-tr1hz]

​@@michaell6807 What do The Exorcist and The Bible have in common? They're fiction.

[@sigbauer9782]

The hysteria around the opening of this film reminds me of when South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut, was released. I went to a late-morning showing, and on the ticket counter window, there was a sign that said that there will be no refunds for this movie. I didn't really know anything about the movie (this was in the pre-internet days), so I shrugged and watched the movie. I swear that I was laughing so much and so hard that I stopped breathing multiple times! Afterwards, I grabbed a friend from work and we watched the film later that day, and even though I knew what was coming, the reaction was as if I saw it for the first time. The Exorcist does the same thing.

[@aimzvortex9399]

Nice video and great editing dude, I have a feeling your channels gonna blow up someday!

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Sure hope so... thanks for watching!

[@ProfessorKenneth]

@@ItWasAShtShow it's blown up already man..👍🏻🤘🏻

[@debradavis3935]

I didn’t see this movie until I was an adult in the 80’s. I can’t imagine seeing this as a child…it would have scarred me deeply!

[@billyjoecobra2517]

I saw it as a child and was seriosly traumatised

[@prettyaverage97]

The stories behind The Exorcist's production will never cease to amaze me. This has been my favourite horror movie (and one of my all-time favourite movies, overall) for YEARS, and it's probably the only horror movie that never fails to send shivers down my spine and have me cautiously sleeping with one eye open at night. There's no other movie like it, and there never will be.

[@shedjammer87]

I was 10 yrs. old when this was released and remember hearing about people leaving the theater half-way through, which made me want to see it even more!

[@tiffsaver]

I remember seeing the crowds leaving the theater at it's opening run, and everyone left in a very somber mood. They were genuinely spooked. With today's special effects, this film seems quite tame, but when it premiered it was truly revolutionary. It changed film making forever.

[@glenchapman3899]

Well remember only 13 years before, Psycho had similar effects on audiences

[@tiffsaver]

@@glenchapman3899 Yes. I remember the theaters told movie goers not to reveal the surprise ending to anyone!!

[@glenchapman3899]

@@tiffsaver There is a scene in Happy Days when the boys are leaving the theatre. And someone in the waiting line intentionally bumps one of them, and Ralph turned around and just said "Bates killed his mother"

[@Mark-yb1sp]

I am 61 yrs old and saw it when I was 12. Had issues my whole life from this movie.

[@hadara69]

Really fantastic mini-doc! It still blows my mind how many viewers here in the U.S. lost their shit (and lunch!) while watching this. We are such a super fundie nutjob country to think that stuff can really happen. The movie itself addresses this and I’m glad you included the “Well, it just doesn’t happen anymore…” clip from Karras. What an absolute masterpiece of Horror though! 🤘👹🤘

[@cankhovich1796]

there are more exorcisms being conducted now than ever

[@macronencer]

Anyone who hasn't heard Lalo Schifrin's rejected music for The Exorcist should seek it out and listen. In my opinion it's absolutely terrifying. If anything, probably TOO harrowing to be used. People freaked out enough as it was, and if the music had been as horrifying as the visuals I can't imagine what would have happened.

[@macwyll]

They did make a good choice of using the first part of Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield. Damn that music was creepy. After I learned what was, I got the album and was pleased to find the title song is 27 minutes long. Good stuff.

[@macronencer]

​@@macwyll I'm sure you're right, although for those of us who were already familiar with Tubular Bells it was a bit odd. The film came out before I was old enough to be allowed to see it, so by the time I did, Tubular Bells had already established itself in my mind as this kind of wistful, rustic tone poem of loveliness. It didn't really fit :)

[@DeuceSchnozzle]

Peter Gunn was iconic for another reason in my house. My hair. Every time my dad took me to Gerry the barber on Grant Ave. in NE Philly, he would say "give him a 'Peter Gunn'".

[@bps3013]

Well done! You should consider doing a video for Exorcist III as well which had its own share of hassles getting made and is hugely underrated (despite having one of the most epic jump scares in cinema history). You can probably skip the direct sequel though, it's a complete misfire from start to finish.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mn-uoquro86Sh80

[@JayBee6801]

In '81 my parents watched this on T.V. I was 4 years old. I snuck into the hallway to watch it (probably overhearing my parents say I shouldnt.) I don't remember it but my parents (who havent spoken since '86) both tell the same story: At 2-3 a.m. they awoke to me screaming from nightmares. My mother (being twisted by religious people in her family) thought watching things like this could invite it into your home. She obviously freaked out... my dad, being more of a realist (luckily for me) shook me to wake me up. I didn't respond and kept screaming, pale and drenched in sweat, so he slapped me, which had the desired effect. I woke up shaking in terror and started bawling. He grabbed me and held me, rocking me until I was able to fall asleep again and stayed with me through every episode. It made me very conscious of what I watch with children around. If grown adults were passing out, fainting, having breakdowns and vomiting trying to watch this movie, imagine what it did to a 4 year old already living in a traumatic and violent environment. I am thankful I have no memory of that night. Watched it as a teenager and loved it.

[@unapologetic3674]

This is the only movie that truly scarred me. I'm 44 now and cannot even look at a still pic of the lil girl when she is possessed. This is the first time I've tried to look at this and self heal myself💯

[@mj2672]

I was really young when this came out. I remember our local paper showed pics of people after seeing the movie would have to sit on areas outside the theatre because it was so disturbing.

[@partybusexperiance3289]

some of my friends laughed through the film. I asked them WTF they were doing. These tough laughing guys said they were so scared they thought it would help them get through the movie. Mean while, my sister would not sleep without the light on for 10 days.

[@garyr7027]

Lol

[@macwyll]

it was 2 weeks for me

[@CoreyChambersLA]

This is one of the best behind the scenes documentaries ever.

[@siddharthkarki8442]

Including the unedited narration by the actor of how a priest gave him an artefact for protection, and 3 days later passed way, is a nice touch.

[@beccabowers4997]

Linda Blair was amazing beyond her year's with her acting as Reagan in the Exorcist for as young as she was...I just love her 🥰🥰

[@ArchGBUStanton]

In high school I finally got to see a re-release of the Exorcist and at that time I was much more mature for my age, had been around the block, was considered a pretty tough guy, etc., but when a group of us went to see it I literally had to hid the fact that I was covering my eyes with my fingers thru some of the scenes, periodically peeking at the screen. I was just sucked how scary it was and still is. My wife, a religious person, refuses to let me watch it in our home. I don't know when the interviews with Linda Blair took place but write she's cut! I respect that.

[@drunkbanthas]

Just watched this for the first time this year. Nice video 👍🏾

[@elvenkind6072]

I can totally agree with the "cursed" idea in the film. When me and two friends rented the movie on VHS, back in the days with movie rentals, all of us felt so scared after watching the film, that everyone refused to bring the movie back to the rental the day after, and since I was the one that had the TV we watched it at, we ended up with hiding the film in a dark corner in my hallway, where my cat ended up pissing on it, making me totally sure it was for sure cursed.

[@tombrunila2695]

Shows that your cat was an excellent judge of movies!

[@jbjacobs9514]

This was a terrific video! It is a nice take on the film - I knew most of the things that were in the video, previously, but you did a lovely job. Weirdly, Friedkin said he wanted an actress for Reagan that wouldn't be forever scarred by it - sadly that is exactly what happened. Even though she was perfect for the part and did have some roles afterward (a couple of very good ones too on tv), I believe it did seriously derail her career and left serious psychic wounds. The public didn't help.

[@shenloken2]

07:33 - Anybody get chills listening to Jason Miller's story about the medallion and the priest? I did.

[@cincin4515]

Mr Von Sydow is so matter of fact in his dismissal of creepy coincidences. He's a legend.

[@brendabullard8246]

Sadly, the priest believes, the actor does not! Hopefully he changed his mind.

[@blakjack3053]

Saw it when it first premiered, I was 13. Scared the living shit out of me !

[@brianshaker1885]

I love how you end on such beautiful emotional notes.

[@moontexts]

This deserves way more views, you did amazing, I hope you see this. Do you prefer the original 70s version or the 2000s? Just curious haha! Wish your channel the best!!

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Thanks for the well wishes!

[@tommym7321]

I bought weed in DC one time in front of this big weird familiar looking house and I asked the guy if he knew whose house it was and he was like "idk" and I pulled up maps on my phone and it was the fucking Exorcist house. I showed my phone to him and we both nerded out about how cool and random it was.

[@dirrtyb313]

you got a new fan I love behind the scenes knowledge, plus you did a good job on the production, the clips pushed your story line explaining this

[@contentdaddy6467]

For my senior exit project in college I studied Dick Smith, so I watched it over and over and over. I didn’t sleep for months. As a child I saw it when I was 9 and that was the single most horrific and defining moment in my life lol. I’ve been sitting on watching this for daylight hours and I’m so glad I did. Great video❤.

[@LokiDWolf-im7jg]

Since this movie traumatized me as a pre-teen, I grew up being in love with it. From the script to ALL the acting to just everything! I overcame my fear of it and now critique all horror movies to make me feel the way I was when I was scared. Grant it, no horror movie scares me because I learned to embrace it and basically enjoy a good scare. Still, The Exorcist is THE #1 horror movie, in my sincerest view, to this day.

[@GP-2000]

Parents took us (me and my sister) to see it when we were kids. Couldn't sleep for days. Finally revisited it as an adult and came to appreciate the story and acting. But yeah, it still scares the shit out of me.

[@filmfann1970]

The 12 minute extended cut was actually released theatrically in a wide release and performed well in 2000. The Blu Ray format didn't exist for another eight years after the release of the extended cut so the longer cut could not have been put together for a Blu Ray release although it eventually wound up there in 2012.

[@almad4355]

One of the best films of any genre ever produced. Oh, and if you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it too.

[@americanpancakelive]

I remember when it came out. I was a kid and it has such a terrifying reputation that my dad decided to go see it. Now mind you, my dad didn't go to the movies much and he probably would of not gone except he wanted to see what all the fuss was about. He went alone because my mom was too scared to see it. My brothers and sisters and I were so excited to see my dad when he got home from the theater. We expected to not only find out about the movie but wondered if my dad could handle it. He entered the house calmly and after a lot of coaxing offered nonchalantly, "It was ok but not very scary". My dad was in the Dutch army during world war 2. He was shot in the back twice and ended up in a Japanese concentration camp in Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia). He endured hell, lost his teeth, was severely mal nourished after the two years he was there until allied forces freed him when the war ended. Yeah, he didn't think the Exorcist was scary at all.

[@bacardibum]

i just found this channel and i'm hooked. please keep making these videos!!! could you do one on the Dick Tracy movie? That film gets overlooked but it has some of the best art design and makeup that has been in movies.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Haven't watched that in ages... was it a Sh*t Show to make? I don't remember.

[@Mafr0]

Great channel you've got here! The binge factor is off the chain!!

[@ChiefYona]

Your video is fantastic! I look forward seeing your future work

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Thank you!

[@shalex2O]

Great video, under rated.

[@MARIAREY5]

Great vid

[@turtletenet]

the way you end these videos are always great, highly underrated channel keep killing it!

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Thank you!

[@theOGofREDS]

Good quick thorough. Subscribed!

[@eoghaininfacundodiarmuid]

The Exorcist is the gold standard for demonic possession themed movies.

[@synthraofficial5366]

Nothing sours a film or TV show for me quite like knowing that they mistreated the actors. I wish we as a society would stop excusing this kind of behavior. The number of times I've seen actors get hurt after safety inspectors told directors or producers that it wasn't safe or someone was traumatized for the rest of their life due to the demands of an unreasonable director... I could care less how good a movie is. I care about the human beings harm to the making of it.

[@scottysmediaproductions]

Great video. Thank you

[@AllanM444]

this is one of my newest favoritest channel on YT. every vid is just so interesting!!! lol Thanks for your hard work man!! great show!!

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Ah Thank you! Glad you find them interesting.

[@mirlegends]

I would love it if they made a movie or mini series based on the making of The Exorcist. If it was done right and stuck to the facts then it could be a real gem.

[@kathybateman7500]

I was just a little girl when the movie came out, so I had to wait to see the movie. I actually forgot about it for years. I finally watched the movie in (I think) / around 1990 uncut and was in awe. I thought (and still do) that it is a thriller, not a horror movie. I still like to watch it from time to time.

[@ivorytower99]

The FUNNIEST thing. Some years ago, I was dating a younger guy who was 20. He had never even heard of the film! So, one night, I put the VHS Director's extended cut on, and we sat on the sofa and watched it. Now, I've seen it many, many times and fell asleep halfway through. Funny part is that (UNFORTUNATELY), I suffer from severe sleep apnea and snore really, (REALLY) loudly! The next morning, he told me how he was absolutely riveted to the movie last night - -and had the wits scared out of him during the "possession" scenes, as I was snoring away like a demon! LOL. I still laugh about it to this day.

[@swampdonkey4919]

Love the way you pronounce Friedkin, lol. Still blown away that the spider walk was cut from the original film; to me that was one of the more memorable scenes.