Blogtober #SpooktoberStories

Hey guys, Hope you are all well, I'm back again with another horror movie that is based on true events, today's movie is called The Exorcist. And as always there will be no photos shown on this blog, out of respect or privacy. I will share with you now an overview of the movie for the people who haven't seen the movie. 

The Exorcist is a 1971 horror novel by American writer William Peter Blatty. The book details the demonic possession of eleven-year-old Regan MacNeil, the daughter of a famous actress, and the two priests who attempt to exorcise the demon. Published by Harper & Row, the novel was the basis of a highly successful film adaption released two years later, whose screenplay was also written and produced by Blatty, and part of The Exorcist franchise.

One of the most profitable horror movies ever made, this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events. When young Regan (Linda Blair) starts acting odd -- levitating, speaking in tongues, her worried mother (Ellen Burstyn) seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. A local priest (Jason Miller), however, thinks the girl may be seized by the devil. The priest makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow) to help with the difficult job.

Although the book had been a bestseller, Blatty, who produced, and Friedkin, his choice for director, had difficulty casting the film. After turning down, or being turned down, by major stars of the era, they cast in the lead roles the relatively little-known Burstyn, the unknown Blair, and Miller, the author of a hit play who had never acted in movies before, casting choices that were vigorously opposed by studio executives at Warner Bros. Principal photography was also difficult. Most of the set burned down, and Blair and Burstyn suffered long-term injuries in accidents. Ultimately the film took twice as long to shoot as scheduled and cost more than twice its initial budget.

On December 26, 1973, The Exorcist was released in 24 theatres in the U.S. and Canada. Audiences flocked to it, waiting in long lines during winter weather, many doing so more than once, despite mixed critical reviews. Some viewers had adverse physical reactions, often fainting or vomiting, to scenes such as its protagonist undergoing a realistic cerebral angiography and masturbating with a crucifix. There were reports of heart attacks and miscarriages; a psychiatric journal carried a paper on "cinematic neurosis" triggered by the film. Many children were taken to see the film, leading to charges that the MPAA rating board had accommodated Warner by giving the film an R rating instead of the X they thought it deserved in order to ensure its commercial success; a few cities tried to ban it outright or prevent children from seeing it, and obscenity concerns kept the film from a home video release in Great Britain until 1999.

Whilst this movie was being filmed, there were some strange things happening on the set, strange things happened to the cast and objects. But I shall leave you to do the research for that if you want to, and there are videos on youtube that share the same information, I found it rather interesting to find out and see how things can happen, not everyone believes this stuff but for you who do, have a read or listen! 

This is the last horror movie based off real events or stories, I really hope you have all enjoyed the ones I have chosen for this year, and enjoyed reading or learning something if you didn't see any of the movies I chose.

I hope you all have a spooky October and look forward to the next post! 

Thank you,

Becca x