The Exorcist continues causing chills in many people around the world, and this list of photos will help you to understand what was really going on behing cameras and how was evertyhing done, baceuse it’s only a movie after all, and these behind the scenes photos are the prove of it.
Enjoy watching how all the actors and the crew did all the magic work.
Linda Blair was Regan, the possessed girl
Pinterest
Nowadays this movie continues to be one of the most watched horror movies from all generations. Time passes and people of all ages continue dying of fear each time they see this horrific movie.
The special effects are AMAZING!
Pinterest
First of all, a Mexican, named Gonzálo Gavira, is behind the special effects of this film. It was him who gave life to that memorable scene in which Regan (the character of Linda Blair), it'spossessed by the demon "Pazuzu" and gives a 360 ° turn with her head.
The written novel was a total failure
Pinterest
The book "The Exorcist" was released in 1971, and it was a complete failure. However, in a stroke of luck, Blatty, author of the book, was invited to the talk show "The Dick Cavett Show", where, thanks to the absence of other guests, he had more time to talk about his novel. A few weeks later, the book was at the top of the Best-Sellers list.
The film didn't promise to be a success
Pinterest
Before the novel became a success, no producer wanted to accept Blatty's script to make a film. After joining the Best Seller list, John Calley, an American film studio executive and producer, became interested in the project and bought the rights.
Based on a real story horror movies
Pinterest
The story took the real case of a 13-year-old boy from Maryland, who in 1949 was subject of 30 exorcisms to free him from a demon that was possessing him. The church gave it the pseudonym of "Roland Perez".
Stanley Kubrick was going to produce the film but he didn't want to
Pinterest
Stanley Kubrick was a film director, scriptwriter, producer and American photographer. Considered by many, as one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century, he would've tripled the success of the movie.
Audrey Hepburn was going to be the mother of Regan
Pinterest
The character of Chris MacNeil (mother of Regan) was offered initially to the actress Shirley MacLaine, neighbor of the author of the book. However, she rejected the offer. Then they thought of Audrey Hepburn, but the current mother was chosen and it was an excellent decision.
The priest of the film really wanted to be a priest
Pinterest
Jason Miller, the actor who personified Father Damien Karras, did actually studied to become a priest at the American University in Washington, but left his studies after three years of losing faith...
The actress was chosen among 500 girls
Pinterest
The immense casting lasted several months, and Linda Blair was the chosen one, and gave life to the possessed and unhappy Regan.
Linda Blair was afraid to look in the mirror
Pinterest
The artist and make-up artist Dick Smith had first prepared a diabolical make-up for Regan, who was rejected by Friedkin, who wanted a more dirty and bloody appearance, like self-inflicted wounds. In any case, her appearance remained as unpleasant as the initial one.
There are several unexplainable events within the set of the film
Pinterest
In the scene in which Regan slaps her mother, the actress Ellen Burstyn suffered a permanent injury in the column while pulling the cable that supported her with a lot of strenght . The cry you hear is real in the movie is real.
This scene was almost deleted from the tape
Pinterest
It's perhaps the most memorable scene of the whole film, but it didn't almost appear because they said it was too strong for anyone to see it. Blatty, the writer of the story, asked Friedkni to remove it, but in the end they came to an agreement.
Linda hated the mannequin that looked like her
Pinterest
We are all scared of the rotating head scene; imagine what the reaction of the little Linda Blair was when she saw it. She was really frightened by the robot used for the scene. To create it they had to recreate a copy of her face.
The trailer of the movie was banned
Pinterest
In several countries, the official trailer of the film was banned because it had many strong scenes for any children and even adults to see it.
A fire burned the whole set except for Regan's room
Pinterest
This is one of the strangest facts of the behind the scene of the movie. It tells the story of the night that an inexplicable fire burned the whole set of footage, except for Regan's room...
One of the actors became a serial killer
Pinterest
Actor Paul Bateson, who has a small appearance on the film as an x-ray technician, was convicted in 1979 for murdering the film critic Addison Verril. He was also considered as one of the main suspects in murdering and maiming six other men, who were thrown into the river in black plastic bags.
Father Lankester Merrín was only 40 when he gave life to the old man
Pinterest
Father Lankester Merrín was only 40 years when he gave life to the old man. Sydow had a four-hour makeup session to look like a 79-year-old priest.
It was the first Oscar-nominated horror film
Pinterest
In 2010, the film was selected to be preserved in the Library of Congress as part of its National Register of Cultural, Historical or Aesthetically Significant Cinema. It was also the first Oscar-nominated horror film.