The brutal reality behind the making of the most unsettling horror film ever
In short: Ellen Burstyn is a celebrated actress, but her role in The Exorcist came at a physical cost. Beyond the screen, the production was plagued by injuries, fires, and a director whose extreme methods left his cast and crew reeling, fueling persistent rumors of a supernatural curse surrounding the film.
Released in 1973, The Exorcist remains a landmark of supernatural cinema. Directed by William Friedkin and based on William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel, the film chronicles a mother’s desperate attempt to save her daughter from demonic possession. While the movie eventually earned two Academy Awards and grossed $428 million, its path to success was anything but smooth. The production was marked by a series of bizarre setbacks, including a fire that destroyed the entire set except for the child’s bedroom, and various injuries to the crew, such as a carpenter losing a thumb.
Friedkin’s directorial style was notoriously demanding. He insisted on refrigerating the set to −20 °F (−29 °C) so that the actors' breath would be visible on camera. He also frequently fired guns on set to provoke genuine reactions of shock from his cast. These physical extremes resulted in lasting injuries for both Burstyn and her co-star Linda Blair. The production was so fraught with accidents that it birthed a persistent legend of a curse, further bolstered by the fact that several people associated with the project died during its creation.
The casting process itself was a struggle, as producers initially resisted Friedkin’s desire for unknown leads. After established stars like Jane Fonda and Audrey Hepburn declined, Burstyn and Jason Miller were cast, much to the frustration of studio executives. Despite the chaos, the film’s legacy as a stylistic masterpiece endures. It was loosely inspired by a 1949 exorcism case involving a 13-year-old boy, and its influence on the horror genre remains profound. For Burstyn, the role was a defining moment in a career that would later see her achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, including an Oscar for her performance in 1974’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ellen Burstyn | Biography, Movies, TV Series, Plays, & Facts | Britannica
- Also: Ellen Burstyn
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