Two Years Before “The Exorcist,” a Real-Life Exorcism Was Performed on Television
A film crew was live to document this rare event for stunned prime-time TV audiences in 1971
Throughout history, humanity has held a profound fascination with the concept of evil. This fascination has found its way into modern books and films, often centered around the belief in malevolent forces capable of entering our bodies and leading to possession. Few films have captured the harrowing act of demonic possession and the relentless quest to free a tormented soul more vividly than the 1973 film “The Exorcist.” This masterpiece of horror takes us through the spine-chilling events surrounding a 12-year-old girl gripped by the clutches of an evil entity and the two priests determined to perform the sacred Catholic rite of exorcism, hoping to cast out the malevolent spirit and save her eternal soul.
“The Exorcist” is a cinematic journey that carefully crafts a sense of impending doom right from its opening frames. This slow burn into terror is masterfully achieved through a combination of elements, notably the chilling musical score of Krzysztof Penderecki and the eerie imagery directed by William Friedkin.
