A new documentary, Boorman and the Devil, explores the making of the disastrous 1977 sequel Exorcist II: The Heretic. Directed by David Kittredge, the film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September and is seeking distribution. Despite its quality, no distributor has yet picked it up, leading some to speculate it is cursed, much like the original Exorcist.
The documentary centres on an interview with director John Boorman, now 92, conducted seven years ago. Boorman reflects on his career, including films such as Deliverance (1972) and Hope and Glory (1987), but focuses on the troubled production of Exorcist II. He argues the film was misbegotten due to its title, insisting it should have been called The Heretic. Warner Bros, however, insisted on the connection to the original, paying Linda Blair a substantial sum to return as Regan.
The sequel starred Blair, Richard Burton, Louise Fletcher, and James Earl Jones. Fletcher, who died in 2022, appears in one of her last film interviews, admitting she did not understand the script. The documentary also features contributions from filmmakers Mike Flanagan and Karyn Kusama, who defend the much-maligned film, noting it has gained admirers over the decades.
Kittredge’s documentary is praised as both entertaining and insightful, offering a primer on the film industry. Critics hope it will find a home on a streaming service or Turner Classic Movies, allowing audiences to discover the story behind a film that was initially rejected by audiences and critics alike.
