Documentary on the making of horror classic ‘The Exorcist’ streaming now

William Friedkin, a pioneer of the New Hollywood movement, adapted William Peter Blatty's best-selling novel The Exorcist in the early ‘70s and redefined the horror genre – blending supernatural elements with psychological explanations.

In a new documentary titled Leap of Faith, the director, who also made the classic neo-noir film The French Connection, goes 47 years back in time and reveals the interesting details behind the making of The Exorcist – from turning Linda Blair’s head in one of the spookiest scenes to his lifelong devotion towards religious drama on big screen.

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Although there is no recollection of the infamous injuries sustained by actors including Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn which many have perceived as mysterious occurrences, the director does nonchalantly mention slapping William O’ Malley (Father Dyer) to get a genuine emotional reaction from him, calling that era of cinema ‘the good old days.’

The official summary of the documentary reads, “A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, LEAP OF FAITH explores the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography."

The documentary premiered on November 19.