Alternately interesting and sloppy, you'll end up knowing more about the Exorcist than perhaps you care to know, especially where its sequels are concerned. The real interest here is in getting to know the prime movers behind the original Exorcist, author William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin a little better. Although they had their differences, clearly each had a vision that carries forward into the classic original film. Blatty himself went on to direct a couple of sort-of-sequels based on his other novels, all of which, according to this account, are about providing the existence of god through the existence of evil. I'm not sure this thesis really holds up, but it does appear to represent Blatty's belief. The book suffers from haphazard construction, and it seems some things were just added a random. Sections near the end dealing with the just-released (2023) new Exorcist film are just promotional material. ( )

The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff is a comprehensive and enjoyable read about the history of the entire Exorcist franchise (though in some ways franchise doesn't fit).

Segaloff, who also wrote a biography of director William Friedkin, offers both details about all of the iterations of The Exorcist as well as ideas/theories about why it had such an immediate impact as well as a lasting presence. From interviews to looking at other types of research, we get a well-rounded view of the phenomenon that is The Exorcist legacy.

Like so many people, I am a fan of the initial movie as well as the book. In fact, this is one of the few cases where I actually prefer the film, but I do like the book as well. I first saw the movie when I was 15, and the big screen experience was startling. Reading some of the ideas behind why the reactions many people have are so extreme helped me understand why I didn't have quite that strong of a reaction. Even for my 15-year-old self, it didn't infringe on either my view of the world or my comfort in my belief system, so while it did impact me when I first saw it, I neither got sick nor got angry. I simply enjoyed the entertainment. It wasn't until the movie was included in a couple of film courses that I started understanding the bigger picture. And that is what this book offers the reader, the bigger picture, shown through many of the smaller details.

Whether you're a big fan of one of the forms the story has taken in popular culture, a movie lover in general, or just someone who enjoys reading about major pop culture phenomena you will find plenty to enjoy here. Well written and researched, this is informative and enjoyable.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )