TagWilliam Friedkin
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RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, is set to release the incredibly in-depth documentary Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist from Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural. Written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene, The People vs. George Lucas), the documentary features the iconic film’s director William Friedkin (To Live and Die in L.A., The Exorcist). Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist is the ultimate and complete dissection and sweeping examination of the award-winning genre classic The Exorcist. Explore the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that helped shape his life and filmography, as told by the man himself. Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist, a must-see for every horror fan, is out on VOD, Digital HD, and Blu-ray on April 13, 2021. iTunes Extras include the following
Continue reading →
DocumentariesMoviesNewsShudderStreaming TVTrailers
When it comes to iconic horror films you don’t get much more important than The Exorcist. There are several documentaries out there about the 1973 classic, but one stands above all others, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (review) and it should be required watching for all genre fans! Luckily, the Shudder documentary is coming to VOD, Digital, and Blu-ray this April. Written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene, The People vs. George Lucas), the documentary features William Friedkin (To Live and Die in L.A., The Exorcist) himself discussing the iconic film’s making and the mysteries of faith and fate that helped shape his life and filmography, and so much more. Pick up your copy of Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist on VOD, Digital HD, or Blu-ray on April 13, 2021, from RLJE Films.
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsTrailersTrue CrimeTrue Story
Did you know that a real-life serial killer starred in The Exorcist? In 1972, director William Friedkin saw Paul Bateson perform a cerebral angiography in the New York University radiology lab. Wanting to keep things as real as possible, when Friedkin was making The Exorcist the next year, he arranged for the same procedure to be filmed in a hospital by real doctors and technicians. Friedkin was impressed by the way Bateson performed the real procedure the year before and invited him to be included in the scene as a radiographer not knowing of his crimes. Born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, he was the son of a metallurgist. In the early 60s, he joined the Army and became an alcoholic while serving in Germany. When his service came to an end, he returned to Lansdale before moving to New York in 1964 where he began living a double life, working as a radiologist during the day, and exploring his sexuality and
Continue reading →
DocumentariesMoviesNewsParanormalShudderStreaming TVTrailers
Shudder, AMC Networks’ premiere streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural has announced the acquisition of Leap of Faith: William Friedkin On the Exorcist from award-winning documentarian Alexandre O. Philippe, which is set to be released exclusively on the streaming platform this November in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The film, which had its world premiere at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival and was an official selection of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, will also stream this weekend as part of the Nightstream Film Festival. “A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on the legendary horror film 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 marks the sixth feature doc from Philippe and continues his thoughtful analysis of iconic genre films, including the previously released documentaries
Continue reading →
MoviesNews
Break out the holy water and call a priest, Morgan Creek is about to commit blasphemy. They are reportedly rebooting the most iconic horror film in history, 1973’s The Exorcist. The news that was hidden in a recent Deadline article. The single sentence has sent heads spinning throughout the genre. Current Morgan Creek Projects include Stay Tuned at AMC, with a theatrical reboot of The Exorcist in the works for 2021.” The strange part about all this, besides that anyone is attempting to reboot it, is that Morgan Creek swore on Twitter back on September 28, 2015, that, “For the record, we will never attempt to remake THE EXORCIST.” It seems they’ve decided to follow the sad trend of rebooting/remaking anything that could make a dime. There is one thing, the term “reboot” being used which implies that the story will differ from the original, but who knows. The film is not currently featured on their “in development” list. There’s
Continue reading →
DocumentariesFilm FestivalsMoviesReviews
Although in the documentary Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist Friedkin is the only on-camera subject interviewed, the film is riveting stuff throughout its 104-minute running time. The director gives a master class on filmmaking while providing a behind-the-scenes account of what is inarguably one of the greatest horror films ever made. Director Alexandre O. Philippe (who helmed the incredible and highly recommended 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene) conducts a sit-down interview with Friedkin, who plainly and boldly speaks about the singular mindset he had for The Exorcist, from marking up a hardback copy of William Peter Blatty’s source novel so he could convey exactly what he wanted for the film, through the arduous process of getting the film rolling on production, to anecdotes about how he got the actors to give the terrific performances they did in certain scenes, to the film’s enduring legacy. It’s interesting to also hear who and what didn’t appear in the film, including
Continue reading →
MoviesReviewsThriller
A serial killer has marked gay men frequenting New York’s meat packing district; home to the S/M and leather scene, and he’s been dismembering them like a beastly butcher! Thankfully police officer Steve Burns (Al Pacino) is placed deep undercover onto the streets to try and draw the killer out. Soon our hero becomes almost completely isolated from his previous life as his new fabricated existence consumes him. Will Steve be able to catch the killer and remain who he is? Comprised of a stellar cast (besides the aforementioned Pacino; Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, James Remar, Ed O’ Neill and the Maniac himself Joe Spinell round out the roster), a brutal mystery to solve, a deep-dive into a subculture not often examined, and the unbeatable grit and grime of late ’70s/early ’80s Manhattan; Cruising is a rock-solid horror film dressed in thriller clothing. Among all of that goodness, there is of course the ol’ elephant in the room that should
Continue reading →
Documentaries
Few films have been more terrifying than William Friedkin’s The Exorcist. Recently, Friedkin set out to make a document the real rites of exorcism, similar to those we witnessed in his terrifying, ground-breaking, 1973 film. In the documentary, The Devil and Father Amorth, we will witness the real exorcism of an Italian woman performed by Father Gabriel Amorth. Yes, I said real. In the early 1970s when I directed The Exorcist, I had not witnessed an exorcism but I wondered how close I had come to portraying reality,” Friedkin said. “I had been curious to meet Father Amorth for many years and when he granted permission to meet and film him in Rome last May, it was the opportunity to complete the circle and see how close that film came to reality.” Last year during an interview with Variety he said, “I had to shoot it alone, obviously. The conditions were that I come along with no crew and no
Continue reading →
Documentaries
What could be more terrifying than William Friedkin’s The Exorcist? How about a real exorcism caught on tape? Recently, Friedkin set out to make a documentary of the real rites of exorcism, similar to those we witnessed in his terrifying, ground-breaking, 1973 film. In Friedkin’s The Devil and Father Amorth, we will witness the real exorcism of an Italian woman performed by Father Gabriel Amorth. Yes, I said real. In the early 1970s when I directed The Exorcist, I had not witnessed an exorcism but I wondered how close I had come to portraying reality,” Friedkin said. “I had been curious to meet Father Amorth for many years and when he granted permission to meet and film him in Rome last May, it was the opportunity to complete the circle and see how close that film came to reality.” Last year during an interview with Variety he said, “I had to shoot it alone, obviously. The conditions were that I
Continue reading →
Documentaries
Back in 1973, William Friedkin directed one of the most important classics to ever come from the horror genre, The Exorcist. Based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist centered on Regan (Linda Blair), a young girl possessed. Her mother sought and found help from two priests who were able to rid the girl of the dark entity, at great cost. Fast-forward several decades and you will find Friedkin tackling the subject of exorcism once again, this time in a real life documentary titled The Devil and Father Amorth. Friedkin got up close and personal during a real exorcism proceeded over by Father Gabriele Amorth, who performed exorcisms the Vatican’s Rome Diocese. Father Armoth has penned several books on the subject. After reading Amroth’s books Friedkin sought him out while on a trip to Italy. Surprisingly, the Father was a fan of The Exorcist. In the documentary, Friedkin is allowed to observe a real exorcism with restrictions that
Continue reading →
More from William Friedkin
DocumentariesMoviesNewsProductShudderStreaming TVTrailers
RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, is set to release the incredibly in-depth documentary Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist from Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural. Written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene, The People vs. George Lucas), the documentary features the iconic film’s director William Friedkin (To Live and Die in L.A., The Exorcist). Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist is the ultimate and complete dissection and sweeping examination of the award-winning genre classic The Exorcist. Explore the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that helped shape his life and filmography, as told by the man himself. Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist, a must-see for every horror fan, is out on VOD, Digital HD, and Blu-ray on April 13, 2021. iTunes Extras include the following
Continue reading →
DocumentariesMoviesNewsShudderStreaming TVTrailers
When it comes to iconic horror films you don’t get much more important than The Exorcist. There are several documentaries out there about the 1973 classic, but one stands above all others, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (review) and it should be required watching for all genre fans! Luckily, the Shudder documentary is coming to VOD, Digital, and Blu-ray this April. Written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene, The People vs. George Lucas), the documentary features William Friedkin (To Live and Die in L.A., The Exorcist) himself discussing the iconic film’s making and the mysteries of faith and fate that helped shape his life and filmography, and so much more. Pick up your copy of Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist on VOD, Digital HD, or Blu-ray on April 13, 2021, from RLJE Films.
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsTrailersTrue CrimeTrue Story
Did you know that a real-life serial killer starred in The Exorcist? In 1972, director William Friedkin saw Paul Bateson perform a cerebral angiography in the New York University radiology lab. Wanting to keep things as real as possible, when Friedkin was making The Exorcist the next year, he arranged for the same procedure to be filmed in a hospital by real doctors and technicians. Friedkin was impressed by the way Bateson performed the real procedure the year before and invited him to be included in the scene as a radiographer not knowing of his crimes. Born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, he was the son of a metallurgist. In the early 60s, he joined the Army and became an alcoholic while serving in Germany. When his service came to an end, he returned to Lansdale before moving to New York in 1964 where he began living a double life, working as a radiologist during the day, and exploring his sexuality and
Continue reading →
DocumentariesMoviesNewsParanormalShudderStreaming TVTrailers
Shudder, AMC Networks’ premiere streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural has announced the acquisition of Leap of Faith: William Friedkin On the Exorcist from award-winning documentarian Alexandre O. Philippe, which is set to be released exclusively on the streaming platform this November in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The film, which had its world premiere at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival and was an official selection of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, will also stream this weekend as part of the Nightstream Film Festival. “A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on the legendary horror film 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 marks the sixth feature doc from Philippe and continues his thoughtful analysis of iconic genre films, including the previously released documentaries
Continue reading →
MoviesNews
Break out the holy water and call a priest, Morgan Creek is about to commit blasphemy. They are reportedly rebooting the most iconic horror film in history, 1973’s The Exorcist. The news that was hidden in a recent Deadline article. The single sentence has sent heads spinning throughout the genre. Current Morgan Creek Projects include Stay Tuned at AMC, with a theatrical reboot of The Exorcist in the works for 2021.” The strange part about all this, besides that anyone is attempting to reboot it, is that Morgan Creek swore on Twitter back on September 28, 2015, that, “For the record, we will never attempt to remake THE EXORCIST.” It seems they’ve decided to follow the sad trend of rebooting/remaking anything that could make a dime. There is one thing, the term “reboot” being used which implies that the story will differ from the original, but who knows. The film is not currently featured on their “in development” list. There’s
Continue reading →
DocumentariesFilm FestivalsMoviesReviews
Although in the documentary Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist Friedkin is the only on-camera subject interviewed, the film is riveting stuff throughout its 104-minute running time. The director gives a master class on filmmaking while providing a behind-the-scenes account of what is inarguably one of the greatest horror films ever made. Director Alexandre O. Philippe (who helmed the incredible and highly recommended 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene) conducts a sit-down interview with Friedkin, who plainly and boldly speaks about the singular mindset he had for The Exorcist, from marking up a hardback copy of William Peter Blatty’s source novel so he could convey exactly what he wanted for the film, through the arduous process of getting the film rolling on production, to anecdotes about how he got the actors to give the terrific performances they did in certain scenes, to the film’s enduring legacy. It’s interesting to also hear who and what didn’t appear in the film, including
Continue reading →
MoviesReviewsThriller
A serial killer has marked gay men frequenting New York’s meat packing district; home to the S/M and leather scene, and he’s been dismembering them like a beastly butcher! Thankfully police officer Steve Burns (Al Pacino) is placed deep undercover onto the streets to try and draw the killer out. Soon our hero becomes almost completely isolated from his previous life as his new fabricated existence consumes him. Will Steve be able to catch the killer and remain who he is? Comprised of a stellar cast (besides the aforementioned Pacino; Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, James Remar, Ed O’ Neill and the Maniac himself Joe Spinell round out the roster), a brutal mystery to solve, a deep-dive into a subculture not often examined, and the unbeatable grit and grime of late ’70s/early ’80s Manhattan; Cruising is a rock-solid horror film dressed in thriller clothing. Among all of that goodness, there is of course the ol’ elephant in the room that should
Continue reading →
Documentaries
Few films have been more terrifying than William Friedkin’s The Exorcist. Recently, Friedkin set out to make a document the real rites of exorcism, similar to those we witnessed in his terrifying, ground-breaking, 1973 film. In the documentary, The Devil and Father Amorth, we will witness the real exorcism of an Italian woman performed by Father Gabriel Amorth. Yes, I said real. In the early 1970s when I directed The Exorcist, I had not witnessed an exorcism but I wondered how close I had come to portraying reality,” Friedkin said. “I had been curious to meet Father Amorth for many years and when he granted permission to meet and film him in Rome last May, it was the opportunity to complete the circle and see how close that film came to reality.” Last year during an interview with Variety he said, “I had to shoot it alone, obviously. The conditions were that I come along with no crew and no
Continue reading →
Documentaries
What could be more terrifying than William Friedkin’s The Exorcist? How about a real exorcism caught on tape? Recently, Friedkin set out to make a documentary of the real rites of exorcism, similar to those we witnessed in his terrifying, ground-breaking, 1973 film. In Friedkin’s The Devil and Father Amorth, we will witness the real exorcism of an Italian woman performed by Father Gabriel Amorth. Yes, I said real. In the early 1970s when I directed The Exorcist, I had not witnessed an exorcism but I wondered how close I had come to portraying reality,” Friedkin said. “I had been curious to meet Father Amorth for many years and when he granted permission to meet and film him in Rome last May, it was the opportunity to complete the circle and see how close that film came to reality.” Last year during an interview with Variety he said, “I had to shoot it alone, obviously. The conditions were that I
Continue reading →
Documentaries
Back in 1973, William Friedkin directed one of the most important classics to ever come from the horror genre, The Exorcist. Based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist centered on Regan (Linda Blair), a young girl possessed. Her mother sought and found help from two priests who were able to rid the girl of the dark entity, at great cost. Fast-forward several decades and you will find Friedkin tackling the subject of exorcism once again, this time in a real life documentary titled The Devil and Father Amorth. Friedkin got up close and personal during a real exorcism proceeded over by Father Gabriele Amorth, who performed exorcisms the Vatican’s Rome Diocese. Father Armoth has penned several books on the subject. After reading Amroth’s books Friedkin sought him out while on a trip to Italy. Surprisingly, the Father was a fan of The Exorcist. In the documentary, Friedkin is allowed to observe a real exorcism with restrictions that
Continue reading →
