Publishers Weekly
05/29/2023
This encyclopedic overview of the Exorcist franchise by film historian Segaloff (More Fire!) will satisfy even the most obsessive fans. A publicist on the original 1973 film directed by William Friedkin, Segaloff devotes the bulk of the book to that movie, describing the difficulties of designing believable demonic makeup for actor Linda Blair’s possessed character and Max von Sydow’s struggle as a nonbeliever to get into character as a Jesuit priest. Segaloff also delves into the numerous spin-offs, sequels, and prequels; the 1971 William Peter Blatty novel that Friedkin’s film was based on; and the 1949 alleged exorcism in Cottage City, Md., that inspired Blatty, which Segaloff suggests may have just been a case of a troubled 14-year-old boy acting out to avoid school. The surfeit of minutiae and workmanlike accounts of film production will test readers’ patience, as when Segaloff expounds on the set design and contributions of bit players: “Lou DiGiamo was in charge of casting the extras, and he threw a wide net.” Still, the author’s love for the original film buoys this, and his insights into how Blatty’s ruminations on faith and the existence of God animate his book and screenplay shed new light on the story. The result is a competent celebration of a horror classic. (July)
New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry
The Exorcist Legacy conjures new scares while telling a great story about a landmark horror film. Insightful, surprising, and damn fun!”
From the Publisher
Praise for The Exorcist Legacy
“The power of Nat Segaloff's research should compel fans to pick up a copy of the behind-the-scenes book.” —Entertainment Weekly
“In his dutiful, soup-to-nuts book about the movie and its legacy, Segaloff, who was publicity director for a Boston theater chain where the movie showed during its original run, addresses the question of what made so many ‘Exorcist’ viewers throw up.” —The Los Angeles Times
“(Segaloff) remembers the frenzy firsthand. But his new book dwells on production forensics: how the movie and its concept were developed and written and massaged . . . Segaloff’s accounting of Exorcist spin-offs and versions is positively Wikipedian in its thoroughness.” —Air Mail
“This encyclopedic overview of the Exorcist franchise by film historian Segaloff (More Fire!) will satisfy even the most obsessive fans. A publicist on the original 1973 film directed by William Friedkin . . . the author’s love for the original film buoys this, and his insights into how Blatty’s ruminations on faith and the existence of God animate his book and screenplay shed new light on the story. The result is a competent celebration of a horror classic.” —Publishers Weekly
“I highly recommend The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear to all aficionados of my father’s book and film. I have read all of the books about The Exorcist out there and to my mind it is the best of the lot: interesting, entertaining, accurate, and comprehensive. Segaloff reveals details about the making of the original film that I didn't know in spite of the fact that I was present during much of the making of it. Above all, this book honors my father’s legacy and for that I am grateful to its author.” —Michael Blatty, son of William Peter Blatty (author of The Exorcist)
“You’d think that at this late date there wouldn’t be a lot left to say about The Exorcist, one of the most skillfully manipulative movies ever made. But you’d be wrong! Veteran journalist Nat Segaloff engrossingly charts the making, marketing, and enduring reception of the spiritual horror blockbuster that has haunted the nightmares of two generations of filmgoers, as well as spawned a cottage industry of theories about the ‘curses’ that allegedly bedeviled the production. Plus you get background info on the various sequels and offshoots that continue to this day. It’s a great read even if you’re not a lapsed Catholic!” —Joe Dante, director of Gremlins, Innerspace, The Howling, and Matinee
“The Exorcist is not just a classic, but a living, breathing presence in our culture. Nat Segaloff has followed it from the very beginning and is uniquely qualified to chart its history and impact.” —Leonard Maltin, film critic and historian
“Nat Segaloff’s deep dive into all things Exorcist will spin your head around with exhaustive details, smart reporting, intriguing insights from cast and crew members, philosophical and religious explorations, and more. Segaloff tells his tale with intelligence, warmth, and lively occasional doses of skepticism and snark.” —Stephen Rebello, author of Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho and Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!: Deep Inside Valley of the Dolls, the Most Beloved Bad Book and Movie of All Time
“The Exorcist Legacy conjures new scares while telling a great story about a landmark horror film. Insightful, surprising, and damn fun!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Kagen the Damned and editor of Weird Tales Magazine
“This is it: the definitive look at the power and impact of The Exorcist, from Blatty’s conception of the original novel, its criminally underrated successor (Legion), and the terrifying films that erupted from those seminal works into mainstream movie houses. Segaloff chronicles this legacy not as a fly-on-the-wall, but as a battlefield medic with his finger pressed firmly on the pulse. If there’s a more comprehensive and exhaustive history of The Exorcist, I have not read it.” —Ronald Malfi, bestselling author of Come with Me and Black Mouth
Library Journal
★ 07/01/2023
While The Exorcist assailed audiences with pea soup and profanity, those aren't the reasons why it became a horror classic. The 1973 film, and the franchise it launched, offer an accessible meditation on the nature of good and evil. Journalist/producer Segaloff (More Fire! The Building of "The Towering Inferno") explores this theme as he deftly guides the reader through The Exorcist's cinematographic and literary legacy. Informed by extensive research and exclusive interviews, the book documents the origin of the film—from the "true" case that inspired William Peter Blatty, one of Hollywood's leading comedy writers, to write the novel and later adapt it to film. Segaloff also touches on the drama behind the drama: the film's allegedly cursed production, the battle over the final cut, and speculation over which infamous scenes featured 13-year-old Linda Blair or her adult stunt double. Segaloff extends his analysis to Blatty's related novels, movie sequels, and the short-lived television series, ending with a look at the new Exorcist trilogy that's currently in production. VERDICT Segaloff's incisive writing untangles Hollywood myths about the horror classic without damaging its mystique. His access to those at the heart of The Exorcist's production offers new revelations, even for longtime fans.—Terry Bosky
