Inside The Exorcist

Wondery
  • 4.5 (2K)
  • FILM HISTORY
  • COMPLETE SERIES
Inside The Exorcist Podcast

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In 1973 Hell came home and invaded the body of a young girl. This is the story of a movie and its makers. It's a tale of dark and light, of loss and love. A story of faith and fury, of causes and curses, of horrors real and imagined, of unbridled ego and brute force filmmaking. It's the movie critics called "religious pornography" and "occultist claptrap." The movie that left audiences...hysterical. Decades later, it remains perhaps the most frightening movie we will ever see. From Wondery, this is a seven-part deep dive inspired by the story behind an unforgettable, classic movie. This is...Inside The Exorcist. Binge all episodes of Inside The Exorcist exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/inside-the-exorcist/ now.

  1. EPISODE 1

    The Haunted Boy

    The story of The Exorcist is rooted in horrifying facts. Robbie is a young boy living in suburban Washington DC and he has been possessed by...something. Young Linda Blair loves horses, young William Friedkin loves scaring people, and young William Peter Blatty hears the story of the haunted boy in his religion class at Georgetown. It was so shocking, he would never forget it. One day, he will write it down. Subscribe today so you never miss an episode: https://smarturl.it/itex Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    29 min

  2. EPISODE 2 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Snares of the Devil

    Priests try - and fail - to exorcise the haunted boy’s demons. Meanwhile, William Friedkin witnesses a life-changing execution and insults a Hollywood icon. He loses a job but impresses writer William Peter Blatty, who’s working on a story that is his next best alternative to unemployment. Friedkin finishes the movie The French Connection as Blatty prepares the book that will soon become a number one bestseller. Subscribe today so you never miss an episode: https://smarturl.it/itex Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    24 min

  3. EPISODE 3 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    Jesus Weeps Blood

    The haunted boy is freed from the demon...or is he? William Friedkin’s The French Connection is a stunning success, but will his broken down Rolls Royce make it to the Oscar ceremony? Later, Friedkin opens a packaged tossed into a suitcase and spends all night reading what’s inside: William Peter Blatty’s book The Exorcist. He is stunned. Blatty wants Friedkin to direct. All the pieces are in place for the most controversial movie of their careers and one of the most horrifying films of all time. Subscribe today so you never miss an episode: https://smarturl.it/itex Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    22 min

  4. EPISODE 4 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    Tomb of the Demon

    The room where the haunted boy was released was haunted ever more. No one would enter that place again. Meanwhile, the impossible task of casting The Exorcist. The actors who said yes, no, and “hell no.” Friedkin’s remarkable interview with Linda Blair after more than 1,000 girls had auditioned and failed. Shooting begins, tragedies overwhelm a cursed set. A Manhattan barfly gets his shot at fame. It’s all leading up to the exorcism sequence, a story of damnation and pea soup and a demon’s voice summoned from a lifetime of alcohol, tobacco, and bronchitis. Subscribe today so you never miss an episode: https://smarturl.it/itex Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    27 min

  5. EPISODE 5 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Power of Christ Compels You

    Friedkin wants to shoot the opening sequence of The Exorcist in Iraq, but first he has to teach the Iraqis how to make fake blood. And where’s the demon statue? Not in Iraq - on a tarmac in Australia, unfortunately. Legendary makeup artist Dick Smith spends two hours a day with Linda Blair, most of it watching The Flying Nun on TV. The exorcism scene takes place in a refrigerated room, making everyone sick. Max Von Sydow faces a crisis of faith and can’t bear to hear young Linda Blair curse. Pea Soup is vomited and heads spin 360 degrees. Famed composer Bernard Hermann calls Friedkin’s movie “dreck.” The voice of the demon, who spent years battling her own demons, will drink and smoke and eat raw eggs while bound to a chair. But when this movie comes out, will anybody see it? Subscribe today so you never miss an episode: https://smarturl.it/itex Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    24 min

  6. EPISODE 6 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rapture

    The Exorcist opens - with no credit for the voice of the demon, Mercedes McCambridge - and she’s furious. Audiences break down the doors to see the movie. Hysteria ensues: Vomiting, fainting, heart attacks, and more. The prominent critics...hated it. Rev. Billy Graham said “the devil is in every frame of that film.” Pressure was building to stiff the movie at awards time, despite its popularity. Linda Blair was shattered. But despite the lack of industry support, William Friedkin was now wildly famous and could do anything. Or could he? Subscribe today so you never miss an episode: https://smarturl.it/itex Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    24 min

  7. EPISODE 7 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    Redemption

    Too much success too young - William Friedkin is warned by legendary auteur Orson Welles. Friedkin’s production company passes on a little movie called Star Wars so he can make his passion project which is eclipsed by its shadow. The film industry turns its back on him, but his love story teaches him a valuable lesson. Meanwhile, Jason Miller dies, William Peter Blatty’s son speaks to him after death, and Linda Blair battles obstacles to save the lives of sheltered dogs. This, as the demon comes home to Iraq, and we answer the question: Whatever happened to the haunted boy? Subscribe today so you never miss an episode: https://smarturl.it/itex Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    27 min

  8. 09/22/2017

    Introducing Inside The Exorcist

    A story of faith and fury, of horrors real and imagined. This is the tale of a real-life demonic possession, a movie, and its makers. A seven-part series inspired by the story behind an unforgettable, classic movie. Inside You can binge all episodes of Inside The Exorcist exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    3 min
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About

In 1973 Hell came home and invaded the body of a young girl. This is the story of a movie and its makers. It's a tale of dark and light, of loss and love. A story of faith and fury, of causes and curses, of horrors real and imagined, of unbridled ego and brute force filmmaking. It's the movie critics called "religious pornography" and "occultist claptrap." The movie that left audiences...hysterical. Decades later, it remains perhaps the most frightening movie we will ever see. From Wondery, this is a seven-part deep dive inspired by the story behind an unforgettable, classic movie. This is...Inside The Exorcist. Binge all episodes of Inside The Exorcist exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/inside-the-exorcist/ now.

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