The Exorcist
by William Peter Blattyliterary work· published 1971
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The Exorcist is a 1971 horror novel by American writer William Peter Blatty. The book details the demonic possession of eleven-year-old Regan MacNeil, the daughter of a famous actress, and the two priests who attempt to exorcise the demon. Published by Harper & Row, the novel was the basis of a highly successful film adaptation released two years later, whose screenplay was also written and produced by Blatty, and part of The Exorcist franchise. The novel was inspired by a 1949 case of demonic possession and exorcism that Blatty heard about while he was a student in the class of 1950 at Georgetown University. As a result, the novel takes place in Washington, D.C., near the campus of Georgetown University.
Adaptations (4)
The Exorcist has been adapted 4 times, across film and television series, from 1973 to 2023. The most recent is The Exorcist: Believer (2023).
The Exorcist1973 · film · 122 min · dir. William Friedkin · IMDb ↗When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Exorcist: The Beginning2004 · film · 114 min · dir. Renny Harlin · IMDb ↗Years before Father Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil’s soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in East Africa.
The Exorcist: Believer2023 · film · 111 min · dir. David Gordon Green · IMDb ↗Since his wife's death, Victor has raised his daughter Angela alone. After she and her friend return from a three-day disappearance with missing memories, they begin displaying frightening behavior reminiscent of the MacNeil possession fifty years prior.
