There’s a lot to be said about John Boorman’s “Exorcist II: The Heretic,” the 1977 film that followed up arguably the most famous horror film of all time with…something very different.
At the time of release, the film was widely dubbed one of the worst movies ever made by audiences, critics, film historians, author William Peter Blatty and quite a few filmmakers such as the first film’s director William Friedkin.
Yet it has some fans in certain circles, including famously filmmaker Martin Scorsese. There’s little doubt Boorman, coming off hit “Deliverance” and the decidedly odd “Zardoz,” was trying for something ambitious with the movie which involved hypnosis, locusts, African mysticism and more.
Now, filmmaker David Kittredge explores what happened with the feature documentary “Boorman And The Devil” which has released a trailer.
Kittredge said in an interview that the doco isn’t really about the “Exorcist” sequel so much as the need to take risks as an artist and that it can cost you if you fail – as it did Boorman.
Linda Blair, the late Louise Fletcher, Karyn Kusama, Joe Dante, Mike Flanagan, Boorman himself, and more all participate in the doco, which Kittredge writes, directs, and produces. Jim Fall and Travis Stevens also produce.
Yellow Veil Pictures releases “Boorman And The Devil” in select theaters on August 28th.
