After playing an exorcist in “The Pope’s Exorcist,” Russell Crowe now takes on the opposite role: being the one exorcised. His new movie, “The Exorcism,” sees him delving further into the horror genre, potentially solidifying his career in this realm.
While exorcism films have become a popular trend, often drawing large audiences without necessarily scaring them, this title may stand out by deviating from the typical plot.
In “The Exorcism,” Crowe portrays Anthony Miller, an actor cast as a priest performing an exorcism in a picture. As the production progresses, he begins to exhibit increasingly strange behavior due to a mysterious force haunting the set. This fresh take on the exorcism theme could bring a unique twist to the genre, offering audiences something new and genuinely unsettling.
All on the real story behind ‘The Exorcism’
Not only is “The Exorcism” based on a true story, but it stands out as one of the most intriguing among horror films inspired by real events. The movie is directed by Joshua John Miller, the son of Jason Miller, who played Father Karras in “The Exorcist.”
In a recent interview with IndieWire, Joshua revealed that the picture is inspired by how the success of the 1973 hit haunted his father, who struggled to escape its shadow and ultimately became an alcoholic. He stated:
“People have asked, ‘Were there cursed events on the set of The Exorcist, and how was your father adversely affected by this mythology?’ And I would say fame was his biggest curse. That supernova effect created a shadow that was almost impossible to get out from under, and I think that haunted him deeply.”
According to Joshua, his main focus is on revealing the psychological aspects of the character played by Russell Crowe. For the scares, he drew inspiration from what has been famously called “The Exorcist curse.”
Throughout its pre-production, production, and post-production stages, “The Exorcist” suffered many calamities. These included a fire that burned down the entire set except for Regan’s bedroom and a man who played a nurse in the film later killing a reporter before the movie’s release. These incidents have led many to believe that the film was hexed from the beginning.
