The Exorcist is based on the actual possession of a young boy in 1949 Georgetown. During filming and post production of the 1973 classic, nine people died. An urban legend suggests that anyone involved with the film will be cursed for life. The cast and crew have given numerous interviews, describing and validating the events that occurred on set. Here are some highlights:
- Director William Friedkin had a priest come to the set and perform multiple exorcisms.
- A mysterious fire at the production studio destroyed the set of the MacNeil house. However, there was no damage to Regan’s bedroom.
- Both Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn injured their spines during filming.
- Linda Blair also suffered a mental breakdown while playing Regan MacNeil.
- Actors Jack MacGowran and Vasiliki Maliaros died before the film's release. Their characters die in the movie.
- Post-production for the film was done at 666 Fifth Avenue in New York City.
As far as curses go, this one is a doozy. The scariest part is these are only some of the incidents that took place during the making of The Exorcist. Note to self - tread lightly when telling a story about the devil.
