BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL

(director/writer: David Kittredge; cinematographers: Seamus Deasy, Tom Guiney, Ed Herrera, Alan Jacobsen, Elle Schneider; editor: David Kittredge; music: Eduardo Daniel Victoria; cast: John Boorman, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, Rospo Pallenberg, Joe Dante, Karyn Kusama, Mike Flanagan, Stephanie Zacharek, Bilge Ebiri, Joseph McBride, Victor Hsu; Runtime: 112; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Travis Stevens, Jim Fall, David Kittredge; Triple Fire; 2025)

“The film disappointed audiences by not being scary or very good.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
 
American filmmaker David Kittredge (“Pornography”) chronicles the 1977 making of Brit filmmaker John Boorman’s plagued production of the horror pic “Exorcist II: The Heretic.” The sequel to the very successful William Friedkin original “Exorcist” (1973) about evil was given a big budget by Warner Bros. It offers an intriguing look at what went bonkers, as the film disappointed audiences by not being scary or very good. It was no longer a movie about satanic possession but about a scientific experiment. Boorman says it was made as a “riposte to the original.” Though poorly reviewed, the film shows an energetic Boorman, despite getting sick and closing down the set for 5 weeks, trying to overcome a lot of bad situations that weren’t his fault. Former cast members such as Linda Blair and Louise Fletcher get a chance to opine. The awful starring performance by a washed-up Richard Burton is discussed in length. Boorman also appears to tell his side of the story.

To make the film possible, Kittredge was given full cooperation to Boorman’s movie footage.

It helps if you saw the sequel, but isn’t necessary to see beforehand for your enjoyment.

REVIEWED ON 9/1/2026  GRADE: B
dennisschwartzreviews.com