BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL (2025)

4 stars

Blue Finch Film Releasing. Cinema. 25th September

Way back, when I was a mere teenager (a long time ago), THE EXORCIST was difficult, if not impossible to see, if you hadn’t seen it on it’s first release at your local picture house. I was too young sadly. However by the time it’s follow up EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC came out I was able to get away with seeing X certificate movies. Having an older brother who encouraged such escapades helped! I remember really enjoying this sequel – as I had nothing to refer to. I still enjoy it today!

Of course most folks who HAD seen the original were horrified (but not in a good way) by this very different outing – with it’s psychiatric institute and weird biofeedback device, plus Richard Burton chewing the scenery in fine fashion. It got a roasting from critics and audiences alike (though I know several of my friends are fans). It became a financial disaster.

Now we have BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL, a documentary from David Kittredge, which goes back to explore the film and why it failed to resonate. What emerges was the fact that there was a desire to deliver something different to the original classic – which is what director John Boorman set out to do. Having made great productions like POINT BLANK (1967) and DELIVERANCE (1972) he was tasked with following up what many consider one of the greatest horror films of all time. No pressure.

Speaking to Boorman, forms the backbone of this fantastic documentary, in which we get a career overview. He seems somewhat bemused by the hate the film garnered, as he had delivered what he had been asked to do. Pointedly Linda Blair says that she wasn’t interested in doing a re-run of the first film and only signed on because it was disparate.

Other talking heads include Louise Fletcher plus directors Joe Dante and Mike Flanagan and the film goes some way in perhaps rehabilitating the reputation of this much maligned movie. If nothing else you will come away with an appreciation of what Boorman was trying to achieve.

Steve Kirkham