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Watch William Friedkin Slam ‘Exorcist II: The Heretic’

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As I’m sure you know, Exorcist II: The Heretic isn’t exactly universally loved. In fact, if you look up lists of worst sequels of all time, you’ll usually find this film on the those you come across.

But have you ever wondered what William Friedkin, director of the original masterpiece, thinks of it? To say he’s not a fan is a bit of an understatement.

I’ve been watching a lot of Mick Garris interviews lately. If you haven’t checked out the YouTube channel, which launched in 2014, I strongly recommend doing so. A few months ago, the channel added a rare and never-aired episode of the Z-Channel series hosted by Garris. The channel was about to air Exorcist II, as Garris mentioned, before asking Friedkin what he thought of the sequel. Friedkin’s response is priceless.

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“I felt that The Exorcist was totally complete in itself, and to do a sequel, would just be done for commercial purposes and no other. The so-called sequel – ‘The Harry Tick,’ or whatever they refer to it as – to me it’s an abomination. Not because it’s a bad movie, which it is (a BAD movie), wrought by people who are, in my opinion, fourth and fifth rate intellects, but what they attempted to do was to trash the original material rather than to take a story and to try to do a story that utilized some of the same strengths of The Exorcist, all they did was take the title and the logo type and some of the characters and trash them.”

He continued, “To me, that film (if it can be called a film…it’s an abomination, and I think this channel ought to be ashamed of itself for running it) would be the equivalent of someone taking a novel by Tolstoy or Charles Dickens…taking the title and the characters and coming up with a porno musical. I mean I’ve seen works of pornography that have more integrity than that picture.”

I wonder why the channel never aired that interview. If you actually watch the video (this segment comes around 15 minutes in), you can see how upset Friedkin was about the movie. This is the most irate I’ve ever seen anyone in a Mick Garris interview because Garris is so mild mannered and friendly. It’s really something to see.

Friedkin discussed the “abomination” again as recently as April of 2013 in a Q&A at the Chicago Critics Film Festival, when he admitted he didn’t see the whole film. Still, his opinion of it apparently hasn’t changed much.

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Friedkin said he had only seen two or three minutes of Exorcist II.

He added, “I was at the Technicolor Lab, and one of the color timers said, ‘Hey, we’re running Exorcist II. Do you want to go into the screening room and have a look at it?’ I was over there doing something else, and I said, ‘Okay, sure.’ So I went into the screening room, and I see some guy’s riding on the back of a bumblebee or some fuckin’ thing. It was unreal. And I left.”

He then went on to tell a story about the first screening of Exorcist II. As it goes, some Warner Bros. executives went into the packed theater after telling their limo drivers they’d be in there for two and a half hours or so. This would enable the drivers to leave and go grab some coffee or something before coming back to pick the execs up. Roughly ten minutes into the movie, someone in the middle of the theater stood up and said, “The people who made this piece of shit are in this room.” Somebody else said, ‘Where? Where are they?” Ten or twelve people got up, and the execs ran out of the theater, and the cars were gone. They were chased down the street.

I don’t know how much truth there is to that story, but it’s pretty hilarious to think about.

Friedkin said he hadn’t seen any of the sequels other than that few minutes of The Heretic. He also said he hadn’t seen Repossessed (the parody film starring Linda Blair and Leslie Nielsen). I do find it interesting if he’s never seen The Exorcist III, as it was written and directed by William Peter Blatty, who was responsible for the original, and for whom Friedkin obviously has had a tremendous amount of respect for.

Garris would go on to interview Friedkin for FEARnet’s Post Mortem in 2011. This interview has also been made available on the Mick Garris Interviews YouTube channel.

Now, for the fun of it, here’s Eli Roth talking about The Heretic on Trailers from Hell:

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What do you think about Exorcist II? Do you hate it as much as Friedkin or do you have a soft spot for it?

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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