After the disastrous debut of Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977, it seemed like the horror/thriller franchise had been crammed into the nearest dark corner from whence it came, never to return again. However, original author William Peter Blatty decided to exhume the franchise in 1990 by directing a screenplay based on his novel Legion, which was originally meant as a pitch for a new Exorcist film.
Legion took place in the same timeline many years after the events of the first novel and film, but its content and subject matter were far different. When the time came to adapt the story for the big screen, studio insistence and creative disagreements with Blatty led to a flawed, but ultimately worthy successor to the original Exorcist that fans still hold in high regard to this day. How did it all get started, though?
10 It Was Based On False Marketing
Although the characters in the film are part of author William Peter Blatty's Exorcist novel universe, they are taken from his follow-up novel Legion which featured no exorcisms at all. In fact, the premise of the novel had little to do with demonic possession, but rather the spirit of a serial killer who inhabits the body of Damien Karras.
To capitalize on the legacy of the original film, Morgan Creek productions called renamed it The Exorcist III: Legion. To compensate for the misleading title, the script was altered to include an exorcism scene at the end of the film in order to maintain a sense of continuity.
9 The Kinderman Recast
One of the few disappointments of The Exorcist III is the recasting of Lee J. Cobb who played Lieutenant Kinderman in the original Exorcist film. So good was his performance that it's considered one of the standout roles in the movie, thanks in large part to the comic relief he brought to the dark story.
Unfortunately, Cobb died in 1976 of a heart attack, which meant his role would require recasting. Luckily George C. Scott proved to be more than a worthy successor to the role, despite never having watched the original Exorcist up until that point.
8 Brad Dourif Disliked The Theatrical Cut
Since the story of The Exorcist III required studio-mandated changes in comparison to its novel source material, many cast members felt bad for director William Peter Blatty. Actor Brad Dourif remarked that he preferred the original story and ending that did not involve the exorcism scene, as well as several other elements.
Dourif went so far as to say that "there are parts that have no right to be there," and called the film "mediocre." Although audiences seemed to enjoy the final product, Blatty found it difficult to submit to studio demands which sullied his work.
7 It Follows Exorcist II: The Heretic
Although the much-maligned Exorcist II: The Heretic is widely regarded as non-canon across the film franchise, The Exorcist III does not attempt to retcon the events of that film out of existence. Proof of this can be seen in the location comparisons between the two films.
The most obvious example is the famous staircase where Father Karras dies at the end of the first film. The second film included an exorcism scene that left Regan MacNeil's house destroyed, yet the third film deliberately frames the shot of the staircase so as to avoid any shots of the house altogether.
6 A Rough Director's Cut Exists
Purists who decried the end theatrical product were pleased to learn that an unofficial director's cut exists which is much closer to Blatty's original novel Legion. Since Morgan Creek "lost" the original footage, it was necessary to use VHS-based dailies to splice footage into the theatrical cut to create a rough director's cut of the movie.
This cut eventually found a home on the Scream Factory release of The Exorcist III, to fan delight. The difference in quality between the theatrical and VHS footage is obvious, putting it mildly, but at least William Peter Blatty's original vision is now out there for comparison.
5 The Children Of Bodom Connection
Finnish melodic death metal band Children Of Bodom has used sounds bytes from the film in their songs for added impact. The song "Follow The Reaper" features the Exorcist III quote "Death be not proud. Though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, thou art not so," while "Taste Of My Scythe" features the Gemini Killer's rant about mutilating the innocent.
It wasn't the first time Children Of Bodom had lifted sound samples from prominent horror movies. The debut track "Deadnight Warrior" from the band's first album features sounds lifted from an ominous scene from the classic 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King's It.
4 Brad Dourif's Role
According to actor Brad Dourif, he was brought in to play the part of the Gemini Killer because Jason Miller was unable to memorize the lengthy monologues the character delivers throughout the film. Dourif claimed that Miller was a severe alcoholic who's affliction was hampering his work. As such, Dourif shared the role with Miller in order to offset this issue.
This claim has seemingly been disputed by William Peter Blatty, who simply said Miller was unavailable to take on the full mantle of the role. This seems the more plausible of the two explanations given that Miller continued to work throughout his remaining years both in film and stage.
3 Odd Cameos
Eagle-eyed movie buffs probably noticed quite a few familiar faces in The Exorcist III, but everyone else may have missed them altogether. Some high profile faces are instantly recognizable, while others are downright bizarre.
Basketball legend Patrick Ewing makes an appearance as an angel in a dream sequence, as does fashion model Fabio Lanzoni. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and TV host Larry King appear as themselves, while Samuel L. Jackson makes a quick appearance as a blind man who's single line was redubbed by another actor.
2 The Zodiac Reference
William Peter Blatty shares a chilling relationship with the real-life serial killer known as The Zodiac who committed a series of brutal murders throughout the 1960s and early 70s. The killer would frequently send taunting letters to authorities and potential victims in an attempt to unnerve them.
The Zodiac's final letter came in 1974 where he directly referenced the first Exorcist film, calling it "the best satirical comedy that I have ever seen." Blatty would later base the Gemini Killer character from Legion on The Zodiac, cementing an unnerving bond between the two.
1 The Exorcist III Vs. Repossessed
When Morgan Creek learned that the horror-comedy parody filmed Repossessed starring Leslie Nielsen was due to drop in 1990, they immediately hit the gas and rushed The Exorcist III out so that it didn't suffer. The fact that previous Exorcist actress Linda Blair was attached to Repossessed undoubtedly would have set off a firestorm.
In the end, the release date for Repossessed was nudged up a month later than scheduled in an effort to allow The Exorcist III to run its course. In hindsight, both films probably benefited from this competitive decision. The Exorcist III was allowed to do its thing and satisfy horror fans just in time for a spoof to capitalize on the new craze.
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