20 Things You Didn't Know About The Exorcist

There was much hysteria in the aftermath of The Exorcist's release thanks to the gore, violence, and "blasphemy" seen on screen.

Whilst the media reported viewers were so frightened of the film's content that they fainted in their seats, had visions, or even experienced miscarriages, there was one scene in particular that upset audiences.

Even the film's cast couldn't avoid getting caught up in the drama at screenings. Actress Ellen Burstyn attended a public screening of the film in 1974 whilst filming another project. After the scene where Regan has a needle inserted in her carotid artery, Burstyn noticed a woman staggering back up the aisle from further down in the theatre

A concerned Burstyn rushed to assist the woman as she collapsed but thought better of it once she was over there. Burstyn reasoned it might be distressing if the first person the woman saw after she had fainted was one of the film's main characters. So instead of helping, she asked other audience members to assist the woman instead.

The angiography scene was derided by both critics and viewers for being unnecessarily gory, but has gone on to receive praise from medical professionals for showing the procedure and drawing attention to it.