8 Horror Movies With Creepy Urban Legends
2. The Set Of The Exorcist Was Possessed By The Devil
Like the Poltergeist movies, mysterious and terrifying deaths have apparently occurred in and around the completion of 1973s blockbuster horror classic The Exorcist, and in the days before widespread internet use, tales and legends of the film grew and grew.
In the end, stories of the demonic events that surrounded the film were exaggerated by the barefaced lies told in the promotion of the film by the producers and director William Friedkin at the time of release, and the Chinese whispers that grew up around the movie in the years following. Depending on whose story you hear, nine people died during the making of the film and shortly afterwards, and sinister happenings plagued the set, including a fire when (apparently) no one was present.
Friedkin, in a moment of brilliance, requested that a local priest conduct an exorcism of the set after the fire, which added fuel to the whispers surrounding the production. Of course, the Catholic church doesn't like people taking the piss and refused, instead allowing a blessing of the set to take place. Subsequently, stories began flying around that unexplained spooky phenomena had occurred during the writing of William Peter Blatty's original novel too. The audience reaction to the film helped the legend grow, with people being offered sick bags to people feeling unwell in theatres, and others apparently passing out during the film all of which helped the movie become the second highest grossing movie of 1973.