9. The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist film, based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, made movie audiences so sick some theaters were rumored to have set out vomit bags in seats. The graphics were considered so intense at that time that famed movie critic Roger Ebert stated his surprise that the movie was rated R and not X.
Strange occurrences on set include a fire that burned down the original set that upset some workers so much an actual exorcism was requested for the updated set. The exorcism was refused. Nine cast and crew members died during the filming or shortly after the release of the movie including Jack McGowran, who played the alcoholic director in the movie. He died before the film’s release from complications from the flu. Vasiliki Maliaros, who played Father Karras’ mother, died of natural causes also before the film’s release.
According to Catholics in the Movies, edited by Colleen McDannell, after the film opened there were reports of people vomiting and passing out in the movie theater and there was even a miscarriage reported during a viewing. Psychiatrists in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto also reported seeing patients who claimed that by seeing The Exorcist they allowed demons to inhabit their bodies.
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