If you are a true horror fan, I am most definite that you have either read the book, or seen the movie based on William Peter Blatty's book; "The Exorcist". If not, you are not that big of a horror fan. I remember in 1973, I was 12 years old that was the age of the little girl in the book; Regan MacNeil. I was not allowed to see the film my Mother had told all my older siblings. I saw it the first time when I was 14. It terrified me and still does to this day, and I am now 63.

What that book and movie did to the world, and to the church was something that has never been done since.
Now the non fiction book 'The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear' has been released, in 2023. I had the book sent to me as an ARC and could never get into reading it.....however now I have just finished listening to it. And OMFG I cannot say how much I learned of what went on during the writing, examining the 'true story?', then making the classic (not supposed to be a horror movie, said the author!) horror film of an innocent 12 year old girl who is violently possessed by the devil. I learned so much. And I thought I knew all about it....once I got into this I had only known about 20% of all that went on. There was such marketing wizard's behind both the book and the movie that it was just a task in that, and it was done PERFECT! If you consider your self a fan of any form of "The Exorcist", you really should listen to or read everything behind it. It will amaze you all over again.....and it might even scare you again! It did me.

5 Bowls of Pea Soup

Loved this! Loved reading about the origins of the story and the history of it all. It is one of my favorite movies and so this was an interesting book to read.

Wonderful book giving background that many may not know on an iconic film. Loved reading this one as a horror fan, due to how influential The Exorcist is.

"The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear" is a captivating exploration of the iconic horror movie that has continued to haunt our nightmares and intrigue audiences for half a century. As someone who remembers watching "The Exorcist" as a teenager and being drawn into its dark, eerie world, I couldn't resist delving into the history and impact of this cinematic masterpiece.

Nat Segaloff, an original publicist for the film and the acclaimed biographer of its director, William Friedkin, takes readers on a chilling journey through the evolution of "The Exorcist." With a foreword by John Russo, the co-writer of "Night of the Living Dead," this book offers an in-depth look at the making of the scariest movie ever produced and its enduring influence on the world of horror.

"The Exorcist Legacy" begins by delving into the real-life exorcism that inspired William Peter Blatty's bestselling novel, upon which the movie is based. This fascinating background sets the stage for the film's release in 1973, when it quickly became a legend. Readers are reminded of the long lines of brave moviegoers who endured winter weather to witness the film, and the legendary tales of audience members fainting or vomiting. The power of this movie to terrify and unsettle remains unscathed even after 50 years.

Segaloff offers a comprehensive overview of "The Exorcist" saga, including its sequels, prequels, TV adaptations, and homages. The book is enriched by original interviews with the cast, crew, and other participants, as well as insights from personal papers. This thorough exploration provides a fresh perspective on the movie's creation and its enduring cultural significance.

What sets "The Exorcist" apart from typical horror films is its deeper message. Friedkin and Blatty aimed to challenge viewers to ponder the concepts of good and evil. "The Exorcist" achieves this by not only delivering on-screen scares but by also tapping into viewers' deepest personal beliefs and fears. Segaloff's analysis sheds light on how the film's ambition has contributed to its continued appeal and its ability to leave an indelible mark on its audience.

In "The Exorcist Legacy," Nat Segaloff has crafted a compelling narrative that unearths the untold stories behind the making of "The Exorcist" and its impact on the world of horror. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just curious about the history of this legendary film, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to explore the legacy of fear that "The Exorcist" has cast over the last 50 years.

This movie scarred me as a child and I requested this as a means of facing my fear. Loved learning all the ins and outs of the behind the scenes.

A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at The Exorcist, from its inception as a novel to its film and tv adaptations. Segaloff combines oral history elements with cultural and media critique in an account that is perfect for all Exorcist fans.

This was a really fascinating look at the impact the film THE EXORCIST has had on society and culture in teh decades since it was released. I wrote a big term paper on this film in college was delighted to delve even further into the stories of the film. Wonderfully researched and executed!

As a long time, major horror fan, married to an even longer time horror fan, I was overjoyed when I started reading The Exorcist Legacy. This film has quite the history - going so far as to put people into mental institutions as a result of psychosis from this film - now that's saying something. The information weaved in this book creates such a vivid picture of why this movie gets the praise it did. It broke rules, barriers, and stereotypes. Would definitely recommend.

I really liked this behind the scenes look at one of the most acclaimed horror movies of all time - The Exorcist. I'm glad the author talked about all the different versions of the Exorcist, of which I have seen all of them :). It was also fun listening to the behind the scenes controversies and stress while developing and filming the movies. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

"The Exorcist Legacy" by Nat Segaloff talks about the history of The Exorcist movie.

I would give "The Exorcist Legacy" by Nat Segaloff a 2-star review because, I was so excited for this one since I love this movie but actually reading it. I didn't like the format nor did I enjoy the story.

I love horror movies and I LOVE to read about horror movies and behind the scenes of them - from the way effects were created to the theories about characters and even how some movies have been "cursed". The exorcist is a cult classic and one EVERYONE should see at some point, this provides a wonderful insight to the original movie and I learned so much. I am even more thankful for this because the exorcist is part of why horror movies exist the way they do today!

I was super excited for this book and was hoping to learn some new things about this iconic franchise. However, a lot of it felt like regurgitated facts that have been well publicised over the years and it became somewhat monotonous and repetitive afyer a point. I did find the relationship between the two Williams intriguing and also a little insight into why The Exorcist TV show didn't get more traction (a travesty if ever there was one, that show was great). I didn't understand why there were pages of the book and the script added onto this book. Surely if you're reading this the. You already know those pretty well. And if I see the word sidebar one more time, I may just scream.

This was such a fun read. I was grateful to learn more about the sequels honestly than the original, as they have not been discussed enough.

The Exorcist Legacy is about the making and impact of the 1973 film The Exorcist. It is a comprehensive and well-researched work that draws on interviews with cast, crew, experts, personal papers, and other archival materials. It provides a unique and fascinating perspective on one of the most important and influential films ever made.

Segaloff begins by tracing the history of the film, from its origins in a real-life exorcism in 1949 to its publication as a novel by William Peter Blatty in 1971. He then goes on to discuss the making of the film, from its controversial casting and production to its groundbreaking special effects.

Segaloff also explores the film's cultural impact, examining its influence on other horror films, its role in popularizing the concept of demonic possession, and its enduring appeal to audiences around the world.

The Exorcist is more than just a horror film; it is a complex and challenging work exploring themes such as faith, doubt, good and evil, and reality. Segaloff explores these themes in his book and argues that the film resonates with audiences today because it taps into our deepest fears and anxieties.

I can not believe it’s been 50 years since this movie hit the silver screen . I was never a fan of this movie , to be honest it scared me to death .

The book goes into detail the real exorcist that inspired the movie and details surrounding the movie .

This would be a great gift for Exorcists fans and film buffs

I just reviewed The Exorcist Legacy by Nat Segaloff. #TheExorcistLegacy #NetGalley

Necessary addition to the shelves of the die hard Exorcist fan or any fans of horror, pop culture, and how films are made.
Nat Segaloff brilliantly covers the story of The Exorcist movie franchise, not just the first movie and the book by William Peter Blatty but also the sequels and even the TV shows that followed. It also dives into information about the lives of all those who had a hand in bringing it to life.
The coolest part was getting into real life exorcism cases that inspired the work.
The narration was very tongue-in-cheek as well as thought provoking. I relaly felt like Segaloff was one of those fans who just loves talking about movies and geeking out over their favorites. Would love to see them write about other horror films.

As a die hard Exorcist fan, I was thrilled to get my hands on this book. I watched The Exorcist when I was much too young (I was 9 and I snuck downstairs to watch the VHS rental my parents had borrowed from Blockbuster) - it scared the crap out of me and I was instantly hooked. It was then that I became a horror buff and sought the high that The Exorcist gave me at such a young age. I turned to books and devoured Blatty's stories, watched all the movies, and generally became obsessed. This book gave me the insight and background that I've always wondered about - from the book to movie transitions to the behind the scenes drama (hauntings?) that occurred on set. This also comes out not only at an anniversary time, but also when a new Exorcist movie is ready to be launched in theaters for spooky season, demonstrating the legacy of this classic book & movie. The Legacy is a book for any fan of The Exorcist looking to go deeper into the history, and legacy, of William Peter Blatty's acclaimed novel.

I love books about pop culture because I love learning the behind-the-scenes of my favorite things. I have seen The Exorcist long ago and haven't read the book. (I will still be reading the book soon) Like most people, I have heard all the creepy stories about the filming of the OG movie and I wanted to learn more about that. I did learn about that and so much more. I do think anyone who loves both the movie and the book should really read this. Now I can't wait to watch The Exorcist again; the new one is coming out in 2023.


Thank you, Netgalley and Citadel for approving this book for me to give my honest review.

A must read and a must have for super fans of The Exorcist. This book has all the information and facts that lovers of The Exorcist are sure to enjoy.

The Exorcist is at first glance the story of a mother desperate to save her daughter from evils beyond her reckoning, but in the fifty years since it was first released it had gone on to become a beloved, long-running franchise rife with controversy.

I have never actually seen The Exorcist. Of course I know the movie and how iconic it is, and have heard plenty of the apocryphal stories surrounding its supposed curse, but I am not really into the horror genre and consequently have seen pretty much none of its classics. On the other hand, the impact of horror media on culture is something I have studied before and am still quite interested in – and as such, this book was right up my alley.

The author covers the long story of The Exorcist franchise, including not only the book that spawned it and the many movies and TV shows that followed, but the lives of the two men who have the greatest hand in bringing it to life, and what is believed to be the real case that inspired it. It’s a snappy, often tongue-in-cheek recounting from an author who clearly loves the franchise even as he recognizes many of its pitfalls. The discussion of the book, movies and TV show were also very accessible for someone who’d never consumed any of them due to the many sidebars.

However, while I appreciated the detailed recaps and discussions of where different versions of the story diverged from each other, I did feel that the book fell a little short on detailed analysis. I liked learning about how author William Peter Blatty’s Catholic faith and other personal beliefs underpinned much of The Exorcist (and later works), but wished we learned more about the specific decisions that were made in writing and shooting the films. I went away still unable to pinpoint the reason for The Exorcist‘s enduring impact.