The Chilling Story Behind the Making of 'The Exorcist'

[Johnboy60]

(Oct. 22) – The 1973 film "The Exorcist" is regarded as one of the scariest movies of all time. But what's even spookier is the true story of the real-life exorcism that inspired it.

With that in mind, paranormal filmmakers Philip and Christopher Booth set out to make "The Haunted Boy: The Secret Diary of the Exorcist," based on the infamous, truly terrifying story of a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly possessed by the devil in St. Louis in 1949.

To delve into the gritty details, the twin filmmakers went straight to the source: tracking down an old, secret journal written by the Rev. Raymond J. Bishop, one of the priests involved in the original exorcism of the boy, who's known by the pseudonym "Robbie Mannheim."

"There are only six copies of the real, unedited diary floating around the world," Christopher Booth told AOL News. "It's a raw, 26-page account of what really happened to that boy, and it's very intense."

So what really happened to inspire William Peter Blatty's "Exorcist" horror novel and one of the most frightening Hollywood movies of all time?

The Booth brothers said the real-life exorcism case began with a boy in Maryland who developed extremely strange behavior and markings on his chest, one of which supposedly read "St. Louis."

The twins said the boy's family took it as a sign to seek help in Missouri where they had extended family. The youngster stayed at an uncle's house, and there, as the diary reveals, the apparent possession spiraled out of control.

Read More: The Chilling Story Behind the Making of 'The Exorcist'

 

[seashale76]

The exorcism took about a month and the boy agreed to be baptized. He was cured. It has a good ending. If anything, it should caution people from playing around with the occult. IIRC, his aunt was a spiritist who got him into contacting spirits, etc. for fun before she died.

Prayers of exorcism are conducted before baptism in the Orthodox Church.

 

[salida]

The exorcism took about a month and the boy agreed to be baptized. He was cured. It has a good ending. If anything, it should caution people from playing around with the occult. IIRC, his aunt was a spiritist who got him into contacting spirits, etc. for fun before she died.

Prayers of exorcism are conducted before baptism in the Orthodox Church.

What is IIRC?

 

[seashale76]

What is IIRC?

If I recall correctly

 

[swsavedbygrace]

If anything, it should caution people from playing around with the occult.

You would think it would .. but in today's world .. who knows.

 

[jayem]

In my health care career I've known of 3 cases of supposed demon possession. One was factitious (faking it) and the other 2 were psychotics whose demons went away with medication. If you just want to see a scary movie for Halloween, that's fine. But he filmmakers are conning the audience if they're implying that this preposterous paranormal nonsense has any connection with the real world.

 

[moonkitty]

In my health care career I've known of 3 cases of supposed demon possession. One was factitious (faking it) and the other 2 were psychotics whose demons went away with medication. If you just want to see a scary movie for Halloween, that's fine. But he filmmakers are conning the audience if they're implying that this preposterous paranormal nonsense has any connection with the real world.

 

[seashale76]

In my health care career I've known of 3 cases of supposed demon possession. One was factitious (faking it) and the other 2 were psychotics whose demons went away with medication. If you just want to see a scary movie for Halloween, that's fine. But he filmmakers are conning the audience if they're implying that this preposterous paranormal nonsense has any connection with the real world.

And yet, nothing you mentioned tells us that actual demonic possession doesn't exist. An exorcist for the RCC in Spain has said that out of 100 cases referred to him, only one was real. It is by no means a common occurrence, but it does happen.

 

[moonkitty]

And yet, nothing you mentioned tells us that actual demonic possession doesn't exist. An exorcist for the RCC in Spain has said that out of 100 cases referred to him, only one was real. It is by no means a common occurrence, but it does happen.

How can it be real if one can not prove that demons even exist?

 

[seashale76]

How can it be real if one can not prove that demons even exist?

How can emotions be real? Can you prove they exist?

 

[pgp_protector]

How can emotions be real? Can you prove they exist?

We're working on it.

The Minirth Clinic - The Chemistry of Emotions
ScienceDirect - Neuropsychologia : Neuroanatomical correlates of pleasant and unpleasant emotion
Elsevier

 

[seashale76]

We're working on it.

The Minirth Clinic - The Chemistry of Emotions
ScienceDirect - Neuropsychologia : Neuroanatomical correlates of pleasant and unpleasant emotion
Elsevier

It simply shows the effects of emotions, it doesn't prove we have them- which demonstrates my point. Also, just because no one has proven demons exist, it doesn't mean it isn't possible or that they are non-existent.

 

[pgp_protector]

It simply shows the effects of emotions, it doesn't prove we have them- which demonstrates my point. Also, just because no one has proven demons exist, it doesn't mean it isn't possible or that they are non-existent.

I take it you missed the First line then.

 

[seashale76]

I take it you missed the First line then.

No. But I did assume you were referring to your own research. Do you work in that area?

 

[Mister Emu]

How can it be real if one can not prove that demons even exist?

Ability to prove is not requisite for reality.

 

[moonkitty]

How can emotions be real? Can you prove they exist?

I didn't ask about emotions. I asked about demons. Prove to me that demons exist and then I might take these so called cases about demon possessions and priest who do exorcisms seriously.

 

[Rochir]

What I cannot understand is that people nowadays still believe in crap like exorcisms!

 

[DesertSky]

Atheists....commenting on exorcisms......hilarious.

 

[DesertSky]

What I cannot understand is that people nowadays still believe in crap like exorcisms!

"Still believe"? Like Satan took the year off? Sorry buddy, fighting the devil is not a seasonal thing. He's still around, and so the need to fight him.

 

[DaisyDay]

It simply shows the effects of emotions, it doesn't prove we have them- which demonstrates my point.

If something is non-existant, then it will not have consistent, repeatable, testable effects.

Also, just because no one has proven demons exist, it doesn't mean it isn't possible or that they are non-existent.

True, but it's evidence that they probably don't (except metaphorically and in movies and literature).