THE Exorcist movie has sent chills down the spines of horror film fans ever since the Seventies.
The 1973 scenes, branded the “scariest ever”, centred on possessed 12-year-old child Regan MacNeil and saw terrified cinemagoers vomiting and fainting when the flick hit screens.
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Yet the nail-biting plotline, showing Regan play with a Ouija board to tap into the terrors of the spiritual world, also prompted series of unfortunate events that happened off-screen.
Several surprising occurences led to claims that the film was “cursed” – after deaths and injuries on set.
Now we take a look at some of the troubled film’s cast – and where they are now.
Ellen Burstyn
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Ellen, now 91, played actress and single mother Chris MacNeil who relocated to Washington DC with her daughter.
She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Regan’s petrified parent.
Yet during filming, she suffered a spinal injury while being hoisted around on a harness.
The Michigan-born actress was left on crutches for the rest of the production and recalled the accident during a 2018 interview with The Guardian.
She has since starred in Requiem For A Dream, Queen Bees and The Exorcist: Believer spin-off.
Linda Blair
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Linda, now 65, played possessed schoolgirl Regan MacNeil.
The actress won an Academy Award for her absolutely terrifying role, which saw her head left spinning in a worrying paranormal moment and killing her friends and family.
During filming, she suffered a back injury after being strapped to a harness which suffered a technical malfunction.
In an eerie moment off-screen, she also suffered the loss of family members while the project was being filmed.
Linda then went on to star in movies Savage Streets, Roller Boogie and Born Innocent.
Jack MacGowran
Best horror films to watch this Halloween
By Conor O’Brien
Halloween is the perfect time for horror movie to fans to indulge in all the scares, shocks and thrills.
Whether old favourites or a new chilling tale, here are some top picks to watch this Halloween.
- Alien (1979): Starring Sigourney Weaver, this film follows a spaceship crew who investigate a derelict spaceship and are hunted by a dangerous extra-terrestrial creature.
- The Shining (1980): Based on Stephen King’s novel, the movie stars Jack Nicholson as a recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who takes a a job as winter caretaker for a haunted resort hotel. Meanwhile, his young son possesses clairvoyant powers.
- Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Wes Craven’s horror classic introduced audiences to legendary villain Freddy Kreuger. This movie also notably marked Johnny Depp‘s film debut.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): An independent horror film, the story follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals. It also introduces the character Leatherface.
- Friday the 13th (1980): Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, this film kicked off a franchise and introduced Jason Vorhees. follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer. Among the cast is a young Kevin Bacon.
- Scream (1996): Written by Kevin Williamson, this film sees Wes Craven pay homage to horror classics – including his own Nightmare on Elm Street. The beginning of a long-running franchise; the cast includes Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.
- Poltergeist (1982): Directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, this supernatural horror film focuses on a family whose home is invaded by ghosts who abduct their daughter.
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Jack played the eccentric film director Burke Dennings and in the film, he was killed by demon-plagued Regan.
His character was attacked by the possessed child, who used her superhuman strength to break his neck and then flung him out of her bedroom window.
Ahead of the film’s release, Jack tragically died from complications related to influenza, which he caught during the London flu epidemic in 1973.
Some believe this was a sign of The Exorcist film’s “curse.”
Vasiliki Maliaros
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The actress played Father Damien Karras’ mother, Mary.
She passed away that same year before The Exorcist hit the big screen.
The star, who had no previous acting experience and was cast after being spotted at a restaurant, was ruled to have died from “natural causes” at an inquest.
In the film, Vasiliki’s character died after being admitted to a hospital and later haunted the dreams of Father Karras.
Max Von Sydow
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He played man of the cloth and paleontologist, Father Merrin, who performed Regan’s exorcism.
He died, aged 90, in 2000 at his home in France.
Yet prior to his passing, the Swedish-born star enjoyed a stellar career on screen.
He starred in more than 200 films, TV and radio programmes including Shutter Island and the Game of Thrones TV series.
Jason Miller
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Jason played Father Damien Karras, who helped Father Merrin in Regan’s exorcism.
Yet his role was short-lived, as the demon jumped into his own body instead, causing him to kill himself.
Read More on The US Sun
Since the movie he starred in a host of Exorcist spin-offs before his death, aged 62, in 2001.
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