The Exorcist Legacy by Nat Segaloff is a perfect pop culture account of this horror classic. It includes the original account that lead to the movie and so much more. As a horror lover, I loved this book and plan to reread it after purchasing a copy for my collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio review copy.

I love The Exorcist. Definitely top 5 favorite possession movies. And I feel like I knew so much of this already. If you don't know as much about maybe you would get more out of the book. The narrator did a fine job.

Rating 3.5/5

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 HighBridge Audio for approving this book for me to give my honest review.

Inspired by the 50th anniversary of the iconic film, Nat Segaloff writes this very detailed history of every piece of the film. I got to enjoy the audiobook from NetGalley.

The actual event that inspired the book? Detailed as best he can. I had no idea that teenage boy went on to work for NASA. Lots of fascinating details about all the practical effects that made the original movie work. You wanna see breath? It needs to be that cold.

Segaloff also details every sequel, prequel, or spin-off the movie inspired. So many reshoots for films that were almost guaranteed to flop. It’s like the studios making those movies hated money. I thought the book lost some steam here since everything but the original is very ‘We Don’t Talk about Bruno’ but Segaloff is nothing if not thorough.

With another addition to the franchise slated for release this year, this micro history is well timed. I found the book and audiobook narration a bit dry but very thorough. If there’s anything you want to know about The Exorcist, it’s in here. 4/5

This is a very thorough account of The Exorcist, maybe a bit TOO much info to make it very enjoyable.

This was an informative look at the Exorcist. It gave a lot of insight into the book, and the film, as well as those responsible for its creation. I especially liked the details on why it was made the way it was (with practical effects, and in specific locations), and the reason there is considered to be a curse on the film. It is also nice to see how the book and movie played into the lives of writer William Peter Blatty, and producer William Friedkin. With the title "The Exorcist Legacy" however, I was expecting a bit more about how the work has had a lasting impact of culture, and maybe even the influence it has had over the years. Instead, we get a deep look into the sequels and spins-offs, which are import to the story of The Exorcist, but leaves out a lot of other ways the film has had a legacy. Ultimately this book is something a fan of The Exorcist, as well as, those who are interested in the history of film, and the process of filmmaking could enjoy.

Are you a horror fan? Ever seen the Exorcist, arguably the most terrifying movie ever made at the time of its release? There have been a few rumors over the years about the film, but this book goes in depth about the book, the film, the sequels, the tv show, and the culture around it, 50 years after its initial release.

I’ve only ever seen the first film, and I’ll be honest. It’s not my favorite horror film. That honor goes to the Shining. However, this movie is terrifying, and I can’t imagine the full impact of its terror when it was released. I love horror. I love movies, and I love film history, so I was stoked to learn more about the Hollywood and cultural history and legacy of the film. Segaloff dives deep into the author of the books, the film’s screenplay, filming the movie, the actors, etc. It’s a must-read for hardcore horror fans. It’s out now wherever you get your books.

This was an interesting book to listen to. I’ve watched The Exorcist many times over the years and it was fun to get a “behind the scenes” look at what went into making the movie and the subsequent sequels. I’ve never read the original book that the movie is based on, but after listening to this, I plan to.

Parts of the story dragged a bit and felt repetitive in places. There are some parts that cover who had the rights to what and such and I wasn’t very interested in that part of the backstory.

If you are a fan of the book and/or movies, I think you’ll enjoy this look at the history.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the release of the film and with the recent passing of director William Friedkin, the Exorcist Legacy could not be more timely. For over 5 decades the book, original film and it subsequent iterations, have frightened readers and moviegoers surpassing even the terrors of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.
With great detail, the reader learns of the early career of William Peter Blatty. as a comedic writer. This took a turn when his curiosity was piqued by a story involving a teenage boy in a Maryland suburb who had exorcisms performed. It is on this true story, that Blatty based his fictional tale.

The most striking take away from the book was that Blatty and Friedkin were not trying to create a horror story, but rather the story of good and evil, Good choices and bad choices. It is blatantly obvious now, but the book is titled "The Exorcist" not "The Possessed." . The feature character is the priest, not Reagan,

Segaloff goes into great detail of how Blatty and Friedkin worked together (and at times, not so together) to get the film that they saw in their heads onto film. Arguments about what to leave in and what to cut would last years. Sidebars are presented throughout the book to remind the reader of original story lines to compare and contrast with what was eventually presented. These were helpful, as it has been a minute since I last saw the films.

At times, the book does begin to drag with the many sequels and and who had what naming rights and how titles were changed. I am sure this is gold to true devotees, but it was more than I needed.
The access to interviews of cast and crew were mesmerizing. The insight the provide into both the technical leaps being made with effects and makeup as well as the emotional toll it was taking on those involved was captivating. I cannot imagine a better researched and written account of this pioneering and iconic film.

My thanks to etGalley and Kensington Books for the ALC of this book.

This was interesting, but also turned out to be pretty slow moving. But I adore The Exorcist, so it was fun to learn about such an iconic tale.

Narrator was great!

Like many others, The Exorcist was my intro to the horror genre. I found this book to provide some insights into the movie that I wouldn’t have picked up on myself, especially considering my age when I was exposed to it (hint - I was likely far too young). So with this movie being a nostalgic thing for me, I was thrilled to see this book as an option, and even more so when I got the audiobook through NetGalley.

It’s not long, but it is pretty jam packed with information. I found it to be fascinating, but I don’t think it’ll be everyone’s cup of tea. There is a decent amount of technical-type stuff along with the behind the scenes stuff which can easily get boring if that’s not your thing. I think the narrator did a fantastic job of keeping it interesting though, and that’s a big plus.

The first half of this book was interesting, and brought a lot of details I wasn’t aware of to light. The rest, was so, so, so very slow. Put you to sleep slow. Torturously dull. Immensely uninspired. It felt like a 2-3 paragraph blog that was unnecessarily drawn out and expanded to become a book in an attempt to cash in on the upcoming series.

The author read for the audiobook, and that did help, but by the time I got to about 75%, I sped it up to 3x speed because I was nodding off and just wanted to be DONE.

I’m sure there’s an article somewhere that’s titled “20 thing you didn’t know about ‘The Exorcist’” that would be a better use of time, and then you can walk away. 9 hours of content. You could watch everything in that time.

This is an amazingly well researched book, but it is definitely for hardcore Exorcist fans. It felt a little long as it got to the prequel(s) but everything had to be in there to show just how far the movie series has come in the last 50 years!

The Exorcist: 50 Years of Fear by #natsegaloff is what I’ve been listening to the past few days - a book all about the movie #TheExorcist that (wow really?) cam out 50 YEARS ago this December!!! This book, written by the movie’s original publicist, tells of so much about the meeting of the writer of the book, Peter Blatty, with the film director William Friedkin. It talks about not only the film, the writer & director but also has interesting casting stories - like how they picked Linda Blair - who was a walk-in brought in by her mother - a virtual unknown untrained actor who was modeling locally. The director was so impressed by her interview that he hired her on the spot. The most interesting take for me was when they said that they didn’t make the movie to be horror (oh but a horror it was) but as a “concept between good and evil.”
This book is so timely - I’m sure it will create awareness of the anniversary of this iconic film! I’m hoping that it will re-release in theaters this winter on the Big Screen so a whole new (couple of) generations can experience the horror and contemplation of good and evil!
Check this book or audiobook out before December and tell@me how hyped you’ll then be to see the film again!!
Many thanks to @highbridgeaudio for allowing me to listen in exchange for review! Also huge thanks to my stepdaughter, aka IrishMary ☘️ (Ms. M) for creating this reel for me. My lil techie buddy - what would I do without ya!!

I love books like this.
I’m too much of a wimp for the movie the exorcist. I did read the book so reading this was a very interesting history of the movie, the differences in the book and all of the things that have come since.
I love reading behind the scene/ the journey of how things are made-this had so many tidbits and stories I didn’t know. Very enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for an advanced listening copy.

"The Exorcist Legacy" gives a detailed account of the ideas behind and the making of "The Exorcist," as well as its sequels. Fans of "The Exorcist" franchise who wish to know more about the circumstances surrounding the film are in for a treat.

Joe Hempel does a great job of narrating the audiobook. It felt like I was listening to a documentary-style podcast, which really complemented the text. Nat Segaloff's insight into the franchise is impressive, and he ensures the reader gets every interesting piece of background information from the production of the films, as well as some interesting facts leading up to the novel.

At times, however, the account becomes a bit too detailed, leaving segments that are very dry for the reader to endure. The synopsis of the novel and each version of the films seemed unnecessary and could have been left out, only highlighting parts of the narratives necessary for the development of the book.

That being said, Nat Segaloff mostly succeeds in creating an interesting deep dive into the creation of one of the most iconic horror films of all time. Readers get a front-row seat to information about the exorcism that inspired the novel, which eventually became a film and later developed into an entire franchise, as well as the ideas leading up to production, knowledge about the making of the film(s), and the mechanics behind iconic scenes that are etched into the minds of generations of moviegoers. "The Exorcist" has long been a household name for anyone interested in film, and through statements from creators, actors/actresses, and experts, as well as the inviting narration of Joe Hempel, Segaloff manages to bring the story surrounding the franchise vividly to life.

If you love horror films, especially "The Exorcist," and want some behind-the-scenes bonus material steeped with fun facts, this book is for you!

I thoroughly enjoyed some of the history behind Blatty's inspiration for The Exorcist, a book and movie that would become a cultural phenomenon. This was a fast-paced listen for most of the audio book. The narration was well done. Where it was bogged down for me was the repetitive summaries of the different movies and books. If I wasn't familiar with the source material, this might have been appreciated more, but I would guess that a majority of the readers of this book will already have a working knowledge of the franchise. If you're an Exorcist fan, I'd say this is still worth the read. Thank you to netgalley for a review copy of this audio book.

Sometimes it’s hard to write compelling reviews about a book because you enjoyed it SO much that all you want to do is throw copies at everyone you know because EVERYONE needs to read it. This was one of those books for me. I read the audiobook version and the narrator is fantastic and extremely easy to listen to. This all-encompassing history of The Exorcist is deeply important for anyone with even a passing curiosity in horror, media, or the entertainment industry. I can see sections of this being added to film theory class syllabi and believe this will stand as a definitive example of how to write a history about media with such depth and importance to the canon.

With the 50th anniversary of the release of the original Exorcist coming up, this book delves into the last fifty years with this movie. It goes into detail about the original movie and its making and any subsequent sequels and spin offs inspired by this haunting movie.

I have never actually seems the Exorcist, and probably never will since I think it will keep me up at night. I am not a horror person, but I am glad I read this book. Without actually having to watch the movie, I feel like I now know enough about this phenomenon to not feel completely left out when references to this movie come up. This was a thoroughly researched book with a lot of detail and interesting information surrounding this movie and the craze that followed. I really enjoyed the first half of the book that talked solely about the movie and its making. The second half of the book got into the sequels and any other adaptation inspired by the original and, to me, it wasn’t as interesting as the first half, but it was still good. I think for Exorcist fans and horror fans who have seen and enjoyed this movie, this is going to be a great book! I enjoyed this book and I previously didn’t have much knowledge of the Exorcist, so I think true fans will love this!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

I am one of those people who really enjoy the history of things I love so I knew I would like this. I love horror movies and while The Exorcist isn't my favorite its definitely a top 10 and a major influence in my love of horror.
I really liked all the information in this. I knew a lot of it but I liked that the author explored how all these different events and facts effected the movie the we all love.
I did wish we got more info on the effect The Exorcist has on horror movies as a whole. It talked about how this was an early first and how it was important but that was really it.
I will say if you are a horror movie buff this is definitely something great to read.