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[R.I.P.] ‘The Exorcist’ Special Effects Master Marcel Vercoutere

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 21, 2013 @ 3:45pm
Category: Movies / News

Marcel Vercoutere, who built the life-sized animatronic robot for Linda Blair’s possessed Regan in The Exorcist has died at the age of 87. Many of us weren’t alive at the time of the film’s release and even less of us were of the age to see it in a theater, but by all accounts the moment that robot’s head spun around was a huge pop culture “moment.” No one had seen anything like that before, and Vercoutere’s work still holds up today.

Whenever we cover a possession movie here on BD, everyone (including me) acknowledges that it’s sort of amazing how nothing in the past 40 years has even come close to touching The Exorcist in terms of impact. Vercoutere was a huge part of that.

Cinematographer Owen Roizman told the LA Times, “ He had made this unbelievable robot and everything about it worked — it almost had facial expressions. I was standing there looking at it and I said, ‘You know what, we forgot something. We don’t have any breath coming out.’ Marcel just said, ‘I’ll deal with that.’ He was so calm. And before you know it … the dummy had breath.”

Head inside to see the robot 40 years later! READ MORE

[This Day In Horror] ‘The Exorcist’ Is Unleashed Upon Audiences!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on December 26, 2012 @ 12:21pm
Category: Movies / Editorials

December 26th, 1973.

William Friedkin’s horror masterpiece The Exorcist has more cojones than any mainstream horror film I’ve seen in years. It’s an amazingly brutal, profane, scary and funny film – one that simply couldn’t be made today within the studio system. Not a chance. The fact that this movie came out 39 years ago blows my mind.

According to BoxOfficeMojo, the film has taken in around $232,906,145 at the US Box Office and $208,400,000 in foreign markets for a combined worldwide total of $441,306,145. Huge numbers for a movie with a production budget of $10.5 million, a figure that by today’s studio standards seems scant. In short, the movie wasn’t just a hit – it was a global phenomenon (even though those numbers include the gross of 2000′s successful re-release).

I wasn’t even born 39 years ago and I imagine the same could be said by a large chunk of our readers. Why do you guys think we don’t see movies like The Exorcist hit that same level of mainstream awareness today? Are audiences weaker? Are the corporate-owned studios more cowardly? Is there some sort of new politically correct awareness that is actually increasing the limits on what’s deemed appropriate in the artistic marketplace? I have my own theories, but I want to here from you.

[Exclusive Halloween Treat] Last Unseen FX Test Footage Video From ‘THE EXORCIST’!!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on October 26, 2012 @ 9:32am
Category: Movies / Exclusives

In previous weeks Bloody Disgusting presented you with an exclusive look at never-before-seen special effects test footage that’s been unearthed from William Friedkin’s 1973 horror masterpiece The Exorcist! The footage was provided by someone very special to us, who unfortuantely cannot be named.

Let me attempt to explain what you’re about to see… READ MORE

[Halloween Treat] Watch ‘The Exorcist’ Edited As A 80′s Sitcom (With Laugh Track And All)!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on October 25, 2012 @ 1:35pm
Category: Movies / Trailers

Courtesy of the good folks at Film School Rejects comes easily the funniest Halloween Treat this October!

The following enteres a world in which one asks, what if following the huge success of The Exorcist, Warner Bros. had decided to make a television spinoff?

The edit plays like a short pilot presentation for William Friedkin’s The Exorcist TV series, with laugh track and all. Regan, played by Linda Blair, has never been so funny! Watch it below and then chime in with your thoughts. READ MORE

[Exclusive Halloween Treat] Watch Unseen FX Test Footage From ‘THE EXORCIST’!!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on October 12, 2012 @ 12:28pm
Category: Movies / Videos

I’ve been teasing a massive Halloween treat for a few days now. I hope this makes your head spin!

Bloody Disgusting is beyond excited to present you with an exclusive look at never-before-seen special effects test footage that’s been unearthed from William Friedkin’s 1973 horror masterpiece The Exorcist! The footage was provided by someone very special to us, who unfortuantely cannot be named.

Let me attempt to explain what you’re about to see (it will be broken into 3 parts with more “treats” coming in a few days!)… READ MORE

Contests

Check Out ‘Killer Joe’ For Free In Orlando

Movies
Posted by David Harley on August 16, 2012 @ 7:40pm
Category: Movies / Contests

I’ve heard nothing but glowing things about William Friedkin’s Killer Joe, making it one of the only films I’m even interested in for the rest of 2012. I’m rarely disappointed with Friedkin’s work – I even have a quasi-soft spot for The Guardian, which is an entertaining mess in parts – and the fact that he’s working from script by Tracy Letts (based on his own play) makes me even more jazzed to see it.

If you live in Orlando and share my enthusiasm, you’re in luck. Bloody-Disgusting has a few GOFOBO codes for an early screening of the film at Regal Winter Park on Wednesday, August 22nd at 7:30 pm. To snag a pass, all you have to do is log into your account on GOFOBO (or sign up if you haven’t) and enter the following code: BLOODZ9YF. That’s it!

Make sure to check out some great interviews for the film conducted by our very own Evan Dickson here, here, and here.

“When 22-year-old Chris (Emile Hirsch) finds himself in debt to a drug lord, he hires a hit man to dispatch his mother, whose $50,000 life insurance policy benefits his sister Dottie (Juno Temple). Chris finds Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a creepy, crazy Dallas cop who moonlights as a contract killer. When Chris can’t pay Joe upfront, Joe sets his sight on Dottie as collateral for the job. The contract killer and his hostage develop an unusual bond. Like from a modern-day, twisted fairy tale, “Killer Joe” Cooper becomes the prince to Dottie’s Cinderella.” The film also stars Matthew McConaughey, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon.

[Special Feature] Toto Watches… ‘The Exorcist’!!!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on August 03, 2012 @ 2:00pm
Category: Movies / Editorials

Toto Miranda is new to horror.

Or, at least horror as you and I know it. He’s a film buff (and musician – as a member of The Octopus Project he’s one of the loudest drummers on the planet) and has a huge amount of respect for the horror genre, but is just now getting around to seeing a few movies that some of us less-well-adjusted folks call “classics”.

Remember the thrill you got when you first realized you were a true horror fan? Remember the excitement of realizing just how many awesome movies you hadn’t seen yet? We’re hoping to recapture some of that excitement through Toto’s eyes as he watches some of our favorite horror movies for the very first time.

Head inside to check out his thoughts on William Friedkin’s The Exorcist! Just in time for Killer Joe hitting today! READ MORE

Exclusive

[BD Interview] ‘The Exorcist’ Director William Friedkin On Avoiding Formula, And The Studios, In His New Movie ‘Killer Joe’

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on August 03, 2012 @ 11:30am
Category: Movies / Exclusives

In theaters today from LD Entertainment is Killer Joe, an insanely fun and disturbing movie directed by the man behind The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer, To Live And Die In LA and Bug – William Friedkin. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon and is based on a play by Pulitzer and Tony Award winner Tracy Letts.

I recently spoke with Friedkin about crafting Joe, his sixteenth film, and his decision to make it outside of the studio system. We also talk about the film business in general and which of today’s filmmakers he finds inspiring. Oh, and he also weighs in on the futility of even comparing movies like Citizen Kane and Vertigo. It’s a long interview (we even talk Near Dark) but, when you get a chance to speak to someone with this kind of body of work, you want to go for the big picture.

Killer Joe opens today in select cities. Head inside for the interview. Spoilers ahead. READ MORE

[Video Interview] The Women Of ‘Killer Joe’: Gina Gershon And Juno Temple

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on August 01, 2012 @ 4:00pm
Category: Movies / Exclusives

LD Entertainment will soon release Killer Joe, which is directed by the man behind The Exorcist and To Live And Die In LA – William Friedkin. This may not sound like a horror film to you – but it is indeed bloody and disgusting. It’s also very entertaining. Last week I posted my video interviews with Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch, and today I’m sharing my chat with Gina Gershon and Juno Temple.

We talk about working with Friedkin and what – if anything – gave them pause about tackling the intense NC-17 movie.

Killer Joe opened in NY on July 27th and hits Los Angeles, Chicago and various other cities (check your local listings) this Friday, August 3rd. Head inside for the interview. READ MORE

Killer Joe

Posted by EvanDickson on July 27, 2012 @ 12:01am
Category:

Exclusive

[Video Interview] Matthew McConaughey On Going For An NC-17 And The Violence Inside ‘Killer Joe’

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on July 25, 2012 @ 12:00pm
Category: Movies / Exclusives

LD Entertainment will soon release Killer Joe, which is directed by the man behind The Exorcist and To Live And Die In LA – William Friedkin. This may not sound like a horror film to you – but it is indeed bloody and disgusting. It’s also very entertaining. It’s interesting to see Matthew McConaughey (Failure To Launch, Magic Mike) taking more challenging roles these days, and this is certainly one of them. His “Joe” is an unstoppable psychopath, but he also has some interesting ticks and hold-ups (and of course a creepy fascination with Juno Temple’s “Dottie”).

I recently spoke with McConaughey about what it was like trying to find the humanity inside such a violent character. We also talked about working with William Friedkin, not shying away from the NC-17 rating and some of the bolder career choices he’s been making recently.

Killer Joe opens in NY on July 27th and in Los Angeles on August 3rd. Head inside for the interview. READ MORE

[Video Interview] Emile Hirsch On Working With William Friedkin And What Scene Scared Him Most In ‘Killer Joe’

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on July 24, 2012 @ 12:00pm
Category: Movies / Exclusives

LD Entertainment will soon release Killer Joe, which is directed by the man behind The Exorcist and To Live And Die In LA – William Friedkin. This may not sound like a horror film to you – but it is indeed bloody and disgusting. It’s also very entertaining. One of the ways in which the film is at its pitch black (and hilarious) best is when it’s detailing the increasingly giant clusterf*ck Emile Hirsch’s Chris Smith digs himself into. He’s in trouble from frame one and can’t keep from sinking deeper.

I recently spoke with Hirsch about what it was like to inhabit a character whose physicality kept changing with every beating he received. We also talked about what it was like to work with William Friedkin and which material in the script freaked him out the most.

Killer Joe opens in NY on July 27th and in Los Angeles on August 3rd. Head inside for the interview. READ MORE

Contests

[Contest] LA Readers! See ‘Killer Joe’ Next Thursday For Free!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on July 19, 2012 @ 9:00am
Category: Movies / Contests

LD Entertainment will soon release Killer Joe, which is directed by the man behind The Exorcist and To Live And Die In LA – William Friedkin. This may not sound like a horror film to you – but it is indeed bloody and disgusting. It’s also very entertaining. I can see why some people might have issues with it (or even hate it) – it’s an absolutely bonkers movie. But it’s intense and unsettling and bold. It weirded me out more than Human Centipede but had more to say and was much more fun to watch. The final scene made me more uncomfortable than anything I’ve seen in recent memory.

The film opens in NY on July 27th and in Los Angeles on August 3rd. But if you live in LA YOU can see it early! We have 15 pairs of tickets (15 winners, each of whom can bring one guest) to give away. It takes place on Thursday, July 26th at 7:30 PM at the Arclight Hollywood (6360 W Sunset Blvd). All you have to do is be 18 years or older (the film is NC17) and be able to arrive 30 minutes early (be there by 7PM at the latest). If you’re up for that shoot us an email [email protected] and e-mail me YOUR FULL NAME.

In the film “When 22-year-old Chris (Emile Hirsch) finds himself in debt to a drug lord, he hires a hit man to dispatch his mother, whose $50,000 life insurance policy benefits his sister Dottie (Juno Temple). Chris finds Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a creepy, crazy Dallas cop who moonlights as a contract killer. When Chris can’t pay Joe upfront, Joe sets his sight on Dottie as collateral for the job. The contract killer and his hostage develop an unusual bond. Like from a modern-day, twisted fairy tale, “Killer Joe” Cooper becomes the prince to Dottie’s Cinderella.”

Killer Joe stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon. It’s based on the play by Pulitzer and Tony Award winner Tracy Letts. Follow the film on Facebook or check out the Official Site.

Head inside for the trailer. READ MORE

[Interview] Transcript From Our Twitter Interview With ‘Killer Joe’ And ‘The Exorcist’ Director William Friedkin

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on May 17, 2012 @ 3:11pm
Category: Movies / Exclusives

On July 27th, LD Films will release Killer Joe, which is directed by the man behind The Exorcist and To Live And Fie In LA – William Friedkin. This may not sound like a horror film to you – but it is indeed bloody and disgusting. It’s also very entertaining. I can see why some people might have issues with it – it’s an absolutely bonkers movie. But it’s intense and unsettling and bold. It weirded me out more than Human Centipede and was much more fun to watch. A pulpy ride with huge performances all around, and an interesting character study from Juno Temple.

Last week I interviewed Friedkin live on Twitter and we discussed Killer Joe in as much depth as I think you can in that format. We also talked about The Exorcist and found out that the legendary director is sort of a found footage fan – he cites Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity as his favorite recent horror movies.

The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon. It’s based on the play by Pulitzer and Tony Award winner Tracy Letts. Head inside for the transcript. READ MORE

Check Out This Trailer For ‘Killer Joe’ And Watch Our Live Interview With Director William Friedkin On Friday

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on May 08, 2012 @ 3:33pm
Category: Movies / Trailers

On July 27th, LD Films will release Killer Joe. This is remarkable for two reasons. 1. The film was directed by William Friedkin, who gave us such classics as The Exorcist and To Live And Die In LA (btw, if you haven’t seen that movie, do it. Bloody and suspenseful). 2. They’re releasing it with its original NC-17 rating, which almost never happens these days. I’m seeing the film later this week, and I hear it’s pretty hardcore. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon. It’s based on the play by Pulitzer and Tony Award winner Tracy Letts.

Also – I’ll be interviewing William Friedkin live on Twitter this coming Friday, May 11th. It will take place from 930AM-1030AM PST (1230PM – 130PM EST). You’ll need to be following both @BDisgusting and @WilliamFriedkin to tune in.

In the film, “When 22-year-old Chris (Emile Hirsch) finds himself in debt to a drug lord, he hires a hit man to dispatch his mother, whose $50,000 life insurance policy benefits his sister Dottie (Juno Temple). Chris finds Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a creepy, crazy Dallas cop who moonlights as a contract killer. When Chris can’t pay Joe upfront, Joe sets his sight on Dottie as collateral for the job. The contract killer and his hostage develop an unusual bond. Like from a modern-day, twisted fairy tale, “Killer Joe” Cooper becomes the prince to Dottie’s Cinderella.”

Head inside for the trailer. READ MORE

Bug

Posted by Bloody Disgusting Staff on May 25, 2007 @ 12:00am
Category:

A paranoid, unhinged, war veteran who sees insects everywhere holes up with a lonely woman, who is hiding from her abusive ex-husband in a spooky Oklahoma motel room.

Tales from the Crypt: Season 4 (V)

Posted by Bloody Disgusting Staff on July 25, 2006 @ 12:00am
Category:

39. 4-1 27-Jun-1992 None but the Lonely Heart
40. 4-2 27-Jun-1992 This’ll Kill Ya
41. 4-3 27-Jun-1992 On a Deadman’s Chest
42. 4-4 04-Jul-1992 Seance
43. 4-5 11-Jul-1992 Beauty Rest
44. 4-6 22-Jul-1992 What’s Cookin’
45. 4-7 25-Jul-1992 The New Arrival
46. 4-8 01-Aug-1992 Showdown
47. 4-9 08-Aug-1992 King of the Road
48. 4-10 19-Aug-1992 Maniac At Large
49. 4-11 26-Aug-1992 Split Personality
50. 4-12 02-Sep-1992 Strung Along
51. 4-13 09-Sep-1992 Werewolf Concerto
52. 4-14 16-Sep-1992 Curiosity Killed

The Guardian

Posted by Bloody Disgusting Staff on April 27, 1990 @ 12:00am
Category:

Phil and Kate are a young couple living an idyllic life in their LA home. When Kate falls pregnant with their first child, they begin the search for a nanny to care for their newborn. The lovely young Camilla seems like the perfect candidate for the live-in role. She is a beautiful woman who devotes herself to looking after the baby, but it soon becomes apparent that the nanny is not what she seems…

The Exorcist

Posted by Bloody Disgusting Staff on December 26, 1973 @ 12:00am
Category:

Based on the 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist marries three different scenarios into one extraordinary plot. A visiting actress in Washington, D.C., notices dramatic and dangerous changes in the behavior and physical make-up of her 12-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, a young priest at nearby Georgetown University begins to doubt his faith while dealing with his mother’s terminal sickness. And, book-ending the story, a frail, elderly priest recognizes the necessity for a show-down with an old demonic enemy.