Exorcist II Doco: Boorman and the Devil Trailer

When The Exorcist first arrived, it redefined horror cinema. But when director John Boorman followed up with Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977, he didn’t just continue a franchise; he dove headfirst into some seriously ambitious, mystical territory. It was a leap of faith that, for many viewers at the time, landed with a decidedly bumpy ride.

Despite its dramatic scope—which involved hypnosis, locusts, and African mysticism—the film struggled immensely with public reception. Film historians, critics, and even contemporaries like William Friedkin were not overly impressed by the sequel. It stood as a fascinating example of how cinematic ambition can clash spectacularly with audience expectation.

Yet, this very tension is what makes the work so compelling. Boorman’s decision to pursue such esoteric themes, coupled with his reputation for daring filmmaking, signals a genuine desire to take massive artistic risks. It suggests an appetite for exploring the darkest corners of the human psyche and mythology, even if the result isn’t always immediately palatable.

Now, filmmaker David Kittredge is taking that ambition and turning it into a deep-dive feature documentary titled Boorman And The Devil. This project shifts the focus away from the sequel itself and instead explores the profound necessity of risk-taking in the creative process—and the heavy cost of failure.

The resulting documentary is packed with cinematic heavyweights. It features a stellar ensemble cast including Linda Blair, the late Louise Fletcher, Karyn Kusama, Joe Dante, Mike Flanagan, and Boorman himself. Kittredge serves as the driving force, writing, directing, and producing the feature, ensuring a multi-faceted look at what it means to navigate the treacherous waters of horror filmmaking.

This collaboration brings together a lineage of visionary directors and actors, all grappling with the intense pressures that come with creating boundary-pushing stories. It is more than just a retrospective; it’s an examination of the high stakes involved when artists decide to explore the occult and the terrifying unknown on screen.

Fans of cinematic exploration will find much to unpack in Boorman And The Devil, offering a raw look at the journey behind some of horror’s most notorious—and daring—films.