The Exorcist

Often people talk about films just in terms of profit and loss. It’s funny to see fancy business terms applied to films as if they are stocks.

On American Masters this evening there was a little documentary about the history of Warner Brothers. During the 70s Warner Brothers made a slew of movies that would probably sound like horrible ideas if people tried to get investors to sink millions into them today. 

Ok hear me out. There’s this kid who’s possessed by the devil. As in she acts a little strangely, some projectile vomiting, convulsing, etc. Trust me this is going to be one of the highest grossing films of all time. There’s no love story, no sexy leading man. But we do have Max Von Sydow (who rocks btw, my Swedish homey)

The Exorcist was a risk that worked out kind of well for them. (number 9 all time box office, snuggled between Doctor Zhivago and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves) Not to mention a few other risky pictures that will be around as long as people stare at glowing screens, Dog Day Afternoon, Deliverance, Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, etc. 

They pretty much just decided that Stanley Kubrick was a genius and let him do whatever he wanted to. Love it.