A new documentary titled Boorman and the Devil explores the chaotic production and lsating legacy of the 1977 film Exorcist II: The Heretic. Directed by David Kittredge, the film investigates how one of Warner Bros.' most expensive projects became a critical and commercial disaster that nearly derailed a director's career.
The massive Warner Bros. gamble that nearly ended John Boorman's career
Before the release of Exorcist II: The Heretic, director John Boorman had established himself with acclaimed works such as Point Blank and Deliverance. However, as the report states, his transition to the Exorcist franchise proved to be a catastrophic turning point. At the time of its production, the film was the most expensive movie in the history of Warner Bros., a massive financial undertaking that ultimately resulted in a film reviled by audiences and destroyed by critics.
This production failure serves as a stark historical marker within the horror genre. While the original 1973 The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin, was a blockbuster success based on William Peter Blatty's book, the sequel struggled to find its footing. The documentary aims to look past the initial failure to understand how such a high-stakes investment could result in such a profound cinematic mismatch.
A 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for a once-reviled sequel
Despite its historical reputation as a "critical and commercial bomb," Exorcist II: The Heretic is undergoing a significant re-evaluation by modern filmmakers. according to the source, the documentary Boorman and the Devil currently holds a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 reviews compiled as of July 30, 2026.
This shift in perception is driven by a growing consensus among industry professionals who view the film as a technical masterpiece. While the story-level shortcomings remain a point of contention, the documentary highlights how contemporary directors see artistic value in the film's craftsmanship that was overlooked during its 1977 debut.
From Linda Blair to Mike Flanagan: The Exorcist's expanding empire
The documentary features a diverse array of voices to reconstruct the film's history, including original stars Louise Fletcher and Linda Blair. It also includes perspectives from John Boorman himself, providing a firsthand account of the pressure involved in directing a high-budget sequel to a cultural phenomenon.
The film arrives at a time of significant expansion for the franchise. By 2026, the Exorcist universe has grown to include six movies and a television series. The industry is already looking toward the future, with Mike Flanagan's The Exorcist: Martyrs scheduled for release in 2027. The documentary's inclusion of Flanagan, alongside other notable directors like Joe Dante and Karyn Kusama, underscores the deep influence this divisive sequel has had on the next generation of horror creators.
What specific creative clashes fueled the 1977 disaster?
While the trailer for Boorman and the Devil teases the chaotic making of the film, several key details remain unverified in the current reporting. The source mentions that the massive budget resulted in a film destroyed by critics, but it does not specify the exact nature of the mismanagement or the specific creative conflicts between Boorman and Warner Bros. It is also unclear if the documentary will offer new insights into why the narrative failed to resonate with the 1977 audience,or if it will focus strictly on the technical merits praised by modern directors like Edgar Wright and Sean Baker.
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