In 1977 Exorcist II: The Heretic hit the big screen. The anticipation was high and audiences around the world couldn’t wait to see what director John Boorman (Deliverance) and company cooked up. To say that its arrival was a disaster is an understatement – rumors of screenings turning hostile, people laughing nonstop, and a critical response that nearly drove Boorman into retirement.

A still from EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC as shown in BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL. Photo courtesy of The Overlook Film Festival 2026.

What also became evident, and Boorman and The Heretic were the unfortunate shrapnel, was Hollywood’s changing landscape away from auteur-driven, director-controlled creative authority. On this episode of EoM Presents, EoM Contributor Joel Winstead chats with filmmaker David Kittredge (Pornography) about his documentary Boorman and the Devil, in select theaters now, which addresses the complex factors leading up to release – from being ushered into corporate boardrooms and risk-averse decisions. The devastating reception of The Heretic certainly wasn’t the lynchpin for this shift in Hollywood’s filmmaking, which Kittredge’s framing within his documentary supports. Putting the focus on John Boorman and his career before and after the bomb makes this documentary way more than just a Heretic special feature, it’s a send up to one of our greatest voices in film.

If you prefer an audio version, you can listen to the full interview here:

Official Synopsis:

After the success of Point Blank and Deliverance, Warner Brothers offered John Boorman the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to direct a sequel to their smash hit, The Exorcist. The result was one of the biggest disasters in movie history. A critical and financial failure that not only changed how Hollywood did business, but nearly ended Boorman’s filmmaking career… but to be an artist is to be a risk-taker. Now, John Boorman, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, Karyn Kusama, Joe Dante, Mike Flanagan, and more reflect back on the ambition of the film, the artistry and craft, and the value of big creative swings.

In theaters August 28^th, 2026.
Available on VOD and digital September 22^nd, 2026.

For more information, head to the official Yellow Veil Pictures Boorman and the Devil webpage.

Joel Winstead has worked in film in North Carolina and Minnesota for 5 years and has a passion for this industry. It all started when he saw Jurassic Park at 6 years old and has been in love ever since. Joel is a member of both the North Carolina Film Critics Association and Southeastern Film Critics Association.

Categories: EoM Presents, Filmmaker Interviews, Publications, Stream

Tags: Bilge Ebiri, Boorman and the Devil, David Kittredge, directing, documentary, Doug Pentek, EoM Presents, Exorcist II: The Heretic, Garrett Brown, horror, interview, Jim Hemphill, Joe Dante, John Boorman, Karyn Kusama, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, Mike Flanagan, Ronald L. Vargas Jr., Rospo Pallenberg, Simon Abrams, Stephanie Zacharek, The Exorcist, Victor Hsu, Yellow Veil Pictures