E! True Hollywood Story: The Exorcist

Premieres: Aug. 15, 8 p.m.
Encores: Aug. 17, 8 p.m.

When The Exorcist was released late in 1973, it sparked a visceral
reaction from the public--literally. There were reports of people
vomiting from the fright of a story about a young girl possessed by a
demon.

The movie went on to become a massive hit, but few of those who
flocked to the film knew about its grueling, nearly yearlong shoot or
the tragedies that befell some of the cast and crew. Misfortune also
followed the movie's sequels, leading some to wonder: Was there a
curse on The Exorcist?

As its prequel, Exorcist: The Beginning, makes its way to theaters,
E! delves into the mystery with a new E! True Hollywood Story,
premiering Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. We go behind the scenes of the
controversial film and reveal just why some believe the movie was
cursed.

Whether you buy into curses or not, one thing is indisputable: The
filming of The Exorcist was tough on all concerned. From a director
who liked to startle his cast to a 12-year-old actress spouting some
truly disturbing dialogue to the infamous "pea soup" scene, few
escaped the production unscathed.

Subsequent Exorcist films had their share of bad luck as well--
although many critics believe that's a result of questionable
filmmaking more than any curse. Still, the mystery surrounding the
films remains.

~HalloweenMovie