Product Details

• Actors: Unexplained
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: August 18, 1998
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 0767001915
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #54,696 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #10 in	Video > Television > A&E Home Video > Phenomena
  #12 in	Video > Special Interests > Occult > Paranormal

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Few who saw it will ever forget the horror classic TheExorcist. But what most people don't realize is that the movie was basedon a true story! In incredible interviews, priests who performed a 1949 exorcism on a14-year-old Maryland boy tell the galvanizing story of their battle to free hissoul. Trace the history of exorcism from the Middle Ages--when it was commonlypracticed--to today. Ancient texts and accounts reveal the secrets of theCatholic ritual of exorcism, while religious scholars explore the evidence ofexorcisms in other cultures. See how many examples of ""possession"" are curedby modern psychiatric counseling, and meet debunkers who claim that mental illness is at the root of all such cases. From Medieval Europe to the disturbing claims of some fundamentalist groupsthat use exorcism as a justification for brutal beatings of women and children,this is a captivating look at exorcism through the ages. "

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A MUST FOR "THE EXORCIST" FANS!, January 25, 2002

By	Jim Childs (Las Vegas, Nevada, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A&E is well noted for their good work and this documentary is no exception. The film explores exorcisms and possession rituals from different cultures worldwide. And as briefly touched upon as they are, the segments are very interesting to watch. The selling point of the video, though, is the real-life bases for the film "The Exorcist." With interviews with the actual priests who performed the infamous 1949 exorcism that inspired the book. What would have made the video far more interesting, would have been extended scientific investigation as to what are the possibilities of explanation regarding specific "possession" sympyoms. William Peter Blatty wrote the book and the screenplay for the 1973 film. The book was excellent in providing scientific explanations to conflict with religious beliefs. The book gave good arguements on both sides and left it open for the reader to decide: "was it or wasn't it possession?" The 1973 film, even though written by the same person, strangely enough, sought to convince the audience in believing it was possession.