William Friedkin Despised This 10%-Rated Horror Sequel So Much He Called It An "Abomination"

William Friedkin was a man who never shied away from speaking his mind, no matter how blunt his opinions might be. His The Exorcist became a cultural phenomenon that shattered the barriers between genre cinema and high art, not merely a cult horror classic.

It was the first horror film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, forever changing perceptions of what the horror genre could achieve.

William Friedkin Had No Good Words for John Boorman's 'Exorcist II: The Heretic'

However, as often happens in Hollywood, the movie's success sparked the studio's desire for a sequel. In 1977, Exorcist II: The Heretic, directed by John Boorman, hit theaters.

Friedkin, who had no involvement in the project, was furious. In an interview with Mick Garris, he did not mince words. He likened Boorman's work to adapting a novel by Tolstoy or Dickens into a "porno musical," adding that he had seen pornography with more integrity.

Friedkin believed that The Exorcist was complete and didn't need a sequel:

“I felt that The Exorcist was totally complete in itself, and to do a sequel would just be done for commercial purposes and no other. The so-called sequel – The Harry Tick, or whatever they refer to it as – to me it's an abomination…it's a bad movie…wrought by people who are, in my opinion, fourth and fifth-rate intellects.”

Studio executives hoped the craze for demons and exorcisms hadn't faded yet, so they brought in John Boorman to continue Friedkin's legacy. However, the result was a flick that Friedkin viewed as a cheap parody.

What Is 'Exorcist II: The Heretic' About?

Four years have passed since the events of the first movie. Regan MacNeil is now a teenager, but she is still haunted by strange nightmares. Jesuit priest Father Philip Lamont, sent by the Vatican, and child psychiatrist Dr. Gene, join forces to unlock the secrets of her subconscious.

They suspect that Pazuzu might return. The key to the mystery lies with Kokumo, who survived being possessed by the demon and an exorcism during his childhood. Together, they try to figure out if Pazuzu has returned to claim Regan's soul and how to stop it.

'Exorcist II' Became One of the Most Notorious Flops of Its Time – Friedkin Was Right About Everything

Exorcist II attempts to serve as a sequel but fails to grasp what made the original great. William Friedkin focused on recreating an atmosphere of horror rooted in biblical lore and mythology.

Boorman became preoccupied with visual effects, neglecting internal tension: his movie is cluttered with superfluous plotlines, and the characters lack depth. The only bright spot is the return of Max von Sydow as Father Merrin – his flashback exorcism scenes stand out as dignified moments amidst the rest of the action.

However, his involvement alone cannot save the movie from failure. Boorman indiscriminately employs locust sequences that come across as absurd, and his attempts to conjure an atmosphere of horror only result in awkwardness.

Exorcist II: The Heretic was savaged by critics and viewers alike, and Friedkin never forgave the studio or Boorman for what they did to his legacy.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Exorcist II: The Heretic'?

• Exorcist II: The Heretic has 10% from critics and 13% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 3.8/10.

• On Letterboxd, Exorcist II: The Heretic scored 2.0/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Exorcist II: The Heretic'?

Exorcist II: The Heretic is available to stream on Tubi TV.