Exorcism

Abstract

Abstract This chapter considers the relationship between actual exorcisms and their depictions in horror films. Following the historiography of Brian Levack, this chapter views possession as a performance in which cultural “scripts” dictate how a demoniac will act and how others will respond to them. As such, exorcism films function as scripts that influence how some people “perform” possession. This chapter also examines how film adaptations of actual exorcisms are often favorable to exorcists, particularly when covering historical cases where young women died during exorcism. Finally, this chapter considers how exorcism films generate a media platform for practicing exorcists through interviews, consulting roles, and other secondary media. In some cases, this platform has allowed exorcists to gain more influence within their church, demonstrating a mutually beneficial relationship between horror film producers and exorcists.