Cursed movie sets: What we know about The Exorcism starring Russell Crowe

2024 has already been a big year for horror, and there’s only more to follow. On June 21, The Exorcism is set to be released in theaters. There hasn’t been a lot of exposure for this movie, but I recently saw the trailer while waiting for The Watchers. Here is what we can expect from yet another exorcism movie. 

The Exorcism stars Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, Chloe Bailey, and many other familiar names. The director is Joshua John Miller, who wrote the screenplay for The Final Girls and developed the TV series Queen of the South. In addition, he co-wrote the script for The Exorcism with M. A. Fortin, who he previously worked with on The Final Girls and Queen of the South.

Crowe is set to play Anthony Miller, an actor starring in a horror movie about an exorcism. However, everyone mentions that horror movie sets have a sinister reputation, even going as far as to sage themselves. Anthony begins to experience things he cannot explain, his own life paralleling his character. His daughter is concerned that he may be slipping back into addiction, but there is another reason for his unraveling. 

The premise of this movie is alluring simply because the plot revolves around the superstitions of making horror movies. Some people in Hollywood believe that making horror movies, specifically ones about demonic possessions, is inherently cursed. The Exorcist (1973) was infamous for the incidents that happened on and off the set.

In the early stages of filming, a fire started and burned most of the set down, apart from Reagan's room, where the possession takes place. The cast and crew lost a lot of loved ones, including Linda Blair's grandfather. Blair (Reagan) also suffered a severe back injury that she still struggles with today. She fractured her back while trying to film Reagan's convulsions. Her actual scream was even used in the movie. These incidents convinced many cast and crew members that the movie was haunted. It even made director William Friedkin believe in real-life demonic possessions.

I think The Exorcism has the potential to captivate the fear that surrounds horror movie sets. Maybe even capture what it was like to film The Exorcist. However, I am still cautious because I know exorcist movies can have a reputation for being subpar. The Exorcism hasn't really received a lot of promotion, especially since it comes out this week.

It's currently sitting at 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is better than The Exorcist: Believer that came out last year with a score of 22%. But this is still concerning. What sets The Exorcism movie apart from the rest is that the possession happens to an older man. We are so used to seeing little innocent girls turning their heads 360 and spewing vomit, but Crowe offers up something different. I'm intrigued to see a man in a role like this, and I'm looking forward to seeing where they take the story.

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