The Exorcist Effect: Horror, Religion, and Demonic Belief

by Joseph P. Laycock, Eric Harrelson

Overview

The Exorcist Effect is a fascinating historical study of the ongoing relationship between horror movies and Western religious culture, with a focus on the period from 1968 to the modern day. Taking its name from the 1973 film The Exorcist, which was widely understood to be based on a true story, this book outlines a cycle in which religious beliefs and practices become the basis of films that in turn inspire religious beliefs, practices, and experiences in response. Authors Joseph P. Laycock and Eric Harrelson draw heavily from archival research to shed new light on the details of this phenomenon, in addition to incorporating interviews with horror authors, film writers, and paranormal investigators.

Drawing on psychology, sociology, and folklore studies, Laycock and Harrelson theorize how film informs religious experience and shapes religious culture. The Exorcist Effect examines the production and reception of Rosemary's Baby (1968), The Exorcist (1973), and The Omen (1976) as seminal films in the genre; figures as Malachi Martin as well as Ed and Lorraine Warren, who inserted themselves directly into the spotlight, and the horror films that influenced and were inspired by their careers; and areas of culture where the influence of this cycle was most apparent-the Satanic Panic, religious exorcisms, and moral panic over heavy metal and the messages it was purported to spread. The final chapter considers the QAnon conspiracy theory and its numerous allusions to film as a contemporary manifestation of “The Exorcist effect.”

Ultimately, The Exorcist Effect is a deftly researched and compelling volume that is sure to interest horror buffs, religious scholars, and historians alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780197635391
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/07/2023
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Joseph P. Laycock is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University and co-general editor for the journal Nova Religio. He is the author of several books that explore new religious movements, possession and exorcism, and moral panic.

Eric Harrelson is the Preservation Librarian at Miami University of Ohio. Harrelson has been a film festival programmer and lecturer for Other Worlds Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Harrelson has written on film studies and religious studies for The World Religions and Spirituality Project and Religion Dispatches.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Exorcist Effect
Chapter 2: How Horror Movies Become Real
Chapter 3: The Unholy Trinity
Chapter 4: The Warren Cycle
Chapter 5: The Martin Cycle
Chapter 6: Exorcism
Chapter 7: Satanic Panic
Chapter 8: Heavy Metal
Chapter 9: Conclusion
Filmography
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"In The Exorcist Effect, Joseph Laycock and Eric Harrelson demonstrate how horror's fake blood seeps through the screen to stain our cultural and religious beliefs and habits. By combining film theory with religious history and cultural currents, readers find ways cinema is deeply imbricated with conspiracy theories, xenophobia, religious faith, racism, and our legal system." — S. Brent Rodriguez-Plate, Author of Religion and Film: Cinema and the Re-Creation of the World

"This book rocks! A brilliantly researched exploration of the strange entanglements of religion and horror packed with cultural insights, nail-sharp arguments, and deep dives into the all-too-human angels and demons we meet along the way. As a longtime fan of The Exorcist, I was fascinated from page one. As a professional filmmaker, I can honestly say this book has impacted my very approach to the wonderfully dark art of horror cinema." — Owen Egerton, Novelist and director of Mercy Black

"An excellent book, well thought-out and well presented, and takes seriously the power of popular culture in shaping the culture of religion in late modern society. It could serve as a model for other scholars to consider that relationship more carefully than has too often been the case to this point." — Douglas E Cowan, Professor of Religious Studies and Social Development Studies, Renison University College, University of Waterloo

"With The Exorcist Effect, Joseph Laycock continues his forensic analyses of the intersection of Catholic practices and American media and popular culture. Here we find an intriguing investigation into the cultural developments that inspire the thriving practice of exorcism in North America. Countering the intuitive assumption that the rising demand for exorcists correlates to a rise in weird phenomena, Laycock and Harrelson trace the effects that media like The Exorcist have on perceptions and practices related to demonic possession. This is an engaging and enjoyable book for anyone interested in Catholicism, the supernatural, and religion. Laycock continues the work he has become known for-delivering top scholarship that is cutting edge and frankly, hard to put down. Highly recommended!" — Diana Pasulka, Author of American Cosmic

"The Exorcist Effect an invaluable source for both students and professors interested in religious studies, popular culture, the horror film, and American religious history." — Sena Nurhan Duran, Journal of Religion & Film

"Laycock and Harrelson's The Exorcist Effect transforms understanding of the interplay between pop culture, religion, and the nature of evil...this remarkable book demonstrates the importance of such transdisciplinary approaches and probes how horror cinema influences attitudes toward spirituality and the supernatural. Notable chapters consider the 'possession' film subgenre, mountebank mediums Ed and Lorraine Warren, the paranoid writings of priest Malachi Martin, the rise of the religious Right, and the 'Satanic panic' connected to heavy metal and horror cinema. An extremely powerful and relevant section centers on how conspiratorial thinking (as demonstrated by groups such as QAnon) related to the 'Exorcist effect' continue to haunt US culture. This brilliant project opens up new avenues of study concerning cinema, culture, and systems of belief." — Choice

"The Exorcist Effect represents a highly accessible and extremely formidable work of scholarship... Laycock and Harrelson provide a powerful model for approaching similar topics." — Justin Mullis, AIPT

"The Exorcist Effect: Horror, Religion, and Demonic Belief, the latest book from Joseph Laycock, with co-author Eric Harrelson, expertly encapsulates the stakes and implications of researching possession/exorcism phenomena in the United States. It investigates the influence of exorcism film and television media on "real world" beliefs and practices as contextualized within America's fractured sociability: a country suffering the effects of information illiteracy, wherein cultural truths are fostered by media bombardment and the perceived value/authenticity assigned to media reproduction. The book effectively connects the historical dots between popular horror films and political religious movements, leaving space for future studies to expand their findings within the new media ecology of today." — William Chavez , Reading Religion

"This book is a valuable contribution to both religious studies and film studies." — Ivan Praštalo, Religious Studies Review

"The Exorcist Effect is essential reading. A warning for horror fans, however: reading this book will exhaust your watchlist on streaming services for months to come!" — Bernard Doherty, Project Muse

"The Exorcist Effect is engagingly written, painstakingly researched, and deftly argued." — Darryl Caterine, Church History Journal

From the Publisher