The true story of the possessed boy who inspired 'The Exorcist'

More than four decades ago, world cinema was impacted by one of the scariest films of all time: 'The Exorcist'.

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Released in 1973 and directed by William Friedkin (photo), the feature film grossed more than 400 million dollars and generated four sequels, the last of which was released in 2023.

The film tells the story of an actress who discovers the terrifying behavior of her twelve-year-old daughter. Upon realizing that the girl is possessed by the devil, she seeks help from a priest, who, in turn, summons a second priest specialized in exorcism.

Since its release, 'The Exorcist' has shocked and terrified audiences, becoming a landmark in the history of horror cinema, due to its intensity, innovative visual effects, and impactful approach to the supernatural.

In the photo, a line of people waiting in the cold to see the film.

The intense performances of Linda Blair (pictured, alongside William Friedkin), Ellen Burstyn, and Max von Sydow contributed to the film's chilling atmosphere, which won two Oscars (Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound).

The film has sparked intense debates about graphic horror and its depiction of evil, but few know the terrifying inspiration behind the plot.

'The Exorcist' is based on the real case of a series of exorcisms of an anonymous boy, which took place in 1949, in Maryland, in the United States (photo).

Roland Doe (a pseudonym used by the Catholic Church to preserve his identity) was 14 years old when inexplicable phenomena began to haunt his family.

According to the book 'Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism', written by historian Thomas B. Allen (image), Roland Doe was the only child in the family. For that reason, he spent a lot of time with adults, especially with his Aunt Harriet.

Harriet, a woman with spiritualist beliefs, showed the Ouija Board to the boy. He began to use it frequently, especially after Harriet's death when he was just 13 years old.

It was during this period that intense paranormal activities occurred, such as flying objects, unexplained noises in the house, and messages written on the boy's body. Roland supposedly rose in the air and spoke in unknown languages, leaving even the most skeptical people perplexed.

Roland's terrified family decided to seek help on different fronts, including doctors and pastors from the Anglican church, but no conventional treatment was effective.

(Illustrative Photo)

Not knowing what else to do, the family sought help from the Catholic Church. That's when Father William S. Bowdern visited Roland's home and noted his aversion to all things sacred, his guttural voice, a shaking bed, and flying objects.

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Soon, William S. Bowdern started to believe that Roland was possessed by an evil entity. It had to be expelled from the body through a series of rituals.

The exorcism process lasted weeks, involved various priests, and was marked by violent phenomena. However, in the end, Roland was declared free from possession.

At the time, all the information about the exorcisms was recorded in the diaries of the priests and doctors involved. They would later be released to William Friedkin (photo), the film's director.

Roland Doe's story became a source of inspiration for writer William Peter Blatty (photo), who wrote the book 'The Exorcist'. The novel took the horror genre to a new level.

The film 'The Exorcist' is based precisely on the book by William Peter Blatty, who is also the screenwriter of the work. Blatty made some changes to Roland's story, including the gender and age of the child in the fictional version.

Curiously, some strange events also occurred during filming: the sister of actor Max von Sydow (pictured) passed away and the pregnant wife of a camera assistant lost her baby...

But perhaps the strangest incident was the fire that overwhelmed the film set one day. Intriguingly, the only part that remained unharmed by the flames was the bedroom of Linda Blair's character, the possessed girl.

To this day, the influence of Roland Doe's case persists in popular culture. The story behind 'The Exorcist' reveals a complex narrative of fear, faith, and the fight against the unknown. It shows that, sometimes, reality can be more terrifying than the fiction it inspires.

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