Film History Doc ‘Boorman and the Devil’ Trailer on Making ‘Exorcist II’

by Alex Billington
July 30, 2026
Source: YouTube

“We all make failures. Try not to make a famous one…” Yellow Veil Pictures has unveiled an official trailer for a film titled Boorman and the Devil, a fascinating documentary feature about an infamous moment in Hollywood history. After directing Point Blank and Deliverance, director John Boorman was offered to direct The Exorcist II for Warner Bros in 1975. The film was a massive failure, critically and financially, nearly ending his career. Years later, cast and filmmakers discuss its ambition and artistic value. This is the story of what happened, why it was an ambitious idea, and the value of taking big creative swings (especially in Hollywood). The film premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival last year with stops at many other fests. Playing in art house theaters during September to watch. The doc’s director explains: “I miss big, ambitious filmmaking that takes huge risks. In 1977, John Boorman took an enormous creative and commercial swing with Exorcist II: The Heretic which didn’t connect with almost anybody at the time—but now we can look back and appreciate how big creative swings are what going to the movies is all about. Boorman is one of the greatest filmmakers that has ever stepped behind a camera, and I’m so happy to be telling the story of the one film that not only nearly destroyed him, but forever changed the way he made films.” Check this out.

Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for David Kittredge’s doc Boorman and the Devil, from YouTube:

After the success of Point Blank & Deliverance, Warner Brothers offered John Boorman the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to direct a sequel to their smash hit, The Exorcist. The result was one of the biggest disasters in movie history. Both a critical & financial failure that not only changed how Hollywood did business, but nearly ended Boorman’s filmmaking career… but to be an artist is to be a risk-taker. Now, John Boorman, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, Karyn Kusama, Joe Dante, Mike Flanagan, and more reflect back on the ambition of the film, the artistry and craft, and the value of big creative swings. Boorman and the Devil is a documentary directed by producer / filmmaker David Kittredge, making his second feature film. Produced by Travis Stevens, Jim Fall & David Kittredge. With animation & graphics by Mindbomb Films & Craig Smith. Music from Eduardo Daniel Victoria. This initially premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival last year. Yellow Veil Pictures debuts Kittredge’s Boorman and the Devil doc in select US theaters starting August 28th, 2026 with more theaters during September. Have you seen The Exorcist II before?

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