***EXCLUSIVE!*** - CALEB CARR TALKS 'EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING!'

[Scott W. Davis]

<div class="quote">Caleb Carr is a New York Times Best-selling author who has written the critically acclaimed novels THE ALIENIST (an absolutely fascinating historical thriller), THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS and KILLING TIME. What is not often known are his recent ventures into the world of film. Carr has been featured in our pages recently due to his involvement on EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING, where he penned the screenplay based on an original script by William Wisher, Jr.



EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING has had a number of celebrated cinematic artists behind the camera, though not always in a harmonious relationship. Problems began when John Frankenheimer, one of the greatest directors in history, developed health problems that eventually led to his passing. Paul Schrader (CAT PEOPLE, AUTO-FOCUS, AFFLICTION) took over for the late John Frankenehimer. Some reports have said he clashed with Oscar-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro (AMADEUS, THE LAST EMPORER, APOCALYPSE NOW, etc.). It continued last month when Schrader fired off a claim to The Independent that Morgan Creek rejected his final cut, saying that wanted more vomit and gore (read about that . He also claimed that the people at Morgan Creek never read the script before giving everyone the go-ahead. Reports circulated that Schrader was fired days later, but no one was able to get any concrete info (again, go to get the skinny on that chapter).



Now, Caleb Carr has graciously answered many of our questions. He describes how the project came about, his view on how the project has progressed and clears the air on some of the confusion surrounding the recent controversy.



Save for a small blurb at the beginning, the following questions and answers appear in their entirety. Horror Express would like to give its most sincere thanks to Caleb Carr for taking the time to answer our questions.</div>



[Q HORROR EXPRESS: First, let's just get it out of the way. !

[Evil J]

The interview made a lot of things clear about the new Exorcist movie but Carr has a lot to learn about true horror movie fans and how seriously we take our films. I'm an aspiring horror writer, artist and I run a small horror movie review site with a few friends of mine and I have to say what was said about the original exorcist in the interview disturbed me. I don't think he quite understands that all though some might view scenes in the original as comical the overall picture is not comical at all. It stands, in my estimation, as the greatest work of horror ever. It's been over 30 years since it's release and people are still shocked, scared and in some cases mortified over what plays out in front of their eyes. It's history on celluloid, period. For him to mock the film or even think of the original in an inferior way to his own artisitic vision is repulsive to me considering if the film hadn't been made this interview wouldn't have been conducted and nobody would be speaking his name this loudly in the film industry. So please, before anyone goes out and makes negative comments on The Exorcist or for that matter any other classic horror film because they think "it doesn't hold up to new horror cinima", please remember we're talking about the new hollywood horror makers that have brought us such crap as "Jeepers Creepers" and shotty remakes of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "Carrie". Perhaps before someone points fingers at classic films being out of date they should question themselves. "Why are we adding on to it's mythos?" or "Why are we remaking the film?" both are questions few people think about. Instead its the dollar signs that mean everything and I've yet to see a significant amount of good horror produced in the last ten years to prove otherwise.

Thanks for reading my rant.

Evil J.

[Jon Kitley]

I totally agree with that last post about the original EXORCIST. When it was re-released a few years ago, I went to see it. And during certain parts of the film, such as the crucifix sequence, you could hear a pin drop in the theater, not to mention that nobody was laughing.

But also, before anybody points fingers at either side, let's remember that this is another classic case of "He Said, She Said". Not saying who's right or wrong, but everybody is going to give their side of the story. Will we ever know the truth? Do we want to know? I remember William Friedkin stating years ago that they never filmed the spiderwalking sequence. Of course we know that now to be false.

And wasn't the writer or any of the producers watching what Schraeder was doing all of that time? I kind of find it hard to believe that, especially nowadays, that the producers aren't up the director's ass making sure the film is what they want. Then again, what do I know...I just run a horror website.

I guess the reason for my rant here is that the one that is going to hurt the worse is the film. When another director steps in to try and re-assemble this apparent mess, just what is it going to look like? And if it fails at the box office, who's going to get the blame? Schraeder? The new director?