PopHorror Let's Get Scared
If you were to ask any number of filmmakers what their favorite scary movie is, I guarantee that several of them will answer with The Exorcist. William Peter Blatty penned a fascinating tale of the demonic possession of a young girl, piquing the interest of friend and director William Friedkin. Together they would team up to create the feature adaptation of The Exorcist – a towering example of impeccable filmmaking that blends horror, drama, and suspense in a way moviegoers had never experienced prior to December 26th, 1973. It literally changed the way both audiences and critics viewed the genre, cementing it as one of the greatest pieces of motion picture history. But William Friedkin was no one-hit wonder, folks. Even before The Exorcist stunned moviegoers worldwide, two years earlier in 1971, he delivered The French Connection – a cinephile’s eternal pride and joy. Friedkin would go on to traverse the moviemaking map for over five decades, crafting cinematic pleasures that were everything from horror mainstays to gritty crime stories to a sports drama and even a documentary.
Never compromising, always maintaining his outspoken positions, and at times taking aggressive measures to achieve what was needed to make a scene work, William Friedkin could be labeled as problematic, but one thing is for certain, the man is a freaking legend.
Below, we have a few of us on the PopHorror team who wished to salute the influential filmmaker – who passed away August 7, 2023 – sharing why we admire the man and the movies that made us fans.
THE EXORCIST (1973) By Kenn Hoekstra
I love so many of William Friedkin’s films, from The French Connection to Bug, but I can’t say enough about how much The Exorcist (1973) shaped and influenced my lifelong love of horror. I saw it when I was entirely too young, and that terrifying experience is locked in my brain as a core memory. I watch it at least once a year and I still marvel at how well it holds up, 50 years later. I expect there will be 50th-anniversary screenings in the fall, and it usually pops up in theaters for the Halloween season. If you get the chance to catch it in a theater, I highly recommend it.
Must See Friedkin By Jennifer Bonges
William Friedkin, without question, is one of the best directors of our time. Of course, his most renowned film is 1973’s The Exorcist. The Exorcist is one of my favorite horror films, without question. But he has other films that, in my opinion, are not only underrated but ones you probably didn’t know were directed by William Friedkin.
The Hunted is a 2003 tense action thriller starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro. The lead actors are powerful, and the story has vibes of both Rambo and The Fugitive.
A definite surprise not a lot of people know about William Friedkin is he directed the 1994 basketball film, Blue Chips. Blue Chips stars NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Nolte, and to me, is an underrated sports film that is worth a watch.
2006’s underrated gem, Bug, stars Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon. It is a compelling and disturbing psychological thriller, with many tense and claustrophobic scenes.
William Friedkin left his mark in the film world, giving us his own style of entertaining genre fare. I believe he sums up best with his quote:
“Style is something that’s extremely important, but it must grow naturally out of who and what you are and what the material calls for. It cannot be superimposed.”
Rest in Peace William Friedkin. Thank you for giving us such great treasures.
CRUISING (1980) By Danni Winn
Brave is a word I would use to describe William Friedkin. Not many directors would take on the subject matter involved in Cruising, especially for the time, but then again, we’re talking about the same filmmaker who a decade prior made The Boys in the Band (a drama about coming out). Cruising, based on the 1970 novel written by New York Times reporter Gerald Walker, follows the serial murders of men in a secretive gay circle. The novel is not for your average reader. And when William Friedkin gets his hands on the opportunity to direct a feature focusing on the themes found in the book, he returns the favor.
The 1980s were not a kind era for queer individuals. With the AIDS epidemic beginning to sink its claws into the country causing panic, misinformation, and further fueling the established bigotry in American culture, the queer community – namely gay men – were the target of a massive uptick in murders and assaults. The production of Cruising created a stir in the gay community, mainly out of fear that the film would instigate further violence. Protests were conducted outside filming locations – often actual gay clubs – with members of the same community hurling insults and threats toward the production. Protecting the filming was not only security, but another assemblage of the queer dynamic – folks that were willing to have Hollywood infiltrate their ranks to assist in sharing their stories.
William Friedkin doesn’t handle the topics explored in Cruising with kid gloves one bit, either. Award-winning actor Al Pacino (Scarface, The Godfather, Heat), who portrays newly undercover cop Steve Burns, is set on a collision course with not only himself but with a cunning and deranged killer. Pacino seemingly sinks himself into this role (a gig he wholeheartedly sought out, by the way) successfully conveying a young officer being eaten alive by professional and personal obligations while simultaneously battling issues of sexuality and trust. Demons and duty both drive him into the underbelly of New York City’s infamous leather clubs, which are set as the dangerous yet alluring backdrop. Cruising is dark, brooding, and gritty – it’s a beast of a film, and in my opinion, one of Friedkin’s best.
TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985) By Christine Burnham
My favorite William Friedkin film features one of the best car chase scenes of all time: To Live and Die in L.A. A talented cast, glossy noir lighting, and a kinetic, booming soundtrack make this one of the great cop films of the 80s. The car chase the wrong way down the L.A. Freeway is insane – and certainly inspired chase scenes in other films like Ronin. If To Live and Die in L.A. slipped past you, track it down!
