Exorcist Author William Peter Blatty Dead at 89
Horror News Network is sad to announce the death of The Exorcist writer William Peter Blatty. The news was announced today by collaborator and friend William Friedkin on twitter. Friedkin directed the adaptation of Blatty’s novel which was scripted by Blatty himself.
The Exorcist is considered by many experts as the greatest horror film of all time. The supernatural shocker captivated audiences in 1973 and currently sits at number nine on the all-time box office list (when adjusted for inflation). The film not only terrified movie goers, but also inadvertently increased attendance at local churches around the country and the world, putting “the fear of God (or more likely Pazuzu)” into lapsed Catholics everywhere.