Directed by Joshua John Miller’s ‘The Exorcism’ chronicles an aged actor portraying an exorcist priest in a horror show, who becomes increasingly aware of a malevolent spirit infiltrating his life. Anthony Miller, an actor with a tumultuous history, collaborates with his estranged daughter, Lee, on a horror film.
The film necessitates his portrayal of a priest conducting an exorcism, while the team appears tense as they commence summoning demonic beings for authenticity and dramatic effect. Their efforts are disrupted as malicious entities commence to terrorize the film sets, apparently possessing Anthony.
The film’s distinctive premise ignites interest about the basis for the horror genre and the familiarity of its subject matter.
The Exorcism is Influenced by Joshua John Miller’s Father and the Exorcist
The story of ‘The Exorcism’ evidently exhibits multiple parallels with the horror classic, ‘The Exorcist,’ as the meta dialogue implies that its protagonists are endeavoring to recreate the original. The director in the film alludes to malevolent occurrences occurring on the sets of renowned horror flicks.
The link between ‘The Exorcism’ and ‘The Exorcist’ is established through co-writer and director Joshua John Miller, whose father, Jason Miller, portrayed Father Karras in the original film. During his childhood, Joshua Miller often listened to his father’s anecdotes of his experiences on the set of ‘The Exorcist’ and the alleged supernatural events that transpired during its production.
The 1973 film, adapted from a novel detailing a genuine exorcism conducted by Father William Bowdern on a 14-year-old child in Cottage City, Maryland, had eerie occurrences during its shooting. Issues commenced during pre-production when an inexplicable fire erupted in the MacNeil residence, inflicting significant damage to the property, with the exception of Regan’s bedroom.
Following the reconstruction of the set over six weeks, coinciding with the commencement of filming, actor Max von Sydow (Father Lankester Merrin) was informed of his brother’s demise and subsequently withdrew from the project.
Actor Jack MacGowan, who is slain by the demon in the film, tragically passed away shortly after the completion of production. Comparable events are illustrated in ‘The Exorcism.’
The Millers’ Struggle With Their Inner Issues
The protagonist of ‘The Exorcism’ coincidentally bears the director’s surname. Anthony Miller is loosely inspired on Jason Miller, as both are actors portraying a priest in an exorcism film. The parallels are profound, as the genuine actor’s battle with addiction is mirrored in Anthony.
“It is reasonable to assert that much of it was influenced by my father, an actor who appeared in ‘The Exorcist’ and battled addiction, thus providing substantial inspiration,” responded Joshua Miller when inquired about the story’s origins.
“Additionally, I candidly acknowledge my personal struggles with similar issues: involvement in the film industry, my own addictions, and my metaphorical demons.”
The filmmaker stated that numerous personal struggles of his father contributed to his demise from a heart attack at the age of 62 in 2001. Viewed through this meta lens, it is evident that the character of Anthony Miller is fashioned in the likeness of Jason Miller, acting as the principal and profoundly personal source of inspiration.
The director intentionally incorporated Anthony’s possession into the picture to alter the conventional gender link with demonic possessions.
Challenging Assumptions About Religion and Sexuality
A primary impetus for the director in developing the film’s subplots was the portrayal of the church in horror cinema and the absence of queer representation within the genre. Joshua Miller has experienced both the beauty and grace of religion, as well as its weaponization.
He believes that the Catholic Church possesses an impeccable reputation regarding the exorcism sub-genre and aimed to undermine such expectations. This was partially accomplished due to Anthony’s history of sexual assault and his ensuing lack of faith, which seemed to render him susceptible to demonic influence.
Simultaneously, Joshua Miller observed the notable absence of queer individuals within the subgenre. Consequently, he introduced the character of Lee as a lesbian teenager, while openly queer actor David Hyde Pierce was cast as Father Conor.
Lee serves as the medium for the critique of sexuality and the shortcomings of the Catholic Church. She observes that certain prayers are monarchal and patriarchal, while her father’s faith diminishes due to his history of sexual molestation by a priest.
‘The Exorcism’ serves as a deeply personal film that embodies filmmaker Joshua John Miller’s influences from ‘The Exorcist,’ his historical struggles, and his current ethical convictions.
Connect with the strange story of The Exorcism to understand its connections to The Exorcist, personal conflicts, and daring criticism of faith and representation. Look into the distinctly original interpretation of horror cinema—visit our website for an extensive look!