The Exorcist Effect is a fascinating historical study of the ongoing relationship between horror movies and Western religious culture, with a focus on the period from 1968 to the modern day. Taking its name from the 1973 film The Exorcist, which was widely understood to be based on a true story, this book outlines a cycle in which religious beliefs and practices become the basis of films that in turn inspire religious beliefs, practices, and experiences in response. Authors Joseph P. Laycock and Eric Harrelson draw heavily from archival research to shed new light on the details of this phenomenon, in addition to incorporating interviews with horror authors, film writers, and paranormal investigators. Drawing on psychology, sociology, and folklore studies, Laycock and Harrelson theorize how film informs religious experience and shapes religious culture. The Exorcist Effect examines the production and reception of Rosemary's Baby (1968), The Exorcist (1973), and The Omen (1976) as seminal films in the genre; figures as Malachi Martin as well as Ed and Lorraine Warren, who inserted themselves directly into the spotlight, and the horror films that influenced and were inspired by their careers; and areas of culture where the influence of this cycle was most apparent-the Satanic Panic, religious exorcisms, and moral panic over heavy metal and the messages it was purported to spread. The final chapter considers the QAnon conspiracy theory and its numerous allusions to film as a contemporary manifestation of "The Exorcist effect." Ultimately, The Exorcist Effect is a deftly researched and compelling volume that is sure to interest horror buffs, religious scholars, and historians alike.

About the Author
Joseph P. Laycock is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University and co-general editor for the journal Nova Religio. He is the author of several books that explore new religious movements, possession and exorcism, and moral panic. Eric Harrelson is the Preservation Librarian at Miami University of Ohio. Harrelson has been a film festival programmer and lecturer for Other Worlds Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Harrelson has written on film studies and religious studies for The World Religions and Spirituality Project and Religion Dispatches.

Reviews
In The Exorcist Effect, Joseph Laycock and Eric Harrelson demonstrate how horror's fake blood seeps through the screen to stain our cultural and religious beliefs and habits. By combining film theory with religious history and cultural currents, readers find ways cinema is deeply imbricated with conspiracy theories, xenophobia, religious faith, racism, and our legal system. * S. Brent Rodriguez-Plate, Author of Religion and Film: Cinema and the Re-Creation of the World *
This book rocks! A brilliantly researched exploration of the strange entanglements of religion and horror packed with cultural insights, nail-sharp arguments, and deep dives into the all-too-human angels and demons we meet along the way. As a longtime fan of The Exorcist, I was fascinated from page one. As a professional filmmaker, I can honestly say this book has impacted my very approach to the wonderfully dark art of horror cinema. * Owen Egerton, Novelist and director of Mercy Black *
An excellent book, well thought-out and well presented, and takes seriously the power of popular culture in shaping the culture of religion in late modern society. It could serve as a model for other scholars to consider that relationship more carefully than has too often been the case to this point. * Douglas E Cowan, Professor of Religious Studies and Social Development Studies, Renison University College, University of Waterloo *
With The Exorcist Effect, Joseph Laycock continues his forensic analyses of the intersection of Catholic practices and American media and popular culture. Here we find an intriguing investigation into the cultural developments that inspire the thriving practice of exorcism in North America. Countering the intuitive assumption that the rising demand for exorcists correlates to a rise in weird phenomena, Laycock and Harrelson trace the effects that media like The Exorcist have on perceptions and practices related to demonic possession. This is an engaging and enjoyable book for anyone interested in Catholicism, the supernatural, and religion. Laycock continues the work he has become known for-delivering top scholarship that is cutting edge and frankly, hard to put down. Highly recommended! * Diana Pasulka, Author of American Cosmic *



Book Information
ISBN 9780197635391
Author Joseph P. Laycock
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc