41 pages • 1 hour read
William Peter BlattyThe Exorcist
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1971A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty follows Chris MacNeil, an actress whose daughter, Regan, exhibits increasingly disturbing behavior after playing with a Ouija board. Medical and psychiatric interventions fail, leading Chris to seek help from Father Karras, a priest undergoing a crisis of faith. Karras teams up with the experienced exorcist Father Merrin to confront the malevolent force possessing Regan. The novel contains depictions of distressing mental and physical health conditions and disturbing religious imagery.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Reviews of William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist highlight its intense and gripping narrative, which masterfully blends horror with psychological drama. Praised for its strong character development and eerie atmosphere, it has become a classic of the genre. However, some critics find its pacing uneven and the graphic content disturbing. Overall, it's a seminal work that still evokes a powerful reaction.
Who Should Read The Exorcist?
A reader who would enjoy The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty likely appreciates psychological horror, supernatural elements, and intense narratives. Fans of Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin or The Shining by Stephen King will find similar chilling atmospheres and thought-provoking themes in this iconic novel.