Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on 'The Exorcist'
Viewers’ enjoyment of director Alexandre O. Phillipe’s latest documentary, Leap of Faith, hinges on how much they appreciate the 1973 horror classic, The Exorcist, and how willing they are to listen to its iconic, eccentric director, William Friedkin.
Unlike the innovative film it explores, Leap of Faith is about as straightforward a documentary as you can get. For just shy of two hours, the cinematic mastermind behind The French Connection, Sorcerer, To Live and Die in L.A., and other notable films sits in front of the camera and goes through personal anecdotes, his love of classical art, and how it all relates to his most iconic feature. As a massive fan of The Exorcist, many of the behind-the-scenes stories and “revelations” of the film’s themes were not all that new to me, but I’m confident they’ll prove interesting for those less initiated. Plus, the now 85-year-old director’s fiery passion is charming no matter how well-versed one is in Exorcist lore.
Indeed, what works best about Leap of Faith is its exploration of Friedkin himself. Now in the twilight of his life, the filmmaker seems much more reflective and grateful than he was in his early directing days, ones that consisted of him slapping a priest or shooting a shotgun just off camera to frighten his actors. With awe-inspiring eloquence, Friedkin recalls moments from his past that led to his love of film. He also draws significant attention to his lifelong friendship with the late author and screenwriter of The Exorcist, William Peter Blatty, which is bound to put a smile on any fan’s face.
The weakest element of Leap of Faith, however, is how unfocused it can occasionally feel — primarily a symptom of Friedkin’s penchant for rambling. The legendary filmmaker sometimes falls into the trap of jumping from topic to topic with no real flow, as well as relegating to beat-for-beat explanation of what happens in The Exorcist rather than offering new insights on certain sequences. While this shortcoming is merely a symptom of Friedkin being completely unfiltered throughout the course of the documentary, I can’t help but think that a more forthright director and some more skilled editing could have given the piece some semblance of structure.
Leap of Faith might only be appealing to a extremely niche audience, but if you’re a fan of The Exorcist, you’ll want to check it out. Its lack of focus and new information can be frustrating at times, but Phillipe has given Friedkin an impressive platform (and one much stronger than the abysmal Friedkin-directed The Devil and Father Amorth) to speak about the impact of the iconic thriller on his own personal and creative life. It’s a vulnerable look at a once hardened and edgy filmmaker, and it's one that could wind up being a fitting swan song.
Grade: B. Not rated, but with adult language and themes, and violence. Available to stream via Shudder
(Photo: Shudder)
