Variety reports that Friedkin’s death was confirmed by Chapman University dean Stephen Galloway. He was friends with Friedkin’s wife, Sherry Lansing.
Friedkin often utilised his experience in working in television and documentaries to bring his films to life. His 1971 film The French Connection won several Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and actor Gene Hackman also won for Best Actor.
But it was The Exorcist that solidified Friedkin’s place in film history. No other horror film has left such a lasting impression on a film genre. Still, to this day, The Exorcist is described as one of the most terrifying horror films.
Director William Friedkin attends the La Lecon De Cinema: William Friedkin photocall at the annual 69th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Even we did it. Our writer James Harvey compared Talk To Me to The Exorcist in his review, calling the former “The best possession movie since The Exorcist”.
The Exorcist was a huge hit worldwide, but Friedkin’s latest efforts proved lacklustre, both with critics and at the box office. 1977’s Sorcerer, a remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s The Wages of Fear, went unnoticed during its time of release, but has since gained a cult following.
Friedkin, an unpredictable, exciting director, would return to horror in 2006, after decades of middling thrillers. Bug premiered at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival and received mildly positive reviews, but his 2011 crime film Killer Joe brought Friedkin back to the big leagues.
Matthew McConaughey starred in Killer Joe and had a particularly memorable, if disturbing scene featuring fried chicken.
The Exorcist remains a stone-cold horror classic. Credit: Warner Bros.
IMDB lists one upcoming film for Friedkin. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, starring Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Clarke, is listed as completed but it’s currently unclear when, or if, the film is getting a release date.
Friedkin was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 29, 1935. He had hopes of becoming a basketball player, but ultimately chose journalism as his career before his love of films, and especially Citizen Kane, brought him to filmmaking.
Friedkin’s work was influenced by filmmakers such as Jean-Luc Godard, Federico Fellini, François Truffaut, and Akira Kurosawa. Their influence is blatantly clear in Friedkin’s stylistic choices, especially the editing of his films.
The Exorcist is due a sequel this year, with Ellen Burstyn returning to her role as Chris McNeil.
