Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist

Alexandre O. Philippe's 2019 documentary is one person talking: William Friedkin recounts The Exorcist from beginning to end. There are no other interviews and no commentators; the camera stays on him as he works through the film scene by scene and decision by decision. What is discussed is less technical detail than the reason for each choice: why that frame, why that sound, why that cut. Friedkin also talks about his own relationship to belief, his thoughts on fate, and the coincidences he encountered while making it, which is where the title comes from. Philippe had already made essay documentaries built around a single film, and this is the most direct of them. It means little to anyone who has not seen the film; to anyone who has, it is close to a commentary track. Who it's for: people who know The Exorcist and enjoy directors' commentary. Who it's not for: anyone wanting a critical assessment of the film; the person recounting and the person defending are the same.