The Exorcist – Movies with Meaning Screening and Talk with a Roman Catholic Exorcist

The latest installment of Movies with Meaning will feature a screening of William Friedkin’s classic horror film The Exorcist, preceded by an interview with Father Thomas Hoar, Roman Catholic Priest at Society of St. Edmund, President and CEO of Ender’s Island, and experienced exorcist conducted by award-winning local journalist Peter Laffin (editor, Washington Examiner). They will discuss the reality of the demonic, what happens at real-life exorcisms, and what can be done to prevent and combat manifestations of evil. The event will begin at 7pm with the interview, then a screening of the film followed by a brief audience Q&A. 

One of the most profitable and classic horror movies ever made, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist is the tale of an exorcism based loosely on actual events. When young Regan (Linda Blair) starts acting odd — levitating, speaking in tongues — her worried mother (Ellen Burstyn) seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. A local priest (Jason Miller), however, thinks the girl may be seized by the devil. The priest makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow) to help with the difficult job.