A Look Back at Bob Logan's 'L'Exorciste en folie' (1990)

The horror parody genre has a rich history that predates the infamous Scary Movie series. Among the notable entries is L'Exorciste en folie, a film that blends the classic horror of William Friedkin's The Exorcist with the slapstick comedy style popularized by Leslie Nielsen. Released in 1990, this film stands as a curious artifact of early '90s cinema, despite its mixed reception.

A Late Entry in Horror Parody

Parody has long been a staple in film, particularly within the horror genre, which has seen its fair share of satirical takes. This trend began well before Scary Movie hit theaters in 2000. The comedic duo Abbott and Costello ventured into horror with Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein in 1948. However, the genre truly gained traction in the 1970s with Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, coinciding with the rise of slasher films. Notable parodies such as Saturday the 14th and Student Bodies emerged in 1981, followed by Wacko in 1982.

Unfortunately, L'Exorciste en folie arrived a bit late to the party. While it attempts to parody a film that was nearly two decades old by 1990, the original The Exorcist had already established itself as a classic. Leslie Nielsen, who starred in the film, was also beginning to show signs of becoming outdated after a decade of comedic success. The film's box office performance reflected this disconnect, failing to achieve the anticipated success despite a significant marketing push in the United States.

The Creative Team Behind the Film

Bob Logan, who directed and produced L'Exorciste en folie, drew inspiration from the absurd and pop-culture-driven style of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, known collectively as the ZAZ trio. This approach resonated well with video rental audiences, who were drawn to familiar references. The VHS cover art, which closely mimicked the poster for Police Squad!, another ZAZ film featuring Nielsen, was designed to appeal to this demographic.

In a notable casting choice, Linda Blair reprised her iconic role as the possessed child, seventeen years after her performance in The Exorcist. Having transitioned into B-movie territory, Blair's involvement added a layer of intrigue for video rental customers. The film was released exclusively on video in France and later reissued under the title Y a-t-il un exorciste pour sauver le monde? to capitalize on Nielsen's star power.

A Quirky Curiosity

While L'Exorciste en folie has not achieved cult classic status, it has garnered a reputation as an odd family comedy. The film's blend of Nielsen's comedic style with horror elements creates a dissonance that is further amplified by the subpar makeup effects on Blair. Though some jokes land effectively, Logan struggles to maintain the comedic timing that the ZAZ team mastered, resulting in a flat rhythm and a storyline that drags despite the film's brief runtime. The script's reliance on absurdity leads to a series of inconsistencies.

Nevertheless, L'Exorciste en folie remains memorable for its audacity and opportunism, particularly in its critique of the television media landscape of the time. The film features a caricature of the famous televangelist couple Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, who were known for their extravagant style and desire for viewership. The concept of an exorcism being broadcast as a spectacle, complete with sponsorship from various brands, is both strange and entertaining. Despite its incoherence, Logan's film stands out as a charming oddity, one that evokes nostalgia for those who remember it fondly.