Before The Exorcist movie shocked the world and redefined horror in 1973, there was a true case that few dared to speak of. In this episode, we go beyond the screen to explore the real story that inspired the most iconic exorcism movie ever made.
A young boy in 1949. A Ouija board. A series of unexplained attacks. A team of Jesuit priests in St. Louis battling something they couldn’t explain. This wasn’t fiction—it was a documented case of exorcism that changed how the world viewed evil.
This episode dives deep into the facts, the rituals, and the terrifying events that later became the foundation of The Exorcist 1973 movie. We examine the original case, the media frenzy, the evolution of the story, and how it became one of the most controversial and influential horror films in history.
You’ll also hear about the protection rituals used by exorcists, the psychological toll on those involved, and what this case means for modern spirituality.
If you’ve ever wondered where horror ends and history begins, this is the episode for you.
New episodes every Thursday. Subscribe to EXORCISTA for more stories of supernatural history, mysterious rituals, and hidden truths.
Follow EXORCISTA for More Horror Stories & True Crime Insights. New Episodes Every Thursday!
CREDITS: Screenwriting, Editing, and Post-Production: Victoria Unikel
© 2025 Victoria Unikel. All rights reserved.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!