DEVIL IN THE DETAIL
Real story behind The Devil and Father Amorth documentary as terrifying exorcism footage revealed
The real-life 'Vatican Exorcist' sheds new light on the expulsion of demons
A TERRIFYING exorcism captured in a documentary by The Exorcist director has left the film-maker and doctors confounded.
Forty-five years after his 1973 cult film, director William Friedkin admits that he never thought he'd see an "authentic" exorcism in his life.
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But as a hair-raising documentary out today reveals, a real-life ";Vatican Exorcist" has shed new light on the Catholic Church practice of expelling demons.
Friedkin, now 82, says frankly he had "no idea what to expect" when he made The Devil and Father Amorth in Italy.
The US director was given a rare chance to film an actual exorcism with Father Gabriele Amorth, on the condition that he filmed alone and without a crew.
The documentary shows Father Amorth performing an exorcism on a woman called Cristina, who screams in agony.
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He is shown sprinkling Holy Water and begins reciting verses in Italian and Latin before Cristina suddenly shakes and roars.
Incredible footage shows the "demon" yelling: "I am Satan" and asking the priest to leave.
But he continues to pray, asking: "How many demons are inside you?" he asks.
"89!" she replies. The struggle continues until Amorth wins and Cristina appears to smile in relief.
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The footage had baffled medics, Friedkin revealed at the Venice Film Festival premiere.
He told fans: "I later consulted with neurologists, brain surgeons, some of the best in the United States.
"The brain surgeons had no idea what her affliction was and none of them would recommend an operation.
"They believe that everything originates in the brain but – and they say this in the film – they have never seen anything quite like these symptoms."
He added: "Then the psychiatrists... all described how psychiatry now recognises demonic possession.
"It's called dissociative identity disorder/demonic possession.
"They do whatever psychiatric treatment they think is necessary, including medication. And they bring an exorcist in."
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Friedkin himself said the experience with Father Amorth, who has died since the documentary was filmed, has amazed him.
"I have seen things that have astonished me, the voodoo in Jamaica, certain ceremonies in South America.
"I never thought there would be anything authentic in the exorcism until I saw it."
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