The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

(pb; 1971: prequel to Legion) 

Caveat: possible spoilers in this review. 

Rhythmic tappings are heard in actress Chris MacNeil's Washington D.C. house, at first in the attic, later in different locations. A short while later, Chris's twelve-year-old daughter, sweet-natured Regan, begins acting rebellious and verbally abusive as if she were another person. (None of the many medical and psychiatric "specialists" who examine Regan can figure out what's wrong with her.) Then Burke Dennings, Chris's current, raconteur-when-drunk film director, is found dead at the bottom of the steep steps leading up to Chris's house, a direct fall from Regan's window. It seems Burke died when his head was turned all the way around -- backwards -- on his body, then flung onto the steps: the steps couldn't have done that sort of damage... 

Enter kind, middle-aged, garrulous, cinema-loving Lieutenant William F. Kinderman, who's investigating Burke's murder, but only knows that Regan is bed-ridden and "sick," and Damien Karras, a middle-aged psychiatrist-priest who's wracked by doubts regarding his dual professions and grieving for his recently-deceased mother. Karras has been hired to try and help Regan. When she shows signs possibly indicating demonic possession (speaking in foreign tongues, telekinetic ability, wallowing in her own filth, verbal and physical abuse of those around her), Karras calls on an additional person to help them. 

Enter Lankester Merrin, an old priest who once, in his younger years, exorcised the demon (Pazuzu) who has taken over Regan. 

Exorcist is a compelling, intricate and landmark novel. Blatty's writing is thick with facts and potentially miasmic ruminations, leavened with often-drark wit, ever-present humanity and hope. The characters are distinctive and memorable, the book's scenes of bodily waste and shocking blasphemy equally so. This is one of my all-time favorite horror novels. Followed by Legion.

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The film version was released stateside on December 26, 1973. William Friedkin directed it, from a screenplay by novel-author Blatty.

Linda Blair played Regan. Ellen Burstyn played Chris MacNeil. Kitty Winn played Sharon Spencer. Jack MacGowan played Burke Dennings. 

Lee J. Cobb played Lt. Kinderman. Jason Miller played Father Karras. Max von Sydow played Father Merrin.