This Friday, Vertical will release the supernatural shocker The Exorcism, directed by Joshua John Miller (The Mao Game) and starring Academy Award®-winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator, The Pope’s Exorcist).
With decades of genre film experience and an iconic family pedigree, Miller brings a confident directorial touch to his second feature. His father, Jason Miller, famously portrayed Father Damien Karras in The Exorcist, while his mother, Susan Bernard, was a renowned “Scream Queen.” Prior to directing, Miller himself had an accomplished career as an actor, producer, and writer, including a lead role in Kathryn Bigelow’s cult classic vampire film Near Dark.
Directed by Miller, from a script he wrote with M.A. Fortin – the creators of the hit series “Queen of The South” and the writers and producers of The Final Girls – The Exorcism follows troubled actor Anthony Miller (Crowe) as he spirals out of control while filming a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins of the Fear Street trilogy) suspects he may be relapsing into addiction, but there could be a more sinister force at work.
Starring alongside Crowe and Simpkins are Sam Worthington (Avatar: The Way of Water, Fractured), Chloe Bailey (Praise This), Adam Goldberg (“The Equalizer,” “Fargo”), Samantha Mathis (“The Strain,” The Punisher), Adrian Pasdar (Home Movie, “Heroes”) and David Hyde Pierce (“Frasier,” “Julia”).
Ahead of the film’s June 21st theater release, CinemaChords’ Ashley Northey interviewed Adam Goldberg, Joshua John Miller, and M.A. Fortin. Despite initial hesitation to tackle an exorcism movie, the filmmakers explained why they seized this opportunity and what unique elements they felt they could bring to update the possession movie formula.
