“Masterful and thoroughly researched … An incredible work of film analysis, examining cultural context and interspersing personal history, that makes a great read for movie, horror, and pop-culture fans. Highly recommended for libraries with media analysis collections.” —Meghan Bouffard, Library Journal (starred review) “The sharp analysis offers novel and convincing perspectives on the horror classic, and Williams’s personal meditations are affecting. This is scary good.” —Publishers Weekly “I devoured this book—its intense cultural analysis, its candid personal history, and its philosophical inquiry—like a woman possessed. Gutsy and deeply researched, Night Mother is a keen investigation of American cinema, American girlhood, and American fear.” —Elena Passarello, author of Let Me Clear My Throat and Animals Strike Curious Poses Never watch The Exorcist, Marlena Williams’s mother told her, just as she’d been told by her own mother as a Catholic teen in rural Oregon when the horror classic premiered. And like her mother, Mary, Williams watched it anyway. An inheritance passed from mother to daughter, The Exorcist looms large—in popular culture and in Williams’s own life, years after Mary’s illness and death. In Night Mother, Williams investigates the film not only as a projection of Americans’ worst fears in the tumultuous 1970s and a source of enduring tropes around girlhood, faith, and transgression but also as a key to understanding her mother and the world she came from. The essays in Night Mother delve beneath the surface of The Exorcist to reveal the deeper stories the film tells about faith, family, illness, anger, guilt, desire, and death. Whether tracing the career of its young star, Linda Blair, unpacking its most infamous scenes, exploring its problematic depictions of gender and race, or reflecting on the horror of growing up female in America, Williams deftly blends bold personal narrative with shrewd cultural criticism. Night Mother offers fresh insights for both fans of the film and newcomers alike. “Williams’s multigenerational personal narrative of viewer responses to The Exorcist takes her analysis beyond anything readily paraphrased. Read it for yourself.” —Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed “Night Mother … successfully weav[es] a first-person narrative with broader film criticism. Just as the film turns 50, horror fans should enjoy this book for its personal touch and thorough research.” —Brian Fanelli, Hippocampus Magazine “A mesmerizing mix of cinematic, cultural, and personal history … Night Mother—an unorthodox love letter in which Williams attempts to exorcise her own demons—is a powerful reckoning.” —Peggy Kurkowski, Marlena Williams is a writer from Portland, Oregon. Her work has been published in the Yale Review, Literary Hub, Electric Literature, Catapult, and elsewhere. She is a graduate of the MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. For the last several years, the Catholic Church has noted an alarming increase in the number of exorcisms performed. And for some of the most disturbing and vicious cases of possession, one priest is often summoned. With almost two decades in ministry, renowned priest Father Carlos Martins has encountered evil in nearly every way imaginable. From Ouija boards and curses to witches and demonic pacts, Father Martins has battled the ancient serpent in many forms. The Exorcist Files are his stories.  For the last several years, the Catholic Church has noted an alarming increase in the number of exorcisms performed. And for some of the most disturbing and vicious cases of possession, one priest is often summoned. With almost two decades in ministry, renowned priest Father Carlos Martins has encountered evil in nearly every way imaginable. From Ouija boards and curses to witches and demonic pacts, Father Martins has battled the ancient serpent in many forms. The Exorcist Files are his stories.
Customer ReviewsDon’t listen before bedI was not expecting the high value production exhibited here. The actors are great and believeable as humans. And Fr Carlos’s narration and explanation is helpful and paced well to keep you hooked. He seems far too chill for the drama happening. This is why he’s an excoriated and I’m not. I don’t normally go for horror/true crime but this is worth making an exception. *spoilers* just about every story has a good ending. That helps ease the lingering creep factor. WowVery well made and really entertaining. Highly recommendedthis was recommended by a friend. I listened to all the episodes in few days. Very fascinating and interesting to hear first person encounter with the demon. |
