Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" theme for THE EXORCIST is understandably iconic, highlighting that film's slow burn terror with a relentless, driving eeriness. However, it wasn't the original music written to underscore the classic horror flick.
Initially, Mission: Impossible theme composer Lalo Schifrin was set to provide the score, but his recordings were rejected by director William Friedkin. In typical Friedkin manner, he went so far as to toss the original tracks right out the window. Eventually, the film ended up finding a perfect match, but Schifrin's compositions were hardly worth tossing in the garbage.
A recording has surfaced, so you can now listen to the fabled first draft of the EXORCIST theme, which hits the shrill strings even harder than Bernard Hermann's score for PSYCHO. Check it out below!
In other EXORCIST news, that TV series you've been having nightmares about is actually moving forward.
Penned by FANTASTIC FOUR co-writer Jeremy Slater, THE EXORCIST revolves around…
two very different men tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession and confronting the face of true evil.
The series will be produced by 20th Century Fox Television, in association with Morgan Creek Productions.