Skip to content

Homegrown horror: Washington and ‘The Exorcist’

Political Theater, Episode 304

Georgetown University, seen here in 2020, and its surrounding neighborhood form the backdrop for "The Exorcist," one of the most enduring horror stories of all time.
Georgetown University, seen here in 2020, and its surrounding neighborhood form the backdrop for "The Exorcist," one of the most enduring horror stories of all time. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Washington is a city filled with political animals and history buffs, the seat of U.S. government and a showplace of monuments and museums. It is also the home of one of the most iconic horror stories of all time, “The Exorcist.”

The movie, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, has gotten a re-release just in time for Halloween — a sort of companion piece to a reboot of the franchise, “The Exorcist: Believer.” It all started with a novel by William Peter Blatty, who set the story at his alma mater, Georgetown University, which provided the perfect setting for this tale of faith and horror. Louis Bayard, author of such novels as “The Pale Blue Eye,” “Jackie and Me,” and “The School of Night,” knows a thing or two about “The Exorcist,” writing with Washington as a background — and horror. He joins the Political Theater podcast to talk about “The Exorcist,” D.C., and things that go bump in the night. 

Show Notes:

Recent Stories

NDAA features historic raise for junior enlisted troops

Walberg and Owens bring different experiences to race for House Education chair

Hillraisers and Spam dunks — Congressional Hits and Misses

Federal court dismisses challenge to TikTok ban

Photos of the week ending December 6, 2024

Trump publicly backs embattled DOD pick