Throughout 2023, horror fans across the globe have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the most horrifying films ever made: The Exorcist. Though it first hit theaters on December 26, 1973, the late William Friedkin’s adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s modern horror classic still haunts and delights in equal measure. C’mon, admit it—there are images from this movie that you will never be able to get out of your head. Ever.
While there have been many imitators, no other demonic possession movie has had the same kind of impact as 1973's The Exorcist and its sequels. Now, for the first time in nearly 20 years, there's a new entry in the Exorcist film franchise on the big screen. The Exorcist: Believer, released on October 13, 2023, is a direct sequel to the original film that brings back major legacy characters (looking at you, Chris MacNeil!) and introduces a terrifying new entity.
There may not be any horror movies quite like The Exorcist. But fear not—these audiobooks are sure to satisfy your hunger for thrills and chills.
If you love the movie but have yet to experience The Exorcist as an audiobook, you're in for a real treat. William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist is at its scariest in audio. It's read by the author himself, and the narration is as dark, enthralling, and utterly petrifying as the subject matter. Blatty understands the nuanced horror of his work better than anyone, adding to the intensity and guttural eeriness of his performance. Some of the scenes from this audiobook you will recognize from the iconic film—others will surprise you.
Want to know more about the production of The Exorcist movie? Then give The Exorcist Legacy a listen. In honor of the upcoming 50-year anniversary of the unforgettable film’s release, this audiobook explores the complete history of The Exorcist, from the shocking real exorcism story that inspired the book to the many sequels and spin-offs spawned by the movie. Biographer Nat Segaloff also dissects how the movie became such a cultural phenomenon. This fascinating nonfiction audiobook draws from several original interviews with the cast and crew to unpack the fascinating history of the timeless horror story that continues to haunt us.
A Head Full of Ghosts brings exorcism into the modern age, with smart connections to reality television and online commentary. The Barretts are a seemingly normal suburban family, but when 14-year-old Marjorie begins behaving strangely, their lives take an unexpected turn. The Barretts spend all of their time and money taking Marjorie to specialists to no avail. And the Catholic Church is convinced the true issue with their daughter is demonic possession. So, with nowhere else to turn, the family agrees to become a part of a reality TV program called The Possession.
If you combined The Exorcist with Heathers, you'd get Grady Hendrix's My Best Friend's Exorcism, a hilarious, horrifying, and surprisingly heartfelt story about two friends who stick together through everything—even demonic possession. The year is 1988, and high school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been the best of friends ever since Abby's E.T.-themed birthday at the roller rink back in fourth grade. But lately, Gretchen has been acting strange. Abby is convinced her friend has been possessed by a demon, but no one else will believe her. Abby is determined to save Gretchen's soul, but is friendship enough to prevail over the darkest of forces?
Goddess of Filth is a short, spine-chilling listen that will have you on the edge of your seat. It all begins one hot summer night when best friends Lourdes, Fernanda, Ana, Perla, and Pauline gather together to perform a seance. The girls think it's all in good fun, but weeks later, Fernanda is still behaving in odd ways. The local priest thinks Fernanda has been possessed by a demon, but Lourdes is convinced they awakened something even more sinister weeks ago when they called out to the dead.
The Hunger reimagines one of the most disturbing moments of American history with a supernatural spin. As the Donner party journeys across the American West, hunger overtakes the travelers. And they can't shake the feeling that someone—or something—is following them. As tragedy after tragedy strikes and their numbers dwindle, the survivors start to wonder if some kind of evil force has been driving them to the brink. Or has the evil been inside of them all along?
In horror film and literature, demonic possessions traditionally plague adolescent girls, but Mary demonstrates that terrifying changes can happen to anyone at any point in life. Mary is a middle-aged woman who has spent most of her life going unnoticed, but lately she's been feeling a little, well, different. She can't look into a mirror without passing out, and she keeps hearing strange voices in her head that tell her to do unthinkable things. After she's fired from her job, Mary moves back home to reconnect with her true self and figure out what's wrong with her. Instead, she is assaulted by strikingly disturbing images. Setting out to investigate, Mary uncovers that her experiences mirror those of a notorious serial killer.
The Girl from the Well tells the haunting story of Okiku, the spirit of a young girl who was murdered 300 years ago when she was thrown into a well. Now, her lonely, angry spirit wanders the Earth seeking revenge for other victims of crimes similar to the one that claimed her life. Then she meets Tark, a young boy who is haunted by a malevolent spirit. While Tark is not a monster, the evil lurking inside of him could cause great harm if it is not stopped.
This quick, frightening audiobook is a must-listen for anyone who can’t resist the distinct creeping terror of possession stories. Amanda has a successful job as an architect, a fulfilling marriage, and just about everything she could ask for. So, what's the problem? She's having dark dreams about a beautiful woman with pointy teeth, and she's hearing a voice in her head that tells her to do cruel and dangerous things. A faith healer tells Amanda that she's possessed, but is it really a demon? Or is she just losing her mind?
The Between is an emotional and chilling tale made even more so by the superb narration of Kevin Kenerly. Three decades ago, Hilton's grandmother sacrificed her life to save him from drowning. Now, Hilton is married to the only African American judge in Dade County, Florida. When she starts receiving threatening racist letters, Hilton decides he will stop at nothing to protect his family. But outside forces aren't his only source of distress. Hilton is haunted by disturbing dreams that threaten to pull him back into the darkness he evaded all those years ago.
Victor LaValle's The Changeling was recently adapted into a series on Apple TV+, so there's no better time to listen in. The perfect audiobook for spooky season, this gem features the same kind of dark psychological terror fans of The Exorcist will appreciate. Rare book dealer Apollo Kagwa and his librarian wife Emma have the perfect marriage. So when Emma gives birth to their first child, Apollo is overjoyed. But Emma's feelings are a little more complicated. At first, it seems like she's showing symptoms of postpartum depression, but it quickly becomes obvious that her problems run deeper. When Emma vanishes into thin air, Apollo sets off on a journey through an unsettling and uncanny version of the city he never knew existed.
If you've seen The Exorcist, then you know that demons are difficult to get rid of. But the most difficult demons to exorcise? Those that reside within our subconscious, locked away in traumatic memories. The Only Good Indians follows the story of four Blackfeet Indian men whose lives are changed forever after a hunting trip gone terribly wrong. Years later, the men still haven't forgotten the deeply disturbing events of that day. Neither has the supernatural entity that's following them. And it will stop at nothing until all four men have paid for the crimes of their youth.
