Linda in peril

As a result of the movie's subject matter, several religious zealots targeted Linda Blair who they believed was glorifying the Devil through her performance as the possessed Regan.

These criticisms eventually turned into death threats, and Warner Bros. eventually hired bodyguards to protect the young actress.

Reflecting on the controversy surrounding 'The Exorcist' years later, Blair admitted the film "was so controversial".

She added: "Of course I am at the very pinnacle of all of that, so it all became my fault."