The Making of Exorcist II: The Heretic

If you count yourself among the elite group of people who actually love the troubled 1977 sequel to "The Exorcist," James-Earl-Jones-in-giant-insect-costume and all (Martin Scorcese, I'm talking to you...and myself), or if you're just a sucker for all things SOBIG, this book offers the unique opportunity to ambulance-chase the troubled production of one of cinema's better-known turkeys. Written competently enough by Barbara Pallenberg, wife of "Heretic" "creative associate" Rospo Pallenberg, the book is a puff piece first and foremost, but is not without its interesting production anecdotes (much fun had at the expense of innocent packing peanuts, for one), and despite intentions to the contrary, the spectre of failure to come looms palpably, creepily, between the lines.