From The Archives: Paul Schrader – Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist0

by Daniel Robert Epstein

“My goal when I came to this film was to stay as far away from Friedkin and Friedkin’’s Exorcist as possible.”
– Paul Schrader

Even though Paul Schrader came up in the ’70’s with filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola, due to his not being allowed to see a film until he was well into his teens, he is not considered one of their generation of “movie brats.” That outsider status has allowed him to create his own niche in directing with such films as Light Sleeper, Affliction and American Gigolo.

Over the years Schrader has flirted with the mainstream mostly with screenplays such as Raging Bull and The Mosquito Coast. After the critical success of Auto Focus, Schrader decided to again work within the studio system and direct Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist. It’s a wild film that tackles many of Schrader’’s prominent themes such as religion, violence and death.

Read our exclusive interview with Paul Schrader on SuicideGirls.com.