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William Friedkin

Director
Forfilm fans interested in new hollywood, hard-boiled crime cinema, horror classics, and controversial thrillers
12 Reviews 9 Definitions 46 Charts
Drama Thriller Crime

The Profile

William Friedkin (1935–2023) was an American film director associated with the New Hollywood era, widely known for directing The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973).

Publicly known for winning the Academy Award for Best Director for The French Connection and for helming the landmark horror film The Exorcist; his work is frequently characterized by gritty realism and intense, often controversial subject matter.

Across 11 reviews, Friedkin is praised for hard-edged realism, tense pacing, and technically assured direction—especially in The French Connection and To Live and Die in L.A. The Exorcist remains divisive: hailed for direction and atmosphere by some, dismissed as overrated by others. Cruising is discussed as a complex, anxiety-soaked thriller shaped by controversy and raw imagery. Killer Joe is framed as late-career proof of his punchy, uncompromising style.

Notable Quotes

❝ Suck on this chicken.
❝ What hasn’t aged is the solid direction (I mean, we’re talking about Friedkin...)
❝ In conclusion, an excellent gem of the thriller genre and GLBTG-themed cinema, as well as another milestone in W. Friedkin's filmography, often, unfortunately, remembered only for his contribution to the horror genre.
❝ William Friedkin is another name of the Hollywood "new wave" who managed to etch into the history of cinema two of the most important titles of the '70s: "The French Connection" (1971) and "The Exorcist" (1973).
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