The director died in Los Angeles, said his wife, former producer and studio head Sherry Lansing.
Friedkin was one of the most admired directors of the wave of genius filmmakers who emerged in the 1970s and became famous for provocative, individualistic and anti-authoritarian films, writes The Hollywood Reporter. Already at the beginning of his career in documentary production for television (for example, the prized People vs. Paul Crump), the native of Chicago demonstrated an extraordinary talent for evocative cinematic expression, with which he was able to appeal to a wide audience and critics.
Friedkin made his mark in film history by redefining the crime and horror genres. The French couple, starring Gene Hackman, and The Exorcist combined for seven Oscars and the same number of Golden Globes; their influence on the work of a number of creators is widely known. His controversial take on New York’s sadomasochistic subculture On the Hunt (1980) is considered one of the most original thrillers of the 1980s, while the action drama To Live and Die in LA was a critical success. In later years, he attracted attention with the horror thriller Beetle (2006) or the black comedy Killer Joe (2011).
“My films have always been a study of human behavior in its extreme forms,” Friedkin said in an interview in 2012. “They’re not for young people, they’re for adults. Is there a line I shouldn’t cross? … I don’t know,” he added.
2023-08-07 18:37:32
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