While The Exorcist has gotten its share of sequels and even a television series, the original is timeless for many reasons. You could even read the film as a dire … Exorcist 2: The Heretic tried to say that Regan has psychic powers and this is how and why Pazuzu possessed her, but considering how bad that sequel is, let’s pretend it never happened. – The Exorcist. Back in the United States, in Washington D.C.'s upscale Georgetown neighborhood, a successful actress named Chris McNeil (Ellen Burstyn) begins experiencing strange phenomena. Later, Pazuzu takes up residence in Regan's house. Or… maybe he’s still out there! She explained to Dread Central that to her, "The Exorcist was a work of fiction. Her behavior simply appears to slowly change over time, so much so, that, in the beginning, you could argue she was simply turning into a teenager (that is until the crucifix stabbing). This element is sort of skimmed over in the movie, which considering it's a film about exorcising the demon is a bit weird. Pazuzu, because he drives away other evil spirits and protects humans from plagues and other misfortunes other than the ones he causes. Admin - 20 August, 2020. Read more: The 30 best Halloween horror movies you can stream on Netflix, Amazon Prime (and more) now. Related: The Exorcist: The Amulet Of Pasuzu's History Explained. I… If so, then what’s so important about that specific statute when there was a massive one out in the open elsewhere this whole time? Rumors surrounded it about disturbing things that had happened on set during filming. All three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) state that Jesus drove out many demons, and that he would … There were reports of audiences getting sick and fainting when they went to see it. Read more: The 25 best horror movies based on true stories. Part of The Exorcist franchise, the series serves as a direct sequel to the original 1973 film and ignores the film's various sequels. Read more: The 10 best found footage horror movies. A whole load of unanswered questions! Can someone explain the ending to me. Jesus the Exorcist: Biblical Accounts. Learn more. If he didn't kill the demon then why is it out of Regan? Original comment and question by OP: I just watched it so I know how both priests die in the end. How did Father Merrin die? In the book, it is confirmed that Regan was possessed through use of a Ouija board. Linda Blair's mother loved The Exorcist script. I'm confused. Simply put, “The Exorcist” is meant to deal with the question of evil. Perhaps Pazuzu was tapping into Regan’s sense of unease about Dennings who she believed might marry her mum, but that still doesn’t explain how it forced him out of the window. Please refresh the page and try again. Doe's family became convinced the boy's aggressive behavior was attributable to demonic possession, and called upon the services of several Catholic priests, including Bowdern, to perform the rite of exorcism. Another major event which we never see on screen is the death of Chris MacNeil’s director friend Burke Dennings. The Exorcist was overwhelmed by controversy when it was released in 1973. Ironically, Linda Blair’s agents never even considered … Alfonso Herrera and Ben Daniels star as a pair of exorcists who investigate cases of demonic possession. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Exorcist” by William Peter Blatty. Later, the statue comes into play during Regan's possession when it conjures the demon Pazuzu. Logically speaking, Merrin succumbed… It’s pretty obvious that his heart gave out as he attempts to exorcise the demon from Regan, but given that we don’t see it happen, I feel like it’s worth mentioning. I didn't realize then that it dealt with anything in reality." Father Merrin uncovers an artifact which looks like a small demonic figurine head and it obviously disturbs him. There is a Ouija board and a mention of an imaginary friend - Captain Howdy - in the film but we never see it in action. The beginning is Merrin realizing he is being called to be an exorcist. William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty's infamous tale of demonic possession made waves with audiences when it premiered in 1973. Next: Exorcist: Why There Are Two Movie Prequels Released A Year Apart. 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Did it somehow convince Dennings to untie it and seized it’s opportunity for bloodshed? Probably not… at least, not directly. The film leaves a lot to interpretation when it comes to Father Merrin's passing. So the 2 priest performed the exorcism, but one priest just died. Read more: Is it just me, or is The Last Exorcism better than The Exorcist? With Halloween fast approaching it’s time to dig out a horror classic - and what better movie to watch this All Hallow’s Eve than The Exorcist? Download The Exorcist Study Guide Subscribe Now Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., film star and recently divorced mother Chris MacNeil has rented a … The Conservative Politics of The Exorcist. One common misconception about The Exorcist is that Regan is actually not possessed by Satan, but another demon called… In his free time, he is a devoted dog dad to a high-spirited rescue pup named Peter Quill and enjoys volunteering with various animal rescue organizations. The beginning of The Exorcist doesn’t start in Georgetown with the MacNeil family, but on an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hatra in Iraq. On the other hand, I’m no possession expert and perhaps the demon has to have a living host to stay in our world and as soon as Karras died he was sent back to wherever (presumable hell?) But why would the demon kill him specifically and no one else? You will receive a verification email shortly. Read more: 15 dark horror movie endings that will chill you to the bone. There was a problem. Surely the demon would have just jumped into the nearest person he could possess once he realised his host was dying - there were certainly plenty around at the time. Strange and catastrophic occurrences surrounded The Exorcist as well, which led many to believe the film itself was cursed. "The Exorcist" is based on a novel of the same name written … The film stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Jason Miller, and Why was that artifact important? He's known for bringing famine during dry seasons and locusts during rainy seasons. This could explain how, when Regan used the Ouija board, though she communicated with multiple demons, Pazuzu was the one to connect. At the time, children being put in harm's way was still somewhat of a taboo for horror films, so seeing a young girl vomiting slime and saying horrific things was certainly not for the faint of heart. Gabriel Amorth, the renowned exorcist in Rome, comes this powerful, eye-opening book on the deadly antics of Satan and his fallen angels, as well as spiritual remedies for each. Although it’s officially seen as a terrible accident by the authorities, Regan’s mum knows she had something to do with it and even tells Father Karras as much. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Thank you for signing up to GamesRadar+. Click the button below to start this article in quick view. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, He takes the amulet with him as he continues his travels, sees a much larger statue of the same figure, and recognizes that it holds some sort of greater significance, though the film doesn't get into much detail about it at the time. It feels veeeeeeeeery convenient to me that forcing the demon into himself and then committing suicide got rid of Pazuzu. He is a lifelong fan of the horror genre, and loves any excuse to discuss genre-related topics, since none of his friends dare challenge him in horror trivia. While that’s pretty disturbing in it’s own right, it’s also quite confusing because the last time we saw Mama Karras she was tied down to a bed in a mental hospital surrounded by people. It’s got everything, demons, priests, projectile vomiting… you know what else it has? Was it just that it never really had the opportunity to kill anyone else in the household? Chris lives with her twelve-year-old daughter Regan (Linda Blair), her personal assistant Sharon (Kitty Wynn), and two housekeepers. The Exorcist is an American supernatural horror television series created by Jeremy Slater for Fox. The Exorcist is a 1973 supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn (Chris MacNeil), Linda Blair ( Regan MacNeil ), Max von Sydow ( Father Lankester Merrin ), and Jason Miller ( Father Damien Karras ). He apparently comes round to see Chris and Sharon leaves him watching over Regan while she nips out to pick up some medicine, but when she returns Dennings is dead on the street below having fallen (or been pushed?) There is a bit more that is occurring as it relates to Merrin’s place in the world as well. And if so, why didn’t it escape into the night and how did it tie itself back up? Read more: The 25 best horror movies to scare you senseless this Halloween. Did digging up his artifact in Iraq unleash him? Though The Exorcist initially made it seem like Regan was possessed by Satan himself, it became canon through the book and other films that the demon was Pazuzu the entire time. One key aspect of The Exorcist’s story is the absent father, on both the literal and spiritual levels. And where did the demon go? The Exorcist, released in 1973, is a supernatural horror film. GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. How did Regan become possessed? However, I am confused about the very end- it seemed like there was some eerie twist implied but that I kind of didn't understand. pills through the film suggesting he’s not in the best of health. We then spend a good deal of time following him on his travels around Iraq until he eventually comes across a much larger statue of the same demon within some ruins. Having said that, the book which the movie is based on goes into more detail and reveals that it is indeed through the Ouija board which the demon comes to possess Regan. The statue reappears later on in the movie during a scene where the possessed Regan is thrashing around on the bed and it’s widely assumed that it’s a depiction of the demon Pazuzu who is possessing her. Part of this is due to the fact that, beyond being incredibly scary, it features rich, demonic lore and tells an incredible story. We’re repeatedly reminded that Regan’s dad is out of the picture. 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RELATED: The Exorcist: The Amulet Of Pazuzu's History, Explained He has also served as a judge for the Ax Wound Film Festival. The beginning of The Exorcist doesn’t start in Georgetown with the MacNeil family, but on an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hatra in Iraq. I guess you could argue that it was really Pazuzu the whole time who did those things, so why would Regan remember? Given that all this happens off-screen it’s just a wild stab in the dark, but I can’t think of any other way to explain it so let’s go with it. And probably made for some interesting therapy sessions…, Read more: 12 Halloween-themed movies to make you laugh, cry, and hide behind the sofa, Best OLED TV 2021 - get the best model for you out of the expanding OLED range, Best QLED TV guide: get one of the brightest and best TVs this year, Astro headset guide: premium audio and sheer quality in headset form. He's considered to be an evil spirit, but also drives away other evil spirits. The Exorcist, which is widely regarded as one of the best horror films of all time, features a strange relic that is connected to the film's main antagonist, Pazuzu. He jumps out the window and kills himself, to get rid of the demon? It’s clear how Father Karras’ mum died - she was old and terminally ill - but what’s bothering me is that the movie never explains how she came to die alone in her flat. But in the rebooted TV show - spoilers to come if you want to remain surprised - it’s revealed that she’s the mum of the possessed girl at the centre of that story and that she remembers everything from her own possession all those years ago. Pazuzu is depicted as a combination of human and animal with a man's body, head of a lion or dog, eagle talons, two pairs of wings, and a scorpion's tail. 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