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The Exorcist
- 536 statements
- 105 feature instances
- 98 referencing feature instances
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The Exorcist | comment |
The Exorcist is a 1973 Religious Horror film (though the director, William Friedkin, doesn't view it as such) credited as the Trope Maker and Trope Codifier for Hollywood Exorcism.Based on the 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty (who also wrote the film), and inspired by what was supposedly an actual documented exorcism from 1949, The Exorcist is the terrifying, shocking tale of an originally rather cute 12-year-old girl named Regan McNeil (Linda Blair) and the efforts of her famous film actress mother Chris (Ellen Burstyn), her mom's secretary Sharon, and a pair of priests to save the poor girl's soul from the ravages of a powerful, malign entity called Pazuzu (though his name is kept ambiguous in the film).Initially manifesting as strange behavior in little Regan and her Ouija-board trysts with an invisible companion calling itself Captain Howdy, the being's infiltration is at first dismissed as Regan acting out frustrations after her mother's divorce. As the demon takes hold of Regan, however, she undergoes drastic changes in appearance and behavior, manifesting physical symptoms and incredible strength that cannot be explained by medical science. After Regan starts gliding around the house on all fours face up, licking Sharon's ankles, her mother decides that it is time to consult a higher authority...Max von Sydow and Jason Miller star as the two priests, Father Merrin and Father Karras, while Lee J. Cobb appears as police detective Lt. William Kinderman.The original movie is considered one of the best (and most terrifying) note It has a well earned rank of #3 on AFI's "Thrills" list, while Regan McNeil is ranked #9 among its "Villains", with equal or higher rankings on similar lists horror movies of all time, and was followed by two sequels and (for complicated reasons) two versions of the same prequel, with varying levels of quality and success from each of them. A TV series of the same named premiered on FOX, which was later revealed to be another sequel to the original. There's also a very, very weird non-horror, semi-spinoff movie called The Ninth Configuration, adapted and directed by Blatty himself from his earlier novel of the same name, which is set in the same universe as this movie but has very few direct connections to it.A new trilogy of Exorcist films from director David Gordon Green (Halloween), produced by Blumhouse and jointly distributed by Universal Pictures and Peacock, has been announced, with the first film, titled The Exorcist: Believer, set to release theatrically on October 6, 2023;note The release was initially planned for October 13 (a Friday, natch), but the massive pre-sales for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour forced Universal to bump up the release to avoid competition. this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Regan. Believer's release fell just over two months shy from the original's fiftieth anniversary. Media in the Exorcist franchise: The Exorcist (1973) — The original film, based on William Peter Blatty's novel of the same name. Followed by several sequels and prequels that all contradict and ignore one another: Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) — The first sequel, following Regan four years after her possession. The Exorcist III (1990) — The second sequel, following Lt. Kinderman fifteen years after Regan's possession. Based on Blatty's own Exorcist sequel novel, Legion. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) — A direct prequel to the first film, following Father Merrin several decades before Regan's possession. Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist (2005) — An alternate prequel to the first film (completed before The Beginning but released after it, due to Executive Meddling) also following Father Merrin during a similar era. The Exorcist (2016 - 2017) — A television series that serves as a stealth sequel to the original film, following two priests in a procedural format as they investigate cases of demonic possession. The Exorcist: Believer (2023) — The first of a planned sequel trilogy that directly follows the original film, but (reportedly) won't outright ignore or contradict the middle installments. Notable for being the first entry in the series since III to feature a cast member from the first film (Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil) reprising their role. The Exorcist: Deceiver (2025) TBA (TBD) | |
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The Exorcist / int_11d206ef | type |
Subliminal Seduction | |
The Exorcist / int_11d206ef | comment |
Subliminal Seduction: Images of a demonic face are periodically flashed throughout the film. | |
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The Exorcist / int_127fc252 | type |
Creator Cameo | |
The Exorcist / int_127fc252 | comment |
Creator Cameo: William Peter Blatty, author of the original book and screenwriter of the film, appears on Burke Dennings' film set. | |
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The Exorcist / int_13eea985 | type |
Arbitrary Skepticism | |
The Exorcist / int_13eea985 | comment |
Arbitrary Skepticism: Invoked, and actually a major plot point. Chris thinks Father Karras and the doctors treating Regan are absurdly resistant to consider that Regan really is possessed, especially after various medical tests uncover no obvious illness. But as Karras points out, the modern Catholic Church has such high standards for performing an exorcism that they have to exhaust every rational explanation before they can assume the victim is actually a victim of demonic possession. The book goes into extensive detail about just what has to be studied and ruled out. | |
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The Exorcist / int_14ed6ab7 | type |
Does This Remind You of Anything? | |
The Exorcist / int_14ed6ab7 | comment |
Does This Remind You of Anything?: The medical scenes are treated like scientific exorcisms, complete with a lighted cross that resembles a crucifix. Regan is on the verge of puberty, and a lot of the film plays on the fears parents have of their daughters finding their sexuality. (Taken to extremes, surely, but the hormonal mood changes, the developing sexual urges, and so on are parodied by Pazuzu.) | |
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The Exorcist / int_16364a29 | type |
Evil Sounds Deep | |
The Exorcist / int_16364a29 | comment |
Evil Sounds Deep: A twelve-year-old girl should not sound like Mercedes McCambridge. | |
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The Exorcist / int_1649e053 | type |
Your Mom | |
The Exorcist / int_1649e053 | comment |
Your Mom: "YOUR MOTHER SUCKS COCKS IN HELL!!!" | |
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The Exorcist / int_18d15922 | type |
Title Drop | |
The Exorcist / int_18d15922 | comment |
Title Drop: From the Archbishop, while contemplating whom to call in to helm Father Karras. | |
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The Exorcist / int_1e020735 | type |
Heroic Suicide | |
The Exorcist / int_1e020735 | comment |
Heroic Suicide: Fr. Karras kills himself to save Regan and get rid of Pazuzu. Harsher in Hindsight if you accept Exorcist III as canon. | |
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The Exorcist / int_222969af | type |
All There in the Script | |
The Exorcist / int_222969af | comment |
All There in the Script: The demon possessing Regan is named Pazuzu in the script but its name isn't mentioned in the film. | |
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The Exorcist / int_23698fa8 | type |
Aborted Arc | |
The Exorcist / int_23698fa8 | comment |
Aborted Arc: Kinderman's investigation into the death of Burke leads him to suspect that a priest might somehow be linked, perhaps having to do with the desecrations at Holy Trinitynote these are all done by the demon using Regan's body and art supplies without her knowledge which he's previously spoken with Karras about; Karras speculated it's a "sick priest". Kinderman later insinuates that perhaps Karras himself might be the "sick priest". Aside from the fact that Burke's neck was broken in a particular way supposedly used by devils to murder witches, and the desecrations might be "Satanic" (they're mostly burlesque sexual satire), there's no real evidence leading him to this speculation. It gets dropped with no resolution, but when Kinderman speaks to Karras for the last time, late in the book, he lets on without saying it explicitly, that he has figured out there actually is a demon and that it killed Burke and possessed the little girl. | |
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The Exorcist / int_256301a9 | type |
That Thing Is Not My Child! | |
The Exorcist / int_256301a9 | comment |
That Thing Is Not My Child!: Literally, in Chris' impassioned speech to Father Karras. | |
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The Exorcist / int_26f68115 | type |
Art Imitates Art | |
The Exorcist / int_26f68115 | comment |
Art Imitates Art: The iconic shot of Merrin arriving at the house was inspired by the 1954 painting Empire of Light (L'Empire des lumières) by René Magritte. It also bears a strong resemblance to this shot◊ from The Night of the Hunter. | |
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The Exorcist / int_294f1400 | type |
Abnormal Limb Rotation Range | |
The Exorcist / int_294f1400 | comment |
Abnormal Limb Rotation Range: One of the film's most iconic shots features the possessed Regan rotating her head until she is facing backwards. | |
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The Exorcist / int_2b14367f | type |
Bring My Brown Pants | |
The Exorcist / int_2b14367f | comment |
Bring My Brown Pants: Happens when Regan wets herself while scaring everyone, most probably including herself. | |
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The Exorcist / int_2f7e9080 | type |
Placebo Effect | |
The Exorcist / int_2f7e9080 | comment |
Placebo Effect: Subverted. Regan screams in pain when Father Karras douses her with tap water, which he claims is holy water. Later, it's implied that Pazuzu intentionally did this to fool Karras into thinking that Regan wasn't really possessed. When he douses her with real holy water in the exorcism scene, the screams are real. | |
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The Exorcist / int_30b41d96 | type |
Blood-Splattered Wedding Dress | |
The Exorcist / int_30b41d96 | comment |
Blood-Splattered Wedding Dress: Bile-splattered. Throughout the scenes where Regan is fully possessed, she wears a pretty blue nightgown with ruffles and flowers. The subtext could be that Chris dressed her in this to communicate her love. | |
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The Exorcist / int_30b41d96 | |
The Exorcist / int_3529edef | type |
Satanic Panic | |
The Exorcist / int_3529edef | comment |
Satanic Panic: Trope Codifier. Although not about the Satanic Panic, the film's popular success spread mass hysteria and was often used in support of the panic itself after its release. | |
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The Exorcist / int_3529edef | |
The Exorcist / int_35a858b3 | type |
Cluster F-Bomb | |
The Exorcist / int_35a858b3 | comment |
Cluster F-Bomb: Pazuzu's very prone to dropping these. | |
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The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_35a858b3 | |
The Exorcist / int_370aad9 | type |
Split Personality | |
The Exorcist / int_370aad9 | comment |
Split Personality: As the possession starts to take hold and Regan's behavior gets more bizarre, Chris thinks her daughter might have a split personality — but see the reference to Voice of the Legion, below. The doctors explain that real split personality is almost unheard of, but brain lesions and epilepsy can cause patients to act like it.note superficially, at least, if you don't know much about multiple personality. It comes on far too suddenly for the genuine article. When Fr. Karras begins to tell Fr. Merrin about each of the personalities he has witnessed, Merrin tersely interrupts, saying there's only one | |
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The Exorcist / int_370aad9 | |
The Exorcist / int_38da8916 | type |
Uncommon Time | |
The Exorcist / int_38da8916 | comment |
Uncommon Time: The opening section for Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" switches between 7/8 and 8/8. This opening riff is used as a soundtrack in the movie. | |
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The Exorcist / int_38da8916 | |
The Exorcist / int_392372f9 | type |
Actor Allusion | |
The Exorcist / int_392372f9 | comment |
Actor Allusion: When Father Karras and Detective Kinderman banter back and forth, Karras tells Kinderman he looks like Paul Newman while Kinderman says that Karras looks like Sal Mineo. Kinderman was played by Lee J. Cobb, who co-starred with Newman and Mineo in the 1960 movie Exodus (1960). | |
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The Exorcist / int_3a23ba9e | type |
C.A.T. Trap | |
The Exorcist / int_3a23ba9e | comment |
C.A.T. Trap: As one transcript puts it, "a huge machine, two pieces on either side of Regan's head and a piece above." | |
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The Exorcist / int_40cc0c7e | type |
Bittersweet Ending | |
The Exorcist / int_40cc0c7e | comment |
Bittersweet Ending: The two priests die, but they save Regan. | |
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The Exorcist / int_47b542f1 | type |
Ouija Board | |
The Exorcist / int_47b542f1 | comment |
Ouija Board: Regan played with one prior to getting possessed. It strongly suggested that it was Pazuzu made contact with her in the first place. | |
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The Exorcist / int_47b542f1 | |
The Exorcist / int_504a1991 | type |
Body Horror | |
The Exorcist / int_504a1991 | comment |
Body Horror: The movie is full of this. There's the (initially deleted) scene where Regan climbs down the stairs like some kind of spider monster, Regan getting more and more hideous and deformed the longer she's possessed, and, of course, the Exorcist Head scenes. | |
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The Exorcist / int_504a1991 | |
The Exorcist / int_50f17484 | type |
Fake-Out Opening | |
The Exorcist / int_50f17484 | comment |
Fake-Out Opening: The movie begins with an archeological dig. | |
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The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_50f17484 | |
The Exorcist / int_5313c266 | type |
Bookends | |
The Exorcist / int_5313c266 | comment |
Book Ends: The first shot of the movienote in the "Version You've Never Seen" cut, anyway is an apartment light going off. At the end of the film, the light's back on. | |
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The Exorcist / int_54adb6a3 | type |
Staircase Tumble | |
The Exorcist / int_54adb6a3 | comment |
Staircase Tumble: Karras, fighting off his possession, throws himself out the window and down a steep outdoors staircase. | |
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The Exorcist / int_54adb6a3 | |
The Exorcist / int_55473bc9 | type |
CPR: Clean, Pretty, Reliable | |
The Exorcist / int_55473bc9 | comment |
CPR: Clean, Pretty, Reliable: Uh, Damien, that's not how you do CPR, and you as a doctor should know that. Naturally, he's pretty distraught, exhausted, and not thinking clearly. | |
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The Exorcist / int_56240281 | type |
Country Matters | |
The Exorcist / int_56240281 | comment |
Country Matters: When Regan is possessed by a demon, she swears a lot and uses this word among the vast range of swear words that she has. One of her lines says: "Do you know what she did, your cunting daughter?" | |
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The Exorcist / int_575fd5e2 | type |
Dark Is Not Evil | |
The Exorcist / int_575fd5e2 | comment |
Dark Is Not Evil: The scene when Merrin arrives (as seen in the poster image above), the priest is clad in black, while white light emanates from the demon's room. | |
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The Exorcist / int_59907e4f | type |
Police Are Useless | |
The Exorcist / int_59907e4f | comment |
Police Are Useless: Admittedly out of his depth with the supernatural. Kellerman's investigation goes nowhere and at one point appears to suspect Karras or perhaps another priest with no real evidence. | |
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The Exorcist / int_59fe174d | type |
Devil, but No God | |
The Exorcist / int_59fe174d | comment |
Devil, but No God: The power of God/Christ does seem to be more powerful than the power of the Devil but God seems absent for the most part. | |
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The Exorcist / int_59fe174d | |
The Exorcist / int_5db59a03 | type |
Brown Note | |
The Exorcist / int_5db59a03 | comment |
Brown Note: Many sound effects were put in (sometimes deep in the mix) to make it more unsettling - for instance, pigs being herded for slaughter and angry bees. | |
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The Exorcist / int_603f1a80 | type |
Pragmatic Adaptation | |
The Exorcist / int_603f1a80 | comment |
Pragmatic Adaptation: The film leaves out the aspect of Regan's possession from the book in which she has uncontrollable diarrhea, requiring her to wear a diaper and making her room smell unbearable. The crucifix-masturbation scene is much more graphic in the book, with the possessed Regan reaching orgasm. The film never mentions Pazuzu by name, most likely because it sounds silly. It's only hinted that Regan is possessed by a demon and not the Devil himself, as she claims. | |
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The Exorcist / int_603f1a80 | |
The Exorcist / int_62d4ceb3 | type |
Mood Motif | |
The Exorcist / int_62d4ceb3 | comment |
Mood Motif: It's all about the Ominous Bells here... | |
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The Exorcist / int_62d4ceb3 | |
The Exorcist / int_663b22d9 | type |
Dying as Yourself | |
The Exorcist / int_663b22d9 | comment |
Dying as Yourself: Father Damien invites the demon who possesses Reagan into him in order to save her. This causes his skin to go white. The moment just before he flings himself out of the window, his skin returns to normal. | |
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The Exorcist / int_663b22d9 | |
The Exorcist / int_66faa669 | type |
Silence, You Fool! | |
The Exorcist / int_66faa669 | comment |
Silence, You Fool!: A serious variation. After the demon tells Merrin to stick his cock up her ass, he firmly retorts "Be silent!" and splashes holy water on Regan. | |
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The Exorcist / int_6b6556ee | type |
Mentor Occupational Hazard | |
The Exorcist / int_6b6556ee | comment |
Mentor Occupational Hazard: Father Merrin dies. His pupil too. | |
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The Exorcist / int_6b6556ee | |
The Exorcist / int_6bf29c6e | type |
Good Wings, Evil Wings | |
The Exorcist / int_6bf29c6e | comment |
Good Wings, Evil Wings: Inverted by Pazuzu. The wings on the stone idol he was released from are actually birdlike. Regan's goony-bird statuette◊ has wings like Pazuzu's and a somewhat similar pose. | |
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The Exorcist / int_6bf29c6e | |
The Exorcist / int_6fb07cc4 | type |
Science Is Wrong | |
The Exorcist / int_6fb07cc4 | comment |
Science Is Wrong: All medical treatments of Regan fail, and the doctors treating her are at a loss to explain her demonic possession with science, despite their seeming confidence. | |
The Exorcist / int_6fb07cc4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_6fb07cc4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_6fb07cc4 | |
The Exorcist / int_7089d02e | type |
All Germans Are Nazis | |
The Exorcist / int_7089d02e | comment |
All Germans Are Nazis: Burke invokes this when he gets drunk at Chris' party. He asks Karl, a member of Chris' domestic staff, whether he did public relations or community relations for the Gestapo. Karl angrily replies that he's Swiss, but Burke is too drunk to care about the difference, and he continues badgering Karl about his supposed Nazi past until he attacks him in a rage. | |
The Exorcist / int_7089d02e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_7089d02e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_7089d02e | |
The Exorcist / int_71105dfc | type |
Everybody Smokes | |
The Exorcist / int_71105dfc | comment |
Everybody Smokes: A number of the adult characters in the film smoke, including both Chris MacNeil and Father Karras. Ash trays are a bit more prevalent too, even in the conference room of the Archdiocesan headquarters. | |
The Exorcist / int_71105dfc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_71105dfc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_71105dfc | |
The Exorcist / int_76cbbc0b | type |
George Lucas Altered Version | |
The Exorcist / int_76cbbc0b | comment |
George Lucas Altered Version: An altered version, The Version You've Never Seen, containing several minutes of additional material (including a scene of Regan "spider-walking" down a staircase which Friedkin had deleted from the original cut due to technical problems, and which bore no resemblance to the spider walk in the book) and added CGI and subliminal imagery, was released to theaters in 2000. | |
The Exorcist / int_76cbbc0b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_76cbbc0b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_76cbbc0b | |
The Exorcist / int_775c2cb4 | type |
Possession Levitation | |
The Exorcist / int_775c2cb4 | comment |
Possession Levitation: After being possessed by Pazuzu, the Mesopotamian demon, 12-year old Regan begins to float off her mattress during the exorcism conducted by Karras and Merrin. They successfully subdue her. | |
The Exorcist / int_775c2cb4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_775c2cb4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_775c2cb4 | |
The Exorcist / int_77ed6b7d | type |
Troubling Unchildlike Behavior | |
The Exorcist / int_77ed6b7d | comment |
Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: The core of the horror comes from the awful things that Regan does and says while possessed. | |
The Exorcist / int_77ed6b7d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_77ed6b7d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_77ed6b7d | |
The Exorcist / int_7aa858c1 | type |
Consummate Liar | |
The Exorcist / int_7aa858c1 | comment |
Consummate Liar: "He is a liar. The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. | |
The Exorcist / int_7aa858c1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_7aa858c1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_7aa858c1 | |
The Exorcist / int_7ad0e492 | type |
Imaginary Friend | |
The Exorcist / int_7ad0e492 | comment |
Imaginary Friend: What Chris assumes Captain Howdy is at first. | |
The Exorcist / int_7ad0e492 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_7ad0e492 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_7ad0e492 | |
The Exorcist / int_7d06fdd6 | type |
Medical Horror | |
The Exorcist / int_7d06fdd6 | comment |
Medical Horror: Regan in the operating room having a carotid angiographynote an extremely painful test in which the patient must be conscious — the doctors are played by real doctors from the medical center at NYU — including the blood spurting from an artery in her neck — was the scariest part of The Exorcist for some moviegoers at the time. No, it wasn't the cursing, the vomiting, the exorcism or anything else that caused them to actually leave the theaters and vomit - it was this. | |
The Exorcist / int_7d06fdd6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_7d06fdd6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_7d06fdd6 | |
The Exorcist / int_7d12f7b1 | type |
Who You Gonna Call? | |
The Exorcist / int_7d12f7b1 | comment |
Who You Gonna Call?: Is your daughter possessed by an ancient demon? Just call Father Merrin, he's experienced at driving demons out of possessed children (although a long career doing so is taking its toll on his heart). | |
The Exorcist / int_7d12f7b1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_7d12f7b1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_7d12f7b1 | |
The Exorcist / int_820ac351 | type |
It Amused Me | |
The Exorcist / int_820ac351 | comment |
It Amused Me: Burke Dennings enrages Karl by calling him a Nazi strictly for the lulz. | |
The Exorcist / int_820ac351 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_820ac351 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_820ac351 | |
The Exorcist / int_83a55c8e | type |
Napoleon Delusion | |
The Exorcist / int_83a55c8e | comment |
Napoleon Delusion: Karras references it, saying that claiming to be possessed by the Devil himself is like claiming to be Napoleon. | |
The Exorcist / int_83a55c8e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_83a55c8e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_83a55c8e | |
The Exorcist / int_875615dd | type |
Truth in Television | |
The Exorcist / int_875615dd | comment |
Truth in Television: Father Karras saying he'd have to travel back in time to the Renaissance to perform an exorcism is correct. In the modern day, actual Church-sanctioned exorcisms are incredibly rare, and even then they're only used as a last resort after mental illness has been completely ruled out. | |
The Exorcist / int_875615dd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_875615dd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_875615dd | |
The Exorcist / int_89b71276 | type |
Mind Your Step | |
The Exorcist / int_89b71276 | comment |
Mind Your Step: The film's climax involves a fall out of a window and a long Staircase Tumble. They filmed using a Real Life stairwell near Georgetown, which has become a tourist attraction known as the Exorcist Steps. If you ever walk it, you'll realize just how far Karras and Dennings fell to their deaths... | |
The Exorcist / int_89b71276 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_89b71276 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_89b71276 | |
The Exorcist / int_8a451bc7 | type |
Mind Hive | |
The Exorcist / int_8a451bc7 | comment |
Mind Hive: The demon Pazuzu appears to be one, containing the souls of the damned deceased. ("Your mother's in here with us, Karras.")note Not likely, since Karras' mother was devout and proud that her son was a priest. Maybe. Even less certain in the book. Even with all the proof he's seen, Karras still thinks of it in terms of "manifesting personalities," until Fr. Merrin, a world-renowned exorcist, dismisses this with a flat "There is only one." And since he's evicted Pazuzu before, you can take what he says to the bank. | |
The Exorcist / int_8a451bc7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_8a451bc7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_8a451bc7 | |
The Exorcist / int_8c4bafff | type |
Holy Burns Evil | |
The Exorcist / int_8c4bafff | comment |
Holy Burns Evil: Demon-possessed Regan's reaction to what a priest says is holy water. | |
The Exorcist / int_8c4bafff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_8c4bafff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_8c4bafff | |
The Exorcist / int_8dc02190 | type |
WouldYouLikeToKnowHowTheyDied | |
The Exorcist / int_8dc02190 | comment |
Would You Like to Know How They Died?: The entire "rotating head backwards" by possessed Regan and speaking with Burke's voice was to mock Chris for the way Burke died (the demon had snapped Burke's neck and tossed him out the window). | |
The Exorcist / int_8dc02190 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_8dc02190 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_8dc02190 | |
The Exorcist / int_8f6a683 | type |
Beat the Curse Out of Him | |
The Exorcist / int_8f6a683 | comment |
Beat the Curse Out of Him: After all the enchantments, crosses and holy water, it took Karras punching the crap out of the possessed Regan in order to drive the spirit out of her and into him. (In the book, he just talked Pazuzu into it, in a kind of street fight attitude.) | |
The Exorcist / int_8f6a683 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_8f6a683 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_8f6a683 | |
The Exorcist / int_8fd7af48 | type |
Sir Swears-a-Lot | |
The Exorcist / int_8fd7af48 | comment |
Sir Swears-a-Lot: Pazuzu's got a pretty foul mouth. | |
The Exorcist / int_8fd7af48 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_8fd7af48 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_8fd7af48 | |
The Exorcist / int_906365a2 | type |
Demonic Possession | |
The Exorcist / int_906365a2 | comment |
Demonic Possession: Present and accounted for, sir! Subverted in that Regan claims she's possessed by the Devil himself, which Karras dismisses, saying it's like claiming you're Napoleon. It's all part of the Mind Screw by Pazuzu to sow doubt. | |
The Exorcist / int_906365a2 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
The Exorcist / int_906365a2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_906365a2 | |
The Exorcist / int_90f6d157 | type |
Confessional | |
The Exorcist / int_90f6d157 | comment |
Confessional: At the end of the movie, Father Karras commits suicide to get rid of the demon, who has recently possessed him. Father Dyer arrives just in time to take his confession, but Karras is unable to speak and just squeezes Dyer's hand as a confirmation that he repents his sins | |
The Exorcist / int_90f6d157 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_90f6d157 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_90f6d157 | |
The Exorcist / int_91672d3e | type |
Children Are Innocent | |
The Exorcist / int_91672d3e | comment |
Children Are Innocent: Linda Blair didn't know about masturbation when she did the movie and thought nothing of the profanity or the scene where she pushes Ellen Burstyn to her crotch. In her mind, it was Regan doing those things, not her. | |
The Exorcist / int_91672d3e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_91672d3e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_91672d3e | |
The Exorcist / int_94e4b975 | type |
Vomit Indiscretion Shot | |
The Exorcist / int_94e4b975 | comment |
Vomit Indiscretion Shot: The most well-known example of someone blowing chunks on screen ever. Though, actually, Regan isn't regurgitating. She's spitting up loads of bile - which is worse. | |
The Exorcist / int_94e4b975 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_94e4b975 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_94e4b975 | |
The Exorcist / int_970c790a | type |
Big Bad | |
The Exorcist / int_970c790a | comment |
Big Bad: Pazuzu, the demon who is possessing Regan. | |
The Exorcist / int_970c790a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_970c790a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_970c790a | |
The Exorcist / int_9d12bbc1 | type |
Foreshadowing | |
The Exorcist / int_9d12bbc1 | comment |
Foreshadowing: The two dogs mindlessly attacking each other in the street, as Merrin mentions "evil against evil". As noted by Filmsite.org: When Pazuzu remarks that an exorcism would bring Regan, Karras, and him together, he was right because he ends up possessing Karras. Merrin is shown taking medication in the opening sequence, when he's an archaeologist in Iraq. He dies of a heart attack at the climax when confronting Pazuzu. | |
The Exorcist / int_9d12bbc1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_9d12bbc1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_9d12bbc1 | |
The Exorcist / int_9ea58038 | type |
Kill the Host Body | |
The Exorcist / int_9ea58038 | comment |
Kill the Host Body: At the end, Father Karras performs a Heroic Sacrifice by inviting the demon Pazuzu into his own body to save the young Regan, before killing himself by jumping out of a window. | |
The Exorcist / int_9ea58038 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_9ea58038 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_9ea58038 | |
The Exorcist / int_a27c0c2c | type |
Artistic License – Religion | |
The Exorcist / int_a27c0c2c | comment |
Artistic License – Religion: One scene shows Karras breaking the communion host during the Eucharistic Prayer while speaking the words of consecration. While Karras gets the words right, in an actual Catholic Mass the breaking of the bread takes place later, just prior to the priest taking communion. The scene shows only Fathers Merrin and Karras participating in the exorcism. In cases where the possessed is female the church has specified that there should be one other female present if possible in order to assure "propriety and discretion" on the part of the others performing the rite. According to official guidelines an exorcist should avoid performing an exorcism alone, which Father Merrin does when he sends Father Karras out of the room. | |
The Exorcist / int_a27c0c2c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_a27c0c2c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_a27c0c2c | |
The Exorcist / int_a2e887be | type |
Secondary Character Title | |
The Exorcist / int_a2e887be | comment |
Secondary Character Title: Father Merrin, the exorcist, has little screen time in the film, appearing in the first 10 minutes, then vanishing until the final act, where he meets the rest of the cast for the first time. Father Karras is the closest thing to a main character, being the only one who has an arc. | |
The Exorcist / int_a2e887be | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_a2e887be | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_a2e887be | |
The Exorcist / int_a4d8473b | type |
Stealth Sequel | |
The Exorcist / int_a4d8473b | comment |
Stealth Sequel: Word of God states that The Ninth Configuration is the true sequel to The Exorcist. According to That Other Wiki, the astronaut in The Exorcist is Captain Cutshaw in The Ninth Configuration, driven to a mental breakdown by what Pazuzu tells him at the party. In the book series, several unused pieces of dialogue from The Exorcist were used in The Ninth Configuration instead.. | |
The Exorcist / int_a4d8473b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_a4d8473b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_a4d8473b | |
The Exorcist / int_a7aef9ff | type |
Obfuscating Stupidity | |
The Exorcist / int_a7aef9ff | comment |
Obfuscating Stupidity: Kinderman, in the books. He calls it "schmaltz". Everything he does has a purpose. Chris tells people she's "dumb" to get them to explain things to her. | |
The Exorcist / int_a7aef9ff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_a7aef9ff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_a7aef9ff | |
The Exorcist / int_a8a04f6f | type |
And I Must Scream | |
The Exorcist / int_a8a04f6f | comment |
And I Must Scream: Heavily implied to be happening to Regan while Pazuzu possesses her. | |
The Exorcist / int_a8a04f6f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_a8a04f6f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_a8a04f6f | |
The Exorcist / int_a8a5e4ed | type |
Christianity is Catholic | |
The Exorcist / int_a8a5e4ed | comment |
Christianity is Catholic: Obviously, as it is the only church to offer exorcism as a practice. This is Truth in Television. The Lutheran minister of the parents of the child in the real life case the movie is based on told the parents to get a Catholic priest because Lutherans had no exorcism tradition. The apparent anomaly of Damien Karras and his mother being Roman Catholic when most Greek Christians are Eastern Orthodox is explained by their status as Frankoi, meaning they are among the 200,000 Greeks who practice Roman Catholicism. | |
The Exorcist / int_a8a5e4ed | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_a8a5e4ed | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_a8a5e4ed | |
The Exorcist / int_adfd3165 | type |
For the Evulz | |
The Exorcist / int_adfd3165 | comment |
For the Evulz: Seems to be Pazuzu's entire reason for possessing and torment Regan, as it's not like it benefits him in any way. Seems to be. It's actually a setup for a grudge match smackdown vs. Fr. Merrin. Filmgoers probably had other things on their minds and might not realize this. | |
The Exorcist / int_adfd3165 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_adfd3165 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_adfd3165 | |
The Exorcist / int_ae3d6438 | type |
Deadpan Snarker | |
The Exorcist / int_ae3d6438 | comment |
Deadpan Snarker: Burke Dennings. Even when he's dead. If that's really him. Lt. Kinderman and Father Dyer aren't far behind in levels of snarkiness. | |
The Exorcist / int_ae3d6438 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_ae3d6438 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_ae3d6438 | |
The Exorcist / int_b77a6d82 | type |
Evil Is Deathly Cold | |
The Exorcist / int_b77a6d82 | comment |
Evil Is Deathly Cold: Regan is a victim of Demonic Possession and her bedroom is shown at times to be so cold that other characters pause to put on heavy coats before entering the room. | |
The Exorcist / int_b77a6d82 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_b77a6d82 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_b77a6d82 | |
The Exorcist / int_bcbf7aef | type |
Plucky Comic Relief | |
The Exorcist / int_bcbf7aef | comment |
Plucky Comic Relief: Downplayed by Lt. Kinderman. He is not as overtly wacky and goofy as most uses of the trope, but his snarks and affected bumbling persona (which he uses to disarm those he questions and hide his dead-serious intent) provide what little humor the film has. | |
The Exorcist / int_bcbf7aef | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_bcbf7aef | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_bcbf7aef | |
The Exorcist / int_bf110089 | type |
Break Them by Talking | |
The Exorcist / int_bf110089 | comment |
Break Them by Talking: Pazuzu is very good at it. | |
The Exorcist / int_bf110089 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_bf110089 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_bf110089 | |
The Exorcist / int_c04b1231 | type |
Jump Scare | |
The Exorcist / int_c04b1231 | comment |
Jump Scare: The first time the demon's face flashes on screen might startle some viewers. And nobody could predict the vomit part, either. | |
The Exorcist / int_c04b1231 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_c04b1231 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_c04b1231 | |
The Exorcist / int_c2afffe | type |
Take Me Instead | |
The Exorcist / int_c2afffe | comment |
Take Me Instead: Both part of Father Karras' Heroic Suicide. | |
The Exorcist / int_c2afffe | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_c2afffe | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_c2afffe | |
The Exorcist / int_c2cedc1c | type |
Big "NO!" | |
The Exorcist / int_c2cedc1c | comment |
Big "NO!": Karras just before he kills himself to prevent Pazuzu, who has gone inside of him, from killing Regan. | |
The Exorcist / int_c2cedc1c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_c2cedc1c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_c2cedc1c | |
The Exorcist / int_c32ff031 | type |
Xanatos Gambit | |
The Exorcist / int_c32ff031 | comment |
Xanatos Gambit: Pazuzu tries to do this; either the priest or the girl but the priest decides to Take a Third Option. | |
The Exorcist / int_c32ff031 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_c32ff031 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_c32ff031 | |
The Exorcist / int_c3ae004a | type |
Re-Cut | |
The Exorcist / int_c3ae004a | comment |
Re-Cut: "The Version You've Never Seen", released in 2000. | |
The Exorcist / int_c3ae004a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_c3ae004a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_c3ae004a | |
The Exorcist / int_c547f08d | type |
Ghostly Chill | |
The Exorcist / int_c547f08d | comment |
Ghostly Chill: A major feature of the demon's presence. It's freezing in there. When they were making the film they built the set for Regan's room inside a freezer, so you could see everybody's breath. One day it actually snowed inside the set. Though hundreds of hours of filming, Linda Blair wore nothing but a thin nightdress. To this day she cannot stand being cold. | |
The Exorcist / int_c547f08d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_c547f08d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_c547f08d | |
The Exorcist / int_c868a42a | type |
Freudian Excuse | |
The Exorcist / int_c868a42a | comment |
Freudian Excuse: Invoked. Everyone, including Chris, thinks Regan's conversations with "Captain Howdy" is her desire to see her father, whose name is Howard, more often. After discussing Captain Howdy, Regan is seen reading a Photoplay magazine with the headline: "Big Trouble In the MacNeil Marriage! The Night Howard Walked Out On His Wife." (The cover has a photo of Chris and Regan, with Regan looking tired and a bit grim.) | |
The Exorcist / int_c868a42a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist / int_c868a42a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_c868a42a | |
The Exorcist / int_ca87e3ec | type |
No Name Given | |
The Exorcist / int_ca87e3ec | comment |
No Name Given: The demon that possesses Regan is never named in the film, though he was initially called "Captain Howdy" by Regan. His real name is Pazuzu. | |
The Exorcist / int_ca87e3ec | featureApplicability |
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The Exorcist / int_ca87e3ec | |
The Exorcist / int_ce68d46b | type |
Next Sunday A.D. | |
The Exorcist / int_ce68d46b | comment |
Next Sunday A.D.: The movie was released in 1973 but Karras' gravestone in The Exorcist III lists his death as happening in 1975. | |
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The Exorcist / int_ce68d46b | |
The Exorcist / int_ceec4df5 | type |
Roaring Rampage of Revenge | |
The Exorcist / int_ceec4df5 | comment |
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: The entire possession is Pazuzu's revenge on Merrin for exorcising him out of a little boy in Africa. | |
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The Exorcist / int_ceec4df5 | |
The Exorcist / int_d308cbb0 | type |
Character Catchphrase | |
The Exorcist / int_d308cbb0 | comment |
Character Catchphrase: Burke is fond of using the adjective "cunting", which is what Pazuzu uses to mock Chris in Would You Like to Know How They Died? below. | |
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The Exorcist / int_d308cbb0 | |
The Exorcist / int_d6eaf517 | type |
Mesopotamian Monstrosity | |
The Exorcist / int_d6eaf517 | comment |
Mesopotamian Monstrosity: Pazuzu, the main antagonist, is a Mesopotamian demon who possesses Regan. A statue of the demon briefly appears. | |
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The Exorcist / int_d6eaf517 | |
The Exorcist / int_da53340 | type |
Religious Horror | |
The Exorcist / int_da53340 | comment |
Religious Horror: The first movie was part of a cycle of "demonic children" movies that started with Rosemary's Baby and continued with The Omen (1976). | |
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The Exorcist / int_da53340 | |
The Exorcist / int_dc1c7647 | type |
Voice of the Legion | |
The Exorcist / int_dc1c7647 | comment |
Voice of the Legion: Pazuzu invokes this when possessing Regan, but Merrin confirms that it's a trick and that there's only one demon inside of the girl. | |
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The Exorcist / int_dc1c7647 | |
The Exorcist / int_dd4042f9 | type |
Avant-Garde Music | |
The Exorcist / int_dd4042f9 | comment |
Avant-Garde Music: The movie features Krzysztof Penderecki's Kanon, The Devils of Loudon, Cello Concerto, String Quartet & Polymorphia. | |
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The Exorcist / int_dd4042f9 | |
The Exorcist / int_de416844 | type |
Fantastic Catholicism | |
The Exorcist / int_de416844 | comment |
Fantastic Catholicism: Well, Catholic priests in a completely outrageous and abnormal situation. | |
The Exorcist / int_de416844 | featureApplicability |
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The Exorcist / int_de416844 | |
The Exorcist / int_df410b77 | type |
Decoy Protagonist | |
The Exorcist / int_df410b77 | comment |
Decoy Protagonist: While the film starts off focusing on Merrin and then Chris, it quickly becomes clear that Karras, initially only seen in brief cameos, is the true protagonist the second the film begins to focus on him. | |
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The Exorcist / int_df410b77 | |
The Exorcist / int_e0aced16 | type |
Giggling Villain | |
The Exorcist / int_e0aced16 | comment |
Giggling Villain: After Merrin dies of a heart attack, Regan/Pazuzu is giggling like a madman. In the book, he is not laughing, but raging at the old man "You would have lost and you know it! Come back!" (The demon's goal was to possess Merrin as Laser-Guided Karma, but was foiled there.) | |
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The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_e0aced16 | |
The Exorcist / int_e3ab8602 | type |
Exorcist Head | |
The Exorcist / int_e3ab8602 | comment |
Exorcist Head: The reason for it isn't clear in the film and only subtly explained in the novel, but the demon is taunting Karras with knowledge that she (it) knew how Burke Dennings died (having his neck snapped, twisting his head around 180 degrees from his tumble out of the window.) | |
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The Exorcist / int_e3ab8602 | |
The Exorcist / int_e4b69188 | type |
Very Loosely Based on a True Story | |
The Exorcist / int_e4b69188 | comment |
Very Loosely Based on a True Story: The Exorcist was inspired by the witch trials of Loudon, France in 1634. A group of nuns were or claimed to be possessed by seventeen demons, blaming their confessor for having summoned the evil critters. All of the sexual acts, animal noises and violence were enacted by these nuns. Blatty also used some of the elements of a supposed possession and exorcism case in St. Louis. There have been a number of Urban Legends around this story. Recently published research indicates the boy in that case was most likely faking for attention, and even the priests who officiated weren't sure of what they were seeing, but Blatty used the telekinesis and violence claimed by the boy's relatives. Blatty says there have been only a handful of possession cases in the U.S. that were acknowledged by the Catholic Church. Pazuzu wasn't simply a name invented for the books/film. It's the name of an evil demigod/demon in ancient Mesopotamian mythology who ruled over disease, pestilence, and the heat of the midday sun. | |
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The Exorcist / int_e4b69188 | |
The Exorcist / int_e6d0f579 | type |
Transformation of the Possessed | |
The Exorcist / int_e6d0f579 | comment |
Transformation of the Possessed: There's a pretty gruesome transformation when the demon Pazuzu manifests within Regan. | |
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The Exorcist / int_e6d0f579 | |
The Exorcist / int_e8760868 | type |
Space Whale Aesop | |
The Exorcist / int_e8760868 | comment |
Space Whale Aesop: Don't use a Ouija Board, or you might suffer from Demonic Possession. | |
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The Exorcist / int_e8760868 | |
The Exorcist / int_eaf5a1ac | type |
Groin Attack | |
The Exorcist / int_eaf5a1ac | comment |
Groin Attack: Self-inflicted (sort of), with a crucifix, as possessed-Regan uses it as a dildo. Regan's attack on the psychiatrist. | |
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The Exorcist | hasFeature |
The Exorcist / int_eaf5a1ac | |
The Exorcist / int_ed98f038 | type |
Wall Crawl | |
The Exorcist / int_ed98f038 | comment |
Wall Crawl: There are scenes involving the possessed girl crawling across the walls and ceilings as well, at least on the extended re-cut. | |
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The Exorcist / int_ed98f038 | |
The Exorcist / int_ee519430 | type |
Hollywood Exorcism | |
The Exorcist / int_ee519430 | comment |
Hollywood Exorcism: A necessity, because the Catholic Church's reluctance to perform exorcisms was explicitly mentioned. | |
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The Exorcist / int_ee519430 | |
The Exorcist / int_f2d8e3c2 | type |
Evil Plan | |
The Exorcist / int_f2d8e3c2 | comment |
Evil Plan: The Exorcist is Pazuzu's revenge on Fr. Merrin for evicting him from a child in Africa. | |
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The Exorcist / int_f2d8e3c2 | |
The Exorcist / int_fd86da63 | type |
Crisis of Faith | |
The Exorcist / int_fd86da63 | comment |
Crisis of Faith: Father Karras at the beginning of the film. | |
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The Exorcist |
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