[Ttubretep]

Back in the 80's, Channel 56 out of Boston would show it every now and again, and it was always treated as a big event.  My family had a gathering, and treated the film with a grim reverence.  They tucked me away in my room, which was far from the living room, and told me NOT to come out under any circumstances.  This would be in 1982 or so, and I was 6 years old.

A couple years later, the same channel showed it again, and I actually managed to catch the ad they showed for it – and it TERRIFIED me, making a deep and lasting impression on my impressionable mind.

After that, I managed to acquire a copy of the book, and managed to read it (in bits and pieces – my mother would always confiscate it).  I don't think I managed to see the actual film until I was 19 or so, and by then I was rather fascinated by it.  I won't be one of the meatheads who says that the film doesn't scare me, as it is impossible to be unmoved by the sheer tension of the film, but as a non-believer, it didn't strike the same chord with me that it does with others.

However, what does strike a similar chord would be the sheer terror that the images seen in that first commercial inspired within me.  Within the context of the dream, the film frightens me more as a concept unto itself, as opposed to the events that occur in the story.  Therefore, the Exorcist-inspired nightmares generally start out as being about me watching the film, which always frightens me far more in my dreams than in reality.  Occasionally, I'll get “sucked into” the movie, and start interacting with the characters, etc., but it always starts with me dreaming that I'm watching the film.

[Steve Dunlap]

Ttubretep said:

Back in the 80's, Channel 56 out of Boston would show it every now and again, and it was always treated as a big event.  My family had a gathering, and treated the film with a grim reverence.  They tucked me away in my room, which was far from the living room, and told me NOT to come out under any circumstances.  This would be in 1982 or so, and I was 6 years old.

A couple years later, the same channel showed it again, and I actually managed to catch the ad they showed for it – and it TERRIFIED me, making a deep and lasting impression on my impressionable mind.

After that, I managed to acquire a copy of the book, and managed to read it (in bits and pieces – my mother would always confiscate it).  I don't think I managed to see the actual film until I was 19 or so, and by then I was rather fascinated by it.  I won't be one of the meatheads who says that the film doesn't scare me, as it is impossible to be unmoved by the sheer tension of the film, but as a non-believer, it didn't strike the same chord with me that it does with others.

However, what does strike a similar chord would be the sheer terror that the images seen in that first commercial inspired within me.  Within the context of the dream, the film frightens me more as a concept unto itself, as opposed to the events that occur in the story.  Therefore, the Exorcist-inspired nightmares generally start out as being about me watching the film, which always frightens me far more in my dreams than in reality.  Occasionally, I'll get “sucked into” the movie, and start interacting with the characters, etc., but it always starts with me dreaming that I'm watching the film.

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Nice!!! :)  It would seem you and I had the reverse effect.

Whereas the commercial intrigued me (for God knows whatever reason) when I was a five year old, the commercial scared the hell out of you at 8.  And yet the movie is what scared the hell out of me for 25 years, while the movie  gave you a better understanding of your fears. 🙂

 

Thanks for sharing that story.

 

Mirabile dictu, don't you agree?    (If I got the translation right, it means something like “Wonderful to relate”.)

[fatherbowdern]

Steve,

The full translation from here is:

Regan
mirabile dictu, don’t you agree?
miraculous to talk about, don’t you agree?

Father Karras
You speak Latin?

Regan
Ego te absolvo
I pronounce you clean (forgiven)

Father Karras
Quod nomen mihi est?”
What is my name?

Regan
Bon Jour
Good Day

Father Karras
Quod nomen mihi est?
What is my name?

Regan
La plume de ma tante.”
The pen (or quill) of my aunt.

 

Father Bowdern

[Steve Dunlap]

You read my mind, Fr. Bowdern. 🙂

I knew what some of that meant, but thank you for the full translation of that conversation. :)  Very cool!

[fatherbowdern]

You're welcome. The Cap put an article on here about the translation.

I think the conversation that Blatty wrote is great because truly, like the holy water, the Latin is only primary, introductory sentences that most children could have access to at most libraries, churches, schools, etc. These answers by Pazuzu are yet another trick by the demon.

Father Bowdern

[Steve Dunlap]

Oy, that Pazuzu.  He's a sneaky one I tell ya'. 🙂

[Ceru]

Is there anywhere that translates Mother Karras' Greek speech into English?  When Dimmy is done bandaging her leg, when she's in the mental ward ranting away, and when Regan is speaking in her voice during a break in the exorcism.

[fatherbowdern]

This question recieved posts in the past, but we haven't seen a Greek language interpretor on here yet to figure it out.

Father Bowdern

[Ttubretep]

I once watched the film with a friend who spoke fluent Greek.  I believe one of the things she says is, “You are not my son!”  I think that was in the hospital scene.  I'm almost positive that The Demon says something about Karras looking as though he's cold, when he's speaking in her voice.

[DamienKarras]

I had a surprisingly sad dream last night.  I was near the Georgetown area of Washington on top of some mountain ( I know.. =P) and I couldn't get to the place I've been dreaming to visit.. It was insanely wierd.. I could see the campus and the steps, it was depressing!

[Justme]

[karras13]

I had a recurring dream for years where I'd be watching The Exorcist alone in a dark, filthy, cinema and just like the first time I saw it, I am utterly terrified. In the dream I continually look away to avoid the horrifying visuals (like I did the night I first saw it) but the I am still terrified by the sounds, and as in a typical dream am unable to leave the cinema. I find myself trying to find a way out but there is only darkness and that dreadful audio keeps hammering at me.

Finally  it reaches a point where I wake up but still I feel uneasy for a while.

I've had that one many times.

[Tidy Rat]

I dreamed I was a member of a website where people were always placing back slashes ahead of quotation marks and semi-quotation marks. 

 

Not very Exorcist (unless they were possessed by a back slash demon), but still, thank God it was only a nightmare.   

[gumbloid]

I have dreams of a rose, and falling down a long flight of stairs…

 

My Exorcist nightmares start with a clock stopping.  I am walking up the stairs of the rectory and I spot the joker-faced statue.  Then I am transported back to my own bed.  I am strapped down.  To my left is pazuzu laughing at me; on the right is Damien Karas attempting to fight the demon.  Then I wake up… with my heart pounding.

[Author]

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