[Blizzi]

Sounds right to me. In the book it was said that it was a demon who claimed to be the Devil. But the Devil is a liar… I’m lost now 🙂

[granville1]

I don’t think Merrin’s digging let Pazuzu loose. If demons were so easily imprisoned they probably would not have gained their reputations as bad-ass “traveling men”.

Also, it was not, strictly speaking, Merrin who opened Pazuzu’s “tomb” – it was the archeological team. Merrin is in another part of the dig, and has to be alerted to the new finds by the Arab messenger boy.

I think that the Pazuzu amulet that Merrin finds is coincidence – however, it’s a meaningful coincidence. Blatty describes Merrin’s reaction as a premonition – not a literal unleashing of Pazuzu. Probably a case of Merrin’s unconscious dread being triggered by unearthing the amulet.

Merrin already knows that he has “an ancient enemy”. The amulet serves as a trigger for him to intuit – to make his unconscious dread conscious – that “soon” he will need to face that enemy again.

He has combatted a demon before in Africa. Therefore that demon was probably not the Middle-Eastern demon Pazuzu – at least in name. Perhaps the African demon and Pazuzu are (is?) the same demonic personality manifesting under different cultural forms.

The film implies that Merrin discovers the amulet before he “visits” the large statue. Recall how he swallows/gulps in dread when examining the amulet. When he returns from the dig from the chaykhana, it is as if he is still “sifting” his impressions.

He apparently does not know about the large statue (someone should have told him!) until a gust of (southwest?) wind tugs at his hat and he turns – and then sees the statue. Only then does he make his way up the hill to confront the statue in the famous face-to-face “sunset silhouette shot”.

I agree with Blizzi that calling himself “THE” Devil/Satan is just the demon’s ploy to “keep things interesting” for Karras. Merrin, on the other hand, knows that “there is only one” possessing personality. That personality is not Satan or the Devil – Merrin, from experience, calls it merely a demon.

[Blizzi]

Oh, crud. I misread. I don’t think that Merrin let him loose. It was an omen of the battle to come, imo. Uhg… I agree with granville. 🙂 He knows about this stuff 😛

[granville1]

No, Blizzi, I didn’t think you said that Merrin let P loose. I was replying to that question as raised by wolfboyspike. I’m glad you think I know about this stuff – but it’s nice to be around a lot of knowledgable folks here. I learn something new at CH all the time.

[Blizzi]

Ah. 🙂

[wolfboyspike]

Thanks for the info! Side note, I just got the Peter Travers “Story Behind The Exorcist” and so far its pretty great with a ton of pics a map of the Gtown location and the text of the ritual for an Exorcism!!!

[granville1]

Yeah, I bought a copy when it first came out in ’74… don’t think I still have it, though…

[wolfboyspike]

Ok big dumb admission but I’m just gonna throw it out there.

I’ve never really understood the conection btwn Iraq and the rest of the movie. Did Merrin let Pazuzu loose by digging up that little sculpture? Does Merrin recognize that as a sign that Pazuzu is still bent about their last encounter? Does Merrin go to see the statue with the armed guards as recognition of that sign? And later when Regan is possessed why does she say shes “THE” devil (as in Lucifer) and not Pazuzu?

Sorry if you’ve all been thru this before but I had to ask. Thanks !!!

[magus]

I have it too. It’s a very good read.

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