[Witch of Endor]

Previous to the Exorcist had there ever been a report of a possessed person’s head turning backwards like this?

[GhettoExorcist]

It was to show that the demon (pazuzu, satan, whatever) had a psychological hold on everyone that surrounded it. It’s funny this question gets asked so much yet nobody questions the validity of Reagan floating,changing into Karras’s mother, moving objects she isn’t touching, talking in other people’s voices. Everything that is shown is from the bystander’s perspective. That’s why I think the movie is so effective.

[Jason Stringer]

Ghetto nailed it right there ^ Great post.

[Ryan]

I remember Blatty bringing this up somewhere, saying something like “possession means *something* , not impossibility” to Freidkin, but they decided to keep it anyway due to its effectiveness.

[pazrags]

Do you think Regans head really turned backwards or was it like in the book that Chris thought she saw her head turning backwards. I mean a possessed person will die if that were to really happen. what did that scene really mean? they film was supossed to be done to look and feel realistic.

[fatherbowdern]

I agree with Ghetto from the psych point. Also, the film constantly reminds of the physical phenom that the human body can withstand. There are several build-ups to this (albeit sometimes benign) in which the doctors are constantly reminding Chris that the problem with her daughter isn’t her brain, it’s her bed; Regan’s able to “lift” a 220-pound psychiatrist off the ground by his crotch; “a 90-pound woman sees her child pinned beneath a car and she lifts it off to save her …” So, put two and two together and I think we may have a winning combo of why Regan’s head can do a 360. Comparison: Regan’s eyes rolling so far back into her head that the orbital muscles would rip away in a “normal” human to that of a 360 head spin. The is made to inspire us with visceral effects and you like this one too.

[Don]

I’d read that when an owl appears to turn its head 360 degrees, the bird really turns as far as it can, then snaps it back around and picks up the motion so fast that the movement appears to be continuous.

So, while 360 may be impossible, maybe 300 degrees can be achieved, if the devil makes you do it.

[Author]

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