[fraroc]

What was the scene that to you, had the most meaning and emotion?

 

I belive mine is the scene where Karras is strangling Regan in order to lure the Devil into him was the most emotionally intense, mainly because of Regan crying, here we see her, with her face still all demonic and cut up, crying her eyes out for her mother. It sent a shiver down my spine because when she was still a demon, we sometimes forget that even though the embodiment of all evil was inside her and we see her do horrible things like desicrate a crucifix by masturbating with it, or cursing out the preists or killing Burke in a horrifying way, we sometimes forget that deep inside this total picture of evil, there was a frightened child still inside………

[Jason Stringer]

When Karras and Chris meet for the first time. That scene is perfectly shot, perfectly directed and perfectly performed. I always found it very real and full of raw energy. The dialogue is fantastic.

I love how perfect this film is!

[fatherbowdern]

 
You posed a great question in your post that's maybe worth discussing. We should not stray away to other gimmicky movies like EII for answers because they were not in the works until after the release of the original film. IOW, the original had a proper ending or an entire story with a beginning, middle, and ending (with no hints of a dreadful sequel). Below are some initial thoughts about Regan's recollection, if she had any at all:

1. At the beginning the crucifix scene, we hear Regan pleading with the masculine voice. 

2. Sharon calls Father Karras to the house to observe the “help me” message by and on Regan's stomach.

3. When Father Karras asks where Regan is during his initial visit, the demon replies, “In here, with us.”

4. Once Regan is free from the demon, she is cowering in a corner calling out, “Mother.”

5. At end of film, Chris tells Father Dyer that Regan remembers nothing about the events that transpired.

Hmmm … is Regan in a deeply subdued trance while the demon takes over? Is Regan fully aware of what's been going on the entire time? Did Regan have a sudden case of amnesia after the exorcism?

Father Bowdern

[Steve Dunlap]

In regard to the question whether or not Regan remembered the events that had occurred when she was possessed, another possibility is the notion that such things were so terrible that her body, once released, subconsciously repressed those memories.  If we do not take into account “Exorcist II” then we could assume she either was still under the effects of hypnosis, or she was in suppression of memory as a result of post-traumatic stress.

[Sofia]

“ her body, once released, subconsciously repressed those memories. “

It means that she consciously repressed those memories but they remain alive in her subconscious, right?

[Steve Dunlap]

Actually, I think you put it better than I did, Sofia. 🙂

 

As I understand it, things can be so horrific for someone though, that part of the mind's natural defense is to supress that memory.  However, the memory is still there…just buried deep down.   Usually, the things that might bring that memory back to the surface are dreams (in which the dreamer will likely simply ask: “Why am I having these dreams?”) or witnessing a similar event which might bring such memories back, unbidden.

 

I'm no psychologist or psychiatrist, but these are my understandings….and assumptions. 🙂

[fatherbowdern]

That’s good thinking about why Regan suppressed the memories. In that case, Steve, you've represented a form of what Freud termed, infantile amnesia (although accelerated given Regan’s age). There are many other theories about cognitive stages yet I tend to disbelieve much of what Freud surmised, despite being the “father of psychiatry.”

Sofia, is there any mention in the novel that closes the gap on the subject? The film tries to wrap it up in a nice little bundle with Chris’s statement about Regan not remembering any of it. Again, if we forget about the sequels, it does keep some questions going.

Also, my favorite scene in the film is the one with Chris and Lt. Kinderman at the dining room table. The acting is superior; Friedkin’s direction is incredible; and Blatty’s script is an elegant exchange of lines with a nonchalant one-two punch of shocking news. The scene’s pacing along with a sense of suffocation from the cameras closing in on Chris and Lt. Kinderman are a true cinematic treat.

Father Bowdern

[Steve Dunlap]

Father Bowdern said:

That’s good thinking about why Regan suppressed the memories. In that case, Steve, you've represented a form of what Freud termed, infantile amnesia (although accelerated given Regan’s age). There are many other theories about cognitive stages yet I tend to disbelieve much of what Freud surmised, despite being the “father of psychiatry.”

Sofia, is there any mention in the novel that closes the gap on the subject? The film tries to wrap it up in a nice little bundle with Chris’s statement about Regan not remembering any of it. Again, if we forget about the sequels, it does keep some questions going.

Also, my favorite scene in the film is the one with Chris and Lt. Kinderman at the dining room table. The acting is superior; Friedkin’s direction is incredible; and Blatty’s script is an elegant exchange of lines with a nonchalant one-two punch of shocking news. The scene’s pacing along with a sense of suffocation from the cameras closing in on Chris and Lt. Kinderman are a true cinematic treat.

Father Bowdern

---

Thank you, Father Bowdern. 🙂

I've always found that children are much more resilient than people give them credit for.  I think, because of their young age, they're able (whether consciously or subconsciously) to forget/repress a lot of things that could ordinarilly scar them for life.   I'm not saying all children can, but some absolutely can….so it kinda makes sense for the purposes of fiction that Regan could.   Besides, as I recall, I don't think Mr. Blatty was interested in doing a direct sequel regarding Regan and Chris, so that little “she doesn't remember any of it” is a nice way to cinch off that possibility…although I have had some ideas going in my head for a few days now that  might inspire me to do a direct fan-fic sequel…and hopefully something that does the original justice…not a travesty like The Heretic. 🙂

[fatherbowdern]

Steve, that's true about EII. WB cashed in on their original investment by releasing that horrid film that went through several revisions even while it was in production. Ultimately, it was a flop, laughable, and disappointing. Like any writer, I'm sure Blatty never considered that his novel would have such sales or that his novel would become an incredible motion picture that raked into that much money. It was and is a phenomenon. I can’t recall exactly why Blatty was not interested in writing the follow-up script other than he made a complete, whole, stand-alone film.

Father Bowdern

[Steve Dunlap]

As a fanfic writer myself, I know that sometimes you can look at your own work, and go “wow….how do I top that?”

It seemed that with “The Exorcist” he pulled out all the stops in that story….and he may have felt the same way as I stated above.

But, only Mr. Blatty knows for sure. 🙂

[fatherbowdern]

That's true … or he could have been reeling over the income still pouring in from the novel and film. We should all have such good luck!

Father Bowdern

[Steve Dunlap]

LOL!!! Indeed, my friend. 🙂

[pacific707]

I've always thought that the deepest scene for me in the film was during the time between the attempts at exorcsicm when Karras was visited by apparitions of his dead mother in Regan's bed.  It wasn't necessarily his dead mother appearing before him, it was the fact that you could hear Regan gasping for breath, as if she were just on the “other” side, very close to being herself until she utters “Why, Dimmy?”  Karras couldn't give her any medication, as he told Merrin, “She'll go into a coma.”  That scene has always tugged at my heartstrings and I've always felt that Regan was right there, so close yet under such intense possession that there just wasn't any way to reach her and pull her through her awful experience.

[fatherbowdern]

That is a great scene and I feel the same away about Regan being present (see my post above). That scene has strong correlations with the inception of the possession when we hear Regan's voice and demon's voice intermixed; i.e., the “fuck me” scene.

Father Bowdern

[Steve Dunlap]

pacific707 said:

I've always thought that the deepest scene for me in the film was during the time between the attempts at exorcsicm when Karras was visited by apparitions of his dead mother in Regan's bed.  It wasn't necessarily his dead mother appearing before him, it was the fact that you could hear Regan gasping for breath, as if she were just on the “other” side, very close to being herself until she utters “Why, Dimmy?”  Karras couldn't give her any medication, as he told Merrin, “She'll go into a coma.”  That scene has always tugged at my heartstrings and I've always felt that Regan was right there, so close yet under such intense possession that there just wasn't any way to reach her and pull her through her awful experience.

---

Nicely put. 🙂

[Author]

Posts