[fatherbowdern]

I offer my thanks to captainhowdy.com member bursyl for leading me in the direction of yet another beating of the dead horse regarding the bloody-variant spiderwalk version. Thanks also for the very much pun intended topic title suggestion. Bursyl pointed out that the blu-ray digibook content on page 38 states:

“In the 2000 restoration, The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen, Friedkin returns several terrifying moments previous excised from the theatrical cut due to length or controversy, making a slightly changed but wholly new cinematic experience. The “spider-walk” scene, long discussed by cineastes, has been digitally enhanced from its original incarnation to speed up Regan’s movements and add in a mouthful of blood to punctuate the dramatic cut to black.”

Through that authorized content from Warner Brothers, Blatty, and Friedkin for the blu-ray digibook release of The Exorcist, the infamous spiderwalk is not purely cut and dry nor black and white. Despite the BTS material that should draw only one conclusion from the actual “Roizman Tapes” regarding Hager’s blood-spewing version of the spiderwalk, it is now clear that CGI technology did indeed “add a mouthful of blood” to that particular scene. That one sentence from the digibook is succinct, direct, and does not propose or suggest any alternative interpretations.

I believe there is a viable concept in the spiderwalk scene that parallels the same insightful filmmaking decisions that Friedkin made in order to craft more believability in otherwise implausible and more visually gimmicky scenes. For this comparison, Friedkin rejected the vomiting apparatus scenes and insisted on filming Blair imitating the projective vomiting in order to have it successfully painted in later. Thus, through Friedkin’s observations and hypotheses, the spiderwalk scene would receive the same kind of treatment as that of the vomiting apparatus scene or vice versa; i.e. the filming schedule for one of the two scenes created a parallelism for corrective measures and initiated Friedkin’s intuitive decisions regarding the filming of both scenes.

With the digibook information, I can now view that particular scene with a more open mind that everything about this superior film creates an even more attractive allure to long-time fans of this film like me.

Father Bowdern

 

Original Spiderwalk

 

Bloody-Variant Spiderwalk

 

The Scariest Person on Earth!  (Eileen Dietz, Leading Star of The Exorcist)

[Jason Stringer]

I still believe the blood was already there and shot on set, dripping from the stunt woman's mouth. I think the dripping speed was enhanced and more blood added with CGI years later for TVYNS.

[fatherbowdern]

Captain Howdy said:

I still believe the blood was already there and shot on set, dripping from the stunt woman's mouth. I think the dripping speed was enhanced and more blood added with CGI years later for TVYNS.

---

 
Cap, the statement on page 38 of the digibook reads that the walking movements; not the speed of the blood was enhanced. “The “spider-walk” scene, long discussed by cineastes, has been digitally enhanced from its original incarnation to speed up Regan’s movements and add in a mouthful of blood to punctuate the dramatic cut to black.”

Why split hairs on the factual information from the digibook that comes straight from the source? I am not being closed-minded about whether or not CGI “enhanced” the bloody special effect or whether Friedkin deliberately chose to shoot that scene through imitation as he obvoiusly did with Blair during the vomiting scene. On the flip side, I understand that “add in a mouthful of blood” is concrete information versus any type of abstract beliefs.

In the dark we are all the same. It is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us.

Father Bowdern 

A postscript: Cap, I just read your reply about the original version from OP columbiancannon about the re-release. You responded:

“Perhaps the monument scenes could be added in full as an aside feature on a future release, but I never want to see them included in the film. The Extended Director's Cut is bad enough. The Original Theatrical Cut is, and always will be, superior. The pacing is so precise, it's a shame less people will bother with it and go straight for the 'spiderwalk cut'.”

I replied:

Cap, BRAVO! You're the man on the Original Theatrical Cut … it is and will always be the quintessential version! Which should lead me to question myself about, “Why do I actually give a shit about the fucking spiderwalk versions?” To go a little further, I guess I'm adding a topic that seems to interest some individuals and opens up a conversation, a dialogue, about a piece of film history that is not such a “case-closed topic.” None of us participated in the digital enhancement process. Why should we repudiate the wisdom of the creators for that particular scene?

Father Bowdern

[Don]

That last effect seemed illogical: if she were really bleening internally to that degree, she'd have been hospitalized immediately.

[DamienKarras]

Yeah, I thought the blood was on set too, considering we saw the blood being wiped off when she was being helped up.. I'll have to watch the spider-walk on BR though, seeing as I haven't done that yet =P

[fatherbowdern]

Don, I agree and that is a funny reply! I often wonder how Hager could have held that much fake blood in her mouth for let it rip for that a period of time.

Damien, re-read what I wrote in the OP. I'm really not talking about the bloody-variant being filmed. It was. I've shown that picture on another topic. This is really about the statement from the new blu-ray digibook:

The “spider-walk” scene, long discussed by cineastes, has been digitally enhanced from its original incarnation to speed up Regan’s movements and add in a mouthful of blood to punctuate the dramatic cut to black.”

Father Bowdern

[Jason Stringer]

FB,

I indicated that the 'speed' of the dripping blood, and amount, may have been enhanced digitally because on set the amount, drip and colour may have been unsatisfactory– but she did have blood in her mouth at the time of shooting (for at least one take), Roizman's BTS footage clearly shows us that.

I love this topic, by the way. 🙂 I love how passionate we are about this topic an otherwise perfect film!

[fatherbowdern]

Cap,

You've become a dear friend over the past few years, but I'm going to have to beat you severely about the head and neck with a wet linguini noodle for not listening!    (Either that or I should stop smoking so much reefer and get my point across more succinctly). 

Yes, Hager had blood in her mouth in the “Roizman Tapes.” We see that! I said it! I know it! I loved actually seeing it! The true passion for me runs in the cold, hard facts; not an abstract belief system to what we currently see in the 2000 version. All of the others things I've mentioned on this website about the bloody-variant spiderwalk, accompanied now with the fact that the BR digibook is telling us the very same thing as other resources, opens my mind without creating a “case-closed” opinion. It is fact versus fiction, at least in my eyes.

I don’t think any of us were onset at the time of filming nor were we there when the digital techs enhanced that particular scene.

I wish I had named this topic, “The Great Spiderwalk Debate – Leave the Facts at the Door.” I’m also starting a new topic entitled, “Why Jesus Christ Could Never Have Walked on Water Yet Millions Still Believe.” 

Father Bowdern

[DamienKarras]

Shit's gonna go down….

[fatherbowdern]

That's right … I bustin' outta here with a whole load of wet linguini noodles and nobody's gonna stop me, ya here? 

Father Bowdern

[DamienKarras]

I'm actually frightened

[Jason Stringer]

FB,

How dare you threaten me with a linguini noodle, the most evil of all noodles! Consider yourself banned!!

I cast you out, unclean spirit!!

What's that? Life… Member? Years of support and dedication? Oh…

*ahem*

I re-read your posts carefully FB, and most humbly admit, I see what you're saying. I was quick to reply and partake in the 'debate', is all. 

I would suggest less reefer to achieve more succinct points but I don't believe such a thing as 'less reefer' should exist!

[fatherbowdern]

Cap,

Yes, the master linguini noodle is a bit harsh for the beating. However, Good Mother of God … you can threaten to take my Life Member status and years of support and dedication, but never my reefer! That would be the equivalent of banishing me to lead a life in an isolated monastery doomed to tying handmade pretzels until I die.

Thanks for re-reading the OP. Honestly I am glad you jumped in on this one to join the debate. We both agree that the original is the quintessential version of this Citizen Kane, yet this one spiderwalk scene still raises questions only to be answered in different directions from various sources.

Oh, well, it's all very remote.

May you find a fresh baggie in the bottom of your fridge!

Father Bowdern

[etrigan69]

Food for thought. In that pamphlet that comes with the Blu-Ray it also says the vomit scene was Eilleen while in the Doc it says she was only used for the subliminal cut. (Forgive me. I lent my copy to a friend and I can't quote it directly)

 

My point is if that is the case, whoever wrote the pamphlet may be………. uninformed or making assumptions which for me calls in to question the statement on the spider-walk……. Just sayin!

[fatherbowdern]

etrigan,

You are referring to the information on page 26 under Trivia in the BR digibook that states:

“Regan's famous “green vomit” scene was actually performed by an adult actress Eileen Dietz, because makeup artist Dick Smith felt it was too difficult to rig for Blair.”

That one is actually very passé and has been around the block since the 1970’s. Additionally, this very same Trivia is in the 25th Anniversary Box Set.

The sentence is not uninformed nor is it making assumptions. We see Dietz, only in that small clip at the ending.

The thing that can now raise eyebrows is that Blair and Roizman are telling us in the “Roizman Tapes” that she too wore that same vomit apparatus.

I get your point, but there's the issue of straying from the subject matter (which I have now done … shame on me!). 

Father Bowdern

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