CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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Can't agree more with you. Being a whole lot older than some on this site, I've always believed that WB prodded Friedkin along to make a more current version of his horror film for younger audiences by adding the ridiculous flashes of Captain Howdy and Pazuzu. That didn't work for audiences in 2000 and at least two of blunderous flashes are now removed from Regan's bedroom door and wall. Like you said, “That's crazy!”
Additionally, morphing Regan's face into that of Captain Howdy during the hypnosis scene sustains my belief that the bloody variant spiderwalk scene was tinkered with as well through CGI. In other words, they are both hedging toward comedy rather than suspense or frights. They are both silly. Just as silly as Regan in the doctor's office humming while plastered to door and then doing a wobbly plop in the floor. It was bad acting and it still gets laughs in theaters as I can attest to during the September 30th screening. In those instances, it has nothing to do with hiding behind laughter to cover up your fear as Friedkin proclaims.
Father Bowdern
The blood could have been from Burke, after all the spiderwalk occurs a few minutes after his death… but I'd rather not take The Exorcist into vampire territory.Â
What they should have done, if they did in fact use CGI on the scene, is put the blood all over her face instead of pouring out her mouth.Either way, it still seems out of place and ruins the mystery surrounding Burke's death and the silhouette Kinderman sees, as we know for sure she is able to move around freely even when supposedly sedated. It's the only scene I wouldn't mind being taken out for good.
I guess I'm in the minority of those that prefer all the other added scenes, including the doctor visit.
It's the same thing as put lipstick on the Mona Lisa.
I think in this case it's more like the Mona Lisa originally had lipstick but then da Vinci decided that shade didn't suit her.
I think in this case it's more like the Mona Lisa originally had lipstick but then da Vinci decided that shade didn't suit her.
Ha … good one, Justin!
Father Bowdern
What they should have done, if they did in fact use CGI on the scene, is put the blood all over her face instead of pouring out her mouth.
That's a good reflection, but I never did associate Regan with Burke's death via the stupid spiderwalk whether she was hemorrhaging from her mouth or snake-tonguing her way down the steps. It does make sense though.
Father Bowdern
I see the spider-walk sequence we have now…
Regan's off-camera footsteps, Chris' reaction, the sped-up side-view footage, the bloody mouth, Chris' second reaction shot (which, while it's terrific acting by Burstyn, doesn't really match with what we're seeing, shouldn't Chris be shrieking “Oh my god” instead of gasping it?)
… as Shock Value. Shock Value that modern audiences need for a quick, sudden jolt.
The original version of Chris being comforted by Chuck while she's sobbing uncontrollably, then a fade-out, is quite sad. Then we see Regan under hypnosis, looking very zonked out. All very subtle, very unsettling. No bloody mouth, no sharp soundtrack sting.
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I understand what Blatty was getting at, as a double-climax, finding out Burke is dead, then Regan doing her thing, and I get why the footage of Regan's snakey-tongue and her crawling around on all fours wasn't used.
But I do vaguely recall the novel's version, Sharon feeling something on her ankle, then looking down seeing Regan licking Sharon's ankle like a serpent. Reading and then visualizing that, chilled the hell out of me.
Reading and visualizing something from a great novel doesn't always translate well on screen. To me, both spiderwalk versions did not work effectively. Instead of a shock-value transition into the film's following hypnosis scene, the quick upset retreats from the intended spiraling momentum of tension and unease via a cheap, unnecessary, and senseless thrill akin to the slasher films that came after The Exorcist yet before TVYNS/EDC release in 2000.
Further, Chris's anguish over Burke’s death, then fading to black created a more thought-provoking ending that heightens the crescendo into the more sensible introduction to the malevolent entity inside of Regan during the hypnosis scene. Instead, viewers go from the laughable snake-like tongue version to the more moronic blood-gushing version of the spiderwalk; neither of which fleshes out anything except absurdity. By virtue of that one bloody-variant spiderwalk scene, institutionalizing Regan would be most appropriate from both a medical and parental stance.
Friedkin knew he and his editor did the best job in 1973 by removing scenes that just did not work and slowed or dramatically altered the pacing of the film. I especially dislike Blatty’s need for a “all is right in Heaven†ending in TVYNS/EDC between Dyer and Kinderman that only disjoints the more eloquent, no-words-necessary ending of Dyer looking up to Regan’s window and looking down the Hitchcock Steps. The original ending conjures up thoughts of what Friedkin intended and that is for audiences to take away their intimate thoughts from the film based on their own thoughts, religious beliefs, and being afraid of unseen forces that envelopes individuals long after their exit from the movie theater. A light-hearted comedic ending works for Blatty's comedies, but is unnecessary for a film of this nature. Dyer’s somber face and look of puzzlement at the end of the original film leaves us with questions about varying degrees of medical/mental prognoses, differing religious viewpoints, and the mystery of faith.
Father Bowdern
Please forgive me if I repeat something from a previous post in this thread….I kinda glossed over some stuff…but what I found interesting was when someone had pointed out (quite correctly) that there was more to the “spiderwalk scene” than what we even saw in TVYNS-EDC versions.
Regan chasing Sharon with her flicking tongue. If I recall correctly, I think that part of the scene was exorcised (LOL) from the film because it was felt that Regan's tongue flicking looked too cartoony in such bold light.  The tongue flicking seemed to work much better in the harsher, more contrasted lighting of the exorcism scenes with Merrin and Kerras.
Actually, they are both ridiculous. Here's the link to the one you are talking about.
Father Bowdern
Indeed. Thanks for the link, Fr. Bowdern. 🙂
I saw this on the blu-ray, and was so glad to see this scene in its entirety on the featurettes. The blu-ray was indeed a worthwhile (and long awaited ) purchase.
I can see I'm going to have a LOT of fun on this forum and website. 🙂
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