CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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Hmm MIKE, you’ll have to explain Mortal Komblatty and it’s origins!
Perhaps we should do this in rounds.
How about Mrs. Clelia, armed with her clippers, vs. ETB’s Toad Bitch?
Let’s analyze:
Mrs. Clelia exhibited excellent surgical precision, Spider Man abilities, and preternatural strength.Toad Bitch had Spider-abilities, illusion casting, contortionism, and rampant unfulfilled horniness.
Not much to add to this debate except to say that Father James WAS totally wimpy and fey, and yet one of the more interesting characters in Dominion.
What I’m curious about is what he heard from Cheche when he said “you know my guilt?”
Cappy: No, the song is called “Linda Blair” and the band is called Redd Kross. I will try to find the lyrics, but in the meantime, you should check out their classic album, “Born Innocent”
Hey Granville –
Very well written review! But I disagree, and here’s why:
>The “feel†was all wrong, especially in view of that established in the original film. E.g., Lamont’s relationship with The Cardinal is simply unreal as contrasted to the priests in The Exorcist, from Dyer’s and Karras’ realistic friendship to the brief but quite realistic scene with Karras and the Bishop and the scene with the Bishop and “Tom†the University president as they discuss who to get for the exorcism.
Karras’ self-sacrifice which saved Regan is not even mentioned, except to imply that it was a waste since the demon is dormant inside of her.>I agree with both these points to an extent. Heretic does not compare to the original – I’m definitely agreed on that. That said, Boorman was trying to hit some different notes and ideas with this film, thus the priest’s characters became secondary. The inner conflicts of Karras & Merrin were part of the genius of Ex 1. We all know the “psychic saint†thing was never the point of Regan’s possession. But Boorman took this idea and ran with it, and I applaud him for it.
>The use of bugs. Not scary and reminiscent of the Peter Graves cheapo sci-fi giant grasshopper “thriller†The Beginning of the End.>
But it WAS funny, it gave us some cool scenes (the Africa locust-cam shots), and I thought it was quite original. I still get a million laughs from the little grasshopper warbling through the air “AAAIIIEEEEEEEEEâ€!! And what about James Earl Jones as a Locust!!!??!!! How on earth can you beat that?
>Blatty’s Merrin is based on Teilhard de Chardin and Carl Jung/Spinoza. Boorman’s Merrin is based on weak speculation.>
But the way Boorman took those Teilhardian ideas again I found very interesting. And I think more can be done with it.
> Boorman’s Lamont is a fanatical, unlikable kook from whom a sane person wouldn’t buy a used car or anything else.>
True! And it only upped the comedic factor!!! I wouldn’t have it any other way!
>Boorman’s Sharon is a sinister, cynical proto-witch whom Boorman clothes in an appropriately weird, black rain slicker. She is supposed to have been scarred by Regan’s possession, but Boorman renders her strange and unsympathetic. Boorman’s utter disrespect for his re-make of Sharon is fittingly resolved by his turning her into a human torch.>
Ah yes, good old spooky, ankle-licked, crispy fried Sharon…she wasn’t much of a presence in E1, and I enjoyed her residual spookiness in Heretic. Besides, without her, we could have never received that side splitting dialogue:
Lamont: Have you tried a priest, or a psychologist?
Sharon: I’m talking to one NOW, aren’t I???!>Let’s not get down to Boorman’s level in praise of Blair’s tits, either – that’s just what he wants – to distract the viewer from the fact that he’s made a ripe piece of shit. Don’t forget his other boob-references: Sharon’s see-thru gown after her shower and the African girl Lamont encouters. When in doubt, appeal to male chauvinism. Great respect for the viewer there, huh.>
I definitely disagree with you here. I thought Linda looked lovely in the film, and was not exploited in the least. Other filmmakers would have been much more gratuitous with both nudity and obscenity, particularly in the “Pazuzu’s Regan†scene (another hysterical sequence!). The African girl scene was just – well – part of the very random overall nuttiness – maybe hinting at Lamont’s continued corruption?
>Ennio Morricone’s score is fittingly sucky as well, with its screaming “African Mass†choral “musicâ€. He composed a lovely theme for Regan but its very beauty is only obtrusive and reminds us that it really belongs in a much better film.>
Another point I strongly disagree with. In fact, I thought Regan’s theme was the bad part of the music (it’s feminine hygiene commercial music). The “aah aaaah aaaah†tribal liturgy music was brilliant – at times hypnotic, cheesy, laughable, sometimes even scary – but utterly unforgettable. I recommend to anyone who rents or owns the DVD to watch the “Theatrical Trailer†in the special features. It has this awesome prog rock/disco remix of the music, with a montage that basically is the entire movie! It’s great!
>Based on the original film’s runaway success, the studio gave Boorman a huge production budget, which he proceeded to abuse with bloated production values. >
True, but now we live in an era where NO ONE will ever experiment and give us more than cookie cutter, mediocre, let’s-meet-everyone’s-expectations films. No one will ever risk the way Boorman and other filmmakers of the 70’s have. I salute the risk takers!
I can only imagine how great Heretic would be under those circumstances!
But your experience, Kinder, is only creepier when you consider that drugs are supposed to make you more open to possession…..
Frankly, I think there should be a sequel – of sorts – to Heretic!
Hear me out.
Remove it from any and all Exorcist continuity. No mention of Regan MacNeil or Father Merrin. BUT, continue with the idea of the Teilhardian convergence, the World Mind, psychic saints and spiritual attack. This could make an awesome Cable TV series of sorts.
And locusts. Lots n lots of locusts….
I don’t know, I’m actually not a huge fan of TVNYS. I do love the conversation between Merrin and Karras. But I thought the CGI and the gratuitous morphing of the Eileen Dietz face throughout the cut cheapened and lessened its impact.
In terms of the spider walk, I liked the version I saw in the Fear of God documentary. That was far more disturbing than the shlocky lame blood mouth.
