CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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From the script of The Exorcist (first mention of Pazuzu):
EXTERIOR – IRAQ- NINEVEH- DAY
The old man arrives back at that dig site in a small jeep. As he pulls up two armed guards rush out. When they see who it is the old man gives them a wave and they slowly walk back to there quarters. The old man walks up the rocky mound and sees a huge
statue of the demon Pazuzu, which has the head of the small rock he earlier found. He climbs to a higher point to get a closer look. When he reaches the highest point he looks at the statue dead on. He then turns his head as we hear rocks falling and sees a guard standing behind him. He then turns again when he hears two dogs savagely attacking each other. The noise is something of an evil nature. He looks again at the statue and we are then presented with a classic stand off side view of the old man and the statue as the noises rage on. We then fade to the sun slowly setting as the noises lower in volume.Â
William Peter Blatty did his research regarding Pazuzu and I trust his intent for this mythological demon in his writings. This entity is woven throughout the entire series of films based on the following mythology:Â
PAZUZU – MYTHOLOGY
Pazuzu is often depicted with the body of a man but with the head of a lion or dog, talons instead of feet, two pairs of wings, the tail of a scorpion and a serpentine penis. He is also depicted with the right hand upward, and the left hand downward; the position of the hands means life and death, or creation and destruction.Pazuzu is the demon of the South-west wind that was known for bringing droughts and famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Pazuzu was invoked in amulets aimed at fighting against the powers of the malicious goddess Lamashtu, who was believed to cause harm to mother and child during childbirth. Pazuzu is also a demon who protected humans against plague and evil forces. (Source: Pazuzu: Encyclopedia II – Pazuzu – Mythology – http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Pazuzu_-_Mythology/id/597372).
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This, I believe carlamae, is what you are referring to about “kept OTHER evil spirits out of mankinds way.†For the sake of superior creative writing, WPB could have used anything, anyone, etc. in the place of Pazuzu. Yet he didn't. Blatty chose this mythological demon as the representation of the evil side of the ensuing battles for Father Merrin (first at the Ninevah-mound battle and then during Regan's exorcism). WPB filled us in with clues that delve into theoretical thinking that goes well beyond the scope of the surface interpretations; e.g., again from the script:
Â
MERRIN
We may ask what is relevant, but anything beyond that is dangerous. He is a liar; the demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us, but he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien … and powerful. So don't listen, remember that, do not listen.KARRAS
I think it would be helpful if I gave you some background on the different personalities Regan has manifested. So far, there seems to be three. She's convinced …MERRIN
… There is only one.Â
More food for thought?
Father Bowdern
My, my, toetag. Such a fine forensic analysis for things which you have no clue. It's not even necessary to go into details about the issues you have wrong. Perhaps the lithium has not quite built up an effective quality in your system yet. My best to you and your other asylum inmates.Â
Father Bowdern
mego, thanks for letting me know about this one. It's a VF and that means a lot for 1974 mag of this type. I just purchased it and will provide some scans from the magazine once I get it and have time to do the scanning.
Cap, if I watermark these do you want to put them on the home page?
Father Bowdern
Exactly, Steve. That's a well-spoken point in a nutshell.
I think TVYNS/EDC is a true insult to a younger demographic because WB thought those individuals couldn’t follow along or comprehend one of the most intriguing films in cinematic history. Instead, WB felt compelled to add the in-your-face garbage to try to parallel current horror films while making nefarious assumptions that most viewers have ADD or ADHD. WB should have known they couldn't water down the Mona Lisa without some kind of damage.
In the aftermath, we can see that WB tried to clean up their act for the BR release by editing out two of the ridiculous Pazuzu face/statue flashes. IMHO, the CGI face of Pazuzu superimposed over Regan’s during the hypnosis scene reminds me of a rabid bucktoothed rabbit [insert screams here]. The only startling thing about that scene is the actual use of CGI because it would add another more current element … an element so out of sync and unrealistic that it’s laughable.
The mystique of the original film is the exquisite execution of the unseen/unknown elements that Friedkin did not purposefully deliver. Once you’ve viewed TVYNS/EDC, it’s impossible to re-ravel and then unravel the mysteries that left audiences with a sense of unease and tension. Enough so that audiences could actually debate the film’s tagline of “Somewhere between science and superstition, there is another world.â€
Father Bowdern
Captain Howdy said:
The spiderwalk is also the only time possessed Regan leaves her room, and it completely eliminates thee claustrophobic feeling for the rest of that cut.
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Ding, ding, ding! I agree with your thinking on the spiderwalk issue, Cap.The original cut is much more intense by thinking about how Regan (Pazuzu) sneaked out of her room to commit the church desecrations and thinking about how Regan went downstairs to get the crucifix for the wicked vaginal assault scene. This also includes the shadow that Regan casts on her bedroom window while Lt. Kinderman was “casing the joint” despite Regan being strapped to her bed.
These subtle scenes were more thought provoking, which is exactly what Friedkin and Blatty wanted. They got it in the original cut. We all know that TVYNS/EDC was nothing more than a marketing ploy. But, hey, if you enjoy it, go for it (just don’t miss how the film was intentionally created before WB added backed the senseless 11 minutes of cutting-room floor material and “oh, golly, gee” CGI elements).
I too cringe at anyway saying their first exposure to the film is The Exorcist: TVYNS/EDC and not knowing how pristine and mysterious the original version really is. The second cut is the deepest and that holds true for TVYNS/EDC. It just bled out most thinking and the individual viewer’s interpretive variants.
Father Bowdern
Same goes for Burstyn when she was yanked to the floor with the piano wire harness. Of course, the had to edit out the words, “Fuck you, assholes!”
Father bowdern
I would rather hammer nails into my eyes than watch either of the prequels again. Morgan Creek should sell the franchise to another and better production company … but basically the franchise is dead.
Father Bowdern
Father Bowdern
I'm afraid Linda Hager, the contortionist, wasn't even that limber!
 Perhaps a Cirque du Soleil performer could do it and I've seen enough of their shows already to know it can be done with a human body.Father Bowdern
Imagine the laughter from the audience if that scene was actually left in the film. That was the way in which Blatty wrote it … not the more silly bloody-variant spiderwalk.
Father Bowdern
Steve, that's the missing scene material from the Fear of God documentary by Mark Kermode. It's been around a long while now. (Silly, “ain't” it?)
Father Bowdern
