[forwearemany]

I would love to visit and view the Exorcist house, there is an allure to it like no other house, I was surprised that the locals don’t pay any particular mind to it, after all, it is the location of possibly the greatest horror/thriller ever made. I am more surprised that the “Amityville” house still has a deep sense of the macabre attached to it, where my last understanding was that it was lying unoccupied, and yet is a most beautiful house, I viewed it via an online tour, and would quite happily reside in it. I love the paranormal, and would happily investigate without any fear. Houses are as good as the occupants, and I would think that over time the vibe of various tenants would have evaporated any of the negative attachments it may have, and should stand as a grand family home.

Love the pics of the house and the steps, forever attached to “the Exorcist”.

[forwearemany]

I was visiting a local hostelry, (Pub) where they have a weekly film night, on this particular occasion they were showing the classic “Rocky” I was amazed at the turnout for the evening, particularly as I can’t believe there are people who haven’t seen the film, but it is a classic, and in the surroundings of this bar, it had a whole new vibe, where unlike the cinema the locals were shouting for the hero despite knowing the outcome, I had a chat with the landlord, and asked would he consider showing “The Exorcist” he gave a lame maybe, and followed it up with his view that due to the content, it might offend, I explained that I am a massive fan of the film, and have watched it whilst sat in a church, and it gave the film a whole new aura, far more scary than in the cinema due to the location, and would probably get a great response, he said he would give it due consideration, I would love to host an evening dedicated to this masterpiece of cinema, where I would offer a narrative on the film prior to the screening, I believe it would garner a whole new audience, and maintain the film’s cult status.

[forwearemany]

In my summary of the trailer, I understood Geena davis was taking Ellen Burstyn’s role, I was totally wrong, Geena plays a character Angela Rance, the mother of an all new family, there are some surprising shocks and reveals as the series has continued, it is a marvellous series, and does nothing to undermine the original book or film, it is well worth watching.

[forwearemany]

I have just watched the first episode of the new mini series, The Exorcist, as a massive fan of both the novel and film(s), I didn’t know what to expect and tuned in with great interest, would this be a retelling of the original, or be an all new story, based around the original,

I soon realised we were in all new territory, and yet the all too familiar undertones of the original were at play, it was dark, brooding, and utterly gripping, the story centres around an all new family, many years after the events of the original, Geena Davies is the mother of two daughters, Catherine and Casey, and the wife of Henry, (Alan Ruck) who appears to be suffering an onset of dementia or Alzheimers, there is a tension in the house, almost claustrophobic due to the particular stresses each family member is experiencing, catherine is recovering from the trauma of seeing a friend killed, casey is being almost motherly in trying to bring her sister out of her malaise,

These character are complimented brilliantly by the two priests, father Tomas, a young enthusiastic cleric, and the doubt ridden father Marcus, the tone is just right, and it played a wonderful homage to the original by referencing the Regan case, and playing out with the haunting Tubular Bells, which has become forever attached to the Exorcist,

I cannot wait for the next instalment, I live in the UK, so have only seen the first episode, fans of the Exorcist can be assured that this series is not only a fabulously dark and eerie offering, but also an honest and respectful tribute to the original.

P.S. I have a feeling the original movie will be remade in the not too distant future.

[forwearemany]

I have just watched a trailer for the upcoming Mini-series of the Exorcist to be shown on Fox in the Autumn, given that a trailer is a mish mash of the sum of it’s parts, it is difficult to give a fair and honest appraisal, it looks a very glossy project, with Geena Davis taking Ellen Burstyn’s role, however, it is only loosely based on “The Exorcist novel and film, I will watch with interest and offer a more informed critique having viewed it.

[forwearemany]

The notion of a remake of The Exorcist has been suggested for quite a while now, given that many classic films have been re-made it would only be a matter of time before The Exorcist was next, however there seems to be a reluctance, or at least resistance to doing a remake, how can one improve on the original, particularly as it worked on a very simple premise, to tell a story, which it did remarkably well, the narrative was expertly handled, the acting was exemplary, and the movie drew you in to the plight of Regan, the mystery of faith was the strand which made the Exorcist the achievement it was, and still is.

[forwearemany]

I purcahsed a statue of Pazuzu off E-bay from a shop called the “Black Broom” it stands nine inches tall and four inches wide, and is in-situ (the classic Pazuzu pose, right arm raised to the heavens, left arm pointing to the underworld, the iconography of Pazuzu is such that it seems an obvious choice of demon to possess Regan, “horned, taloned, winged, with a saturnine face, Pazuzu was the manifestation of evil, and a true personification of what many perceive the Devil to be.

[forwearemany]

I believe it could have been Burke Dennings, was he aware of Regan’s condition, and could he be guilty of a bit of mischief, to get a reaction, and possibly the reaction was that he was firstly murdered and then pushed from the window.

[forwearemany]

I also think the desecrations were carried out by Regan, the book alleges that it was Regan by the clay used to sculpt the obscene appendages on the holy statue, also, in the movie, as Father Karras is offering the holy sacrament in church we see the back of a girl who has a resemblance to Regan sat in one of the pews, could it be that she freely went about her demonic business at will, not to mention the eerie shadow that Kinderman sees pass across her bedroom window, all this from a girl who is supposedly strapped to the bed, where she cannot leave it, or the room.

[forwearemany]

just read a book I haven't read for many years, Charnel House, by Graham Masterton, a story about an ancient indian evil, (North American red indian) I had a few of his novels, most famously the Manitou, and revenge/return of the Manitou, both very good novels, based around an ancient red indian medicine man, Misquamacus, who was reincarnated in the body of a young woman, they made a movie of the book in the 70's, starring Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Michael Ansara, and Burgess Meredith, not a great movie but Ok.

On the subject of movies, I watched the remake of the Omen on Tv the other night, in all honesty it was a scene for scene remake albeit with a different cast, however it lacked the aura of the original, and the parts were not as well played as the original, it is interesting that at the time, The Omen was billed as a direct challenge to the Exorcist, and it was suggested that it was a more disturbing film, whilst it was a good film it didn't rival the Exorcist, both in it's content and it's shockability.

[forwearemany]

I think all versions are good, we are talking about the greatest Horror/supernatural thriller movie of all time, there is of course a couple of negatives, the overuse of superimposed imaging, and the alignment of the Spiderwalk and crucifix scene, too close together where either impact is nullified, the conversation between Merrin and Karras is essential, as rather than explaining the movie as has been said before, (hence it's omittance), it is a narrative in trying to qualify the events they are faced with, and makes them question their faith,

 

The ending with Kinderman and father Dyer walking away in friendship gives hope, that out of darkness comes new beginnings, and gives the film a more settling ending, rather than before, I believed evil had prevailed, two priests dead, a young girl still tormented, and leaves with the viewer suspended about what was the overall outcome.,

 

PS : just celebrated my Birthday, and I recieved a brilliant Pazuzu Statue as a gift.

[forwearemany]

I have been trying to acquire a statue of the demon Pazuzu, there is a site on ebay called “the black Broom” which specialises in occult memorabilia and collectables, they do have this, but every time I check on availability, it is sold out, does anyone know of anywhere else I could get this, possibly in the UK…?

[forwearemany]

I have read the exchange between Satanas and Father B, whilst I have not been on this site for long, and may bring myself into conflict for my comments, I think this is a futile argument, I assume all the members of this site are here because we share a common interest, “The Exorcist” the book, the movie and all things connected, it is wasted energy arguing about something which really has no merit, and conceivably no outcome, as one will ultimately want to out insult the other, or at least have the last word, which in turn leads to a non closure of the argument, the only outcome is to agree to disagree and move on, the shame of this is that both of you are good contributors, and have added some worthwhile comments and views, we cannot like everyone we encounter, and so apply tolerance when dealing with such people, and in that respect we reach a mutual impasse, where we remain cordial despite our differences, I don't mind the odd slanging match, it creates passionate debate, other than that it's pointless.

[forwearemany]

Very Interesting, it looks such a normal house, on a quiet street, who would think that such malevolence could reside there, I recently saw a documentary revisiting the old Lutz's house, site of the defeo murders featured in the book the Amityville horror, that particular house does indeed look menacing, the facade looks to have a face, the two large windows being the eyes, and the door representing the mouth, it looks quite unnerving, no-one can say for sure whether the events within the book are true, but it sure made for a disturbing story,

 

I also watched another documentary last week, entitled “Teen Exorcists” and highlighted the work of three very beautiful young girls as they went about Exorcising demons from various people, one of the girls was the daughter of reknown Exorcist and author Bob Larson, the girls visited London to advertise their work whilst hoping to encounter some possessed people, obviously there were a number of people who displayed some not so normal behaviour and were quickly attended to, what was interesting was the manner in which they expelled the supposed demons, rather aggressive and demanding that they leave the individual, whilst holding a crucifix close to them, is it real…? who knows, but very interesting.

[forwearemany]

I remember reading the book for the first time, I must have been about 17yrs old, early 1980, I had never seen the film, I had heard all the reviews, the Book, and ultimately the film had received, and how in many quarters, it was viewed as an abhorrent piece of literature, made into a more abhorrent movie, my copy was the Corgi edition, the one with the soft focus image on the cover, which until only recently I could actually make out as a face peering around a door frame, (I believe it is a picture of Shirley McClaine's daughter Saatchi,) I always thought it might be the demon featured in the novel,

 

I started reading, the prologue in Northern Iraq set a particular tone for what was to come, being interested in the ancient civilisations, I was familiar with many of the beliefs and cultures from that location, particularly the belief in demons, gods, and other deities, I read on, I soon reached the part where Regan starts showing signs that all is not well, on and on I read, each character offering a new depth to the story, I had gotten to the part where Burke Dennings had been pushed from Regan's window, and suffered the most horrific injury, Blatty referred to the Demon as the Wolf, and I had all kinds of images going through my head, the story got darker, and darker, I was feeling rather tense, in an uneasy kind of way, but I couldn't stop reading, I was drawn like a moth to a flame, and my fear was palatable, my mind raced with images of the most horrific nature, my breathing, much like Regan's was rhythmic, my mouth was dry, and I was afraid to move, I told myself it is only a book, but it was more than that, I had been transported to that icy little room, I was witness to this child's torment,

 

I reached the point of the Exorcism, Father Merrin had arrived and was advising Karras in how to conduct the Exorcism, I had been subjected to the most foul abuses, and behaviours known, and now I was about to confront the Devil again in a final showdown, the narrative was concise but exact, the sense of foreboding was overbearing, the demon was now in total control of Regan, and only the two priests could save her, I read on, I remember being overcome with an overt religious sensation, I am not religious myself, and yet I couldn't shake this feeling, I read on, the feeling of being in the presence of something unbearably evil engulfed me, I actually felt like I was in the centre of this maelstrom, and I was open to attack, but still I couldn't put it down, the sense of being watched was overpowering, I read on, father Merrin lay dead on the bedroom floor, Karras had flung himself from the window, and a little girl huddled in the corner, crying desperately for her mother, as lieutenant Kinderman stood bewildered as he witnessed the scene, I reached the end, 

 

The Exorcist Novel is the most emotionally draining book I have ever read, it takes you to places beyond comprehension, to visit a world beyond normal, and to intrude in the lives of those concerned, it is literary excellence, and stands out as a tour de force of popular fiction, I had nightmares after reading it, I went to see the movie not long after, again, never has a movie left such an indelible mark on me, it transcends anything before it and after it, and is a testament to the power of it's story.   

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