CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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Yeah, MIKE, give us a sample of your Exorcist vision… no pressure, just if and when you find the time… if it’s something you’d like to do.
Thank you, Captain, for the high compliment… I’ll try to be worthy of it! I think Blatty referred to the medallion as one of the “mysteries” of The Exorcist – somewhat like 2001 was “planted” throughout with teasing symbols…
Thanks, Blizzi… I’m so flattered. Yes, ain’t it intriguing what Cap’n Howdy said about how close WPB got to the actual case. I only wish that there had somehow been some scientific documentation, filming, brain tests (I know it was before really sophisticated tests had been devised) – so as to better judge its genuineness … whether it was real possession, mental illness, or hoax… Of course, protection of the subject’s privacy would have probably precluded most of that kind of research. Or, if it had been done, it probably would not have been permitted to be publicly viewed for the next 75 years or something…
I think everyone had a hand in caring for Regan – Chris, Karl, Sharon. I got the idea that she was wearing special sickroom diapers that were designed to handle, as much as possible, the diarrhetic episodes.
I don’t have a problem with Karl doing this, since he saw Regan very much as a surrogate daughter – one, unlike his real daughter, he could actually care for.Good find, but isn’t the photo the scene where Merrin and Karras are restraining her, not the crucifix-rape scene? No big deal – it’s a good article.
That’s a vivid scene alright, but I would tend to take issue with the “Dennings as pedophile” implication vis a vis touching Regan, for these reasons:
1) Blatty shows Dennings only as a good friend of the MacNeils, including Regan, toward whom he is consistently kind-hearted.
2) Blatty shows Dennings as a considerate person while sober, but rude and aggressive while drunk. Your scene has him drinking, which is consistent with Blatty’s description. However, Blatty’s Dennings is not a sexual predator when drunk. He is merely insulting. So molesting Regan is out of character for Dennings as Blatty has written him.
A likelier scenario – likelier in the sense that it keeps to Blatty’s characterization of Dennings – would be for Regan to wake up and taunt him. This could be Regan-the-sick-kid taunting him, or it could be Regan-the-mouthpiece-of-the-demon who taunts him. Then, already tipsy from sampling his flask, Dennings might start to slap Regan around, while in response she kills him. That’s still a stretch, since I can’t picture Dennings harming a little girl no matter how drunk he is. I just mention this scene as an alternative that at least is somewhat consistent with Blatty’s description of Dennings’ negative side.
3) Your scene, unlike Blatty’s novel, gives both Regan and the demon a _good_ reason to kill Dennings – which is clearly against Blatty’s intention, which is to show a demonic attack “out of the blue” and motivated only by evil. Your scene which has Dennings starting to molest Regan, gives her a good reason to attack him; and it gives the demon a “good” reason to be jealous and kill Dennings.
I hope you don’t think I’m being overly critical, but the “Dennings as molester” theme has been kicked around here recently, and it would seem that this theme is a projection of current social concerns about child abuse onto an original characterization that does not really support it.
Oh, duh, I get it now… okay, I’ve seen the movie but it’s been sooooo long ago that I can’t recall the details. Probably a good time for me to view it again! I’m sure your observations will enhance viewing it again.
I hear ya. I didn’t know that Carrie survived in the remake!
Who would you like to see play Kinderman in a new Exorcist?
