CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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I don’t know if she actually defecated on the altar. The perp left a mound of excrement on the altar. I’d always pictured her dropping it out of a plastic bag. That would be quicker than climbing up on the altar, disarranging her clothes, defecating, probably wiping herself (sorry), and re-arranging her clothing. I think this is the same incident (?) in which the pornographic altar card was left in the church, and the Virgin’s statue was desecrated. Whether or not all this occurred at the same time, stealth and speed would have been intense motivators. Hence, I would opt for a pre-packaged bit of dung rather than a more time-consuming defecation.
I don’t know if Blatty knew the kid’s identity, but I seem to recall that he was close to some Jesuits involved in the case, who swore him to secrecy. However, that’s just a blurred memory on my part.
My opinion is that a claim to be Satan or “the Devil” would be too obviously fake, pointing to a hoax or a mental disorder – as Karras says, “She doesn’t claim to be a demon, she says she’s the Devil himself. If you’ve seen as many psychotics as I have, you’ll know that’s like claiming to be Napoleon Bonaparte.” Presumably this dialog exhibits Blatty’s own perspective. He wanted a believable presentation of possession, with a putative demon clever enough to muddy the waters by claiming to be THE Devil/Satan – thus throwing Karras off the scent.
Legion does not mention Regan’s father at all. And I don’t recall “Howard” being mentioned in Ex2: Heretic. It’s possible he was mentioned in passing in the expository dialog that explained the absence of Chris MacNeil from the film – but as I say, I don’t recall Howard being mentioned.
I believe it was St. Joseph on the medallion in the Prologue in Iraq. However, I don’t think that this is the identical medal that Karras is shown wearing at the film’s end. It’s a St. Joseph medal, but not the one from Merrin’s dig. Probably Blatty/Friedkin put Karras’ medal in the script just to provide “resonance”. Otherwise we’d have to imagine that Merrin carried the medal home from Iraq and “gifted” it to Karras – an act of such emotional import that the script would hardly fail to mention it. So probably Karras’ medal is just an expression of “resonance.”
Thanks Blizzi… actually, I never thought of it either. It does conjure some…oddball… images, for sure! I think that’s one scene that a scripter would do well to avoid in any Exorcist re-make…
Nice new photo – thanks for sharing. Yes, a healthy dose of suspense will keep us on edge waiting to see…”something interesting…”
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…
I must confess that some of the symbolism was over my head, but the production values are extraordinary. I don’t know how you managed it just over a couple of days! Disciplined camera work and disturbing use of sound combine to make an enigmatic, creepy film.
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.Would have been intriguing if you could have had some home movies of the telekinesis when it was going on.. interesting stuff here.
