CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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“sub·lim·i·nal /s?b?l?m?nl/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[suhb-lim-uh-nl] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective Psychology.
existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness; being or employing stimuli insufficiently intense to produce a discrete sensation but often being or designed to be intense enough to influence the mental processes or the behavior of the individual: a subliminal stimulus; subliminal advertising.”The key word here is “operating” the images in the exorcist were specifically designed to have an effect below the level of consciousness. They are therefore correctly described as subliminal.
It took years before fact was seperated from fiction regarding the subliminals in the film. Which is testament in itself to how tricky some were to spot. It was only with the advent of home video that we were able to freeze frame these images and take them for granted. I never really spotted them at the cinema, at most I may have thought “what was that”? Whether they were actually subliminal or near subliminal is barely worth the argument.
It’s really about the quick scary edits having a subliminal effect. Not the images themselves being subliminal.
Some images are only there for a few frames. How much more subliminal can you be in cinema?
Freidkin always claimed it was the subconcious effect of these images he was striving for.And I still know of one definite appearance of Captain Howdy that is not generally acknowledged here or anywhere else.
In fact I know of only one other person who has ever agreed with me that it is there. I’d consider that subliminal for now.Best: Psycho
Favourite: Psycho/The Birds/Rear Window (Can’t distinguish between them)
Worst: Family PlotIt’s probable that nasogastric and intravenous feeding are different regimens for different conditions and needs. She was supposed to be extremely malnourished by this time, not just unwell.
I have to check as it may be my imagination, but I have a nagging memory that somewhere in the book it mentions her ripping out lines from her arms.Book for me, probably because I read it first. The movie is far more shocking and accessible, but the book has the depth and background. I’ve watched the film countless times and it’s a masterclass on how to construct a movie but it is flawed when it comes to the narrative. Rightly so in my opinion as it has been sacrificed for the cinematic experience which was the right decision for the medium.
Reading the book though lets you into the minds and motivations of the characters. More importantly you realise just how cunning and dangerous a foe the demon is, rather than just being bludgeoned by it.
If more people took the time to read the book I suspect there would be far less questions on this forum 😉The demon wanted far more than vengeance on Merrin (I still don’t believe Merrin as the primary target). It also wanted to punish Karras for his lack of faith, Chris for her divorce, Karl for his lies etc.
Also remember Blatty’s explanation of the demon as being God’s unwitting tool of bringing about Karras’ salvation.According to Blatty it was designed and photographed by Harper and Rows in-house graphics department.
Blatty had no say in it, neither does he know who it was.Yep, more conversation with the Demon would be top of my list.
For me that was always where the true horror in the novel lay.How much did you end up having to pay? After a lot of hunting I eventually managed to find one on ebay for the massive sum of £1.55.
And yes, the old sickly green, gold and yellow hues are far better.
