[ManInKhakiExorcist]

Thanks, Erik. DITTO!

SC, I’ll be covering all these mysteries/mistakes in different ways in EAE, so I’m optimistic you will find some satisfaction. I, too, am somewhat mystified by some of the same things.

But regarding the dream sequence, not every dream human beings have means or features elements that mean much of anything; it’s half the time, at least, a mixed-upside-down bag, not always the straightforward dream narrative Friedkin and Blatty craft for expoisitional effect.

Incidentally, Schrader and co. really went out of their way to be different from the Friedkin and Blatty films of the series, making a dream sequence that he even admits means little. However, he would be quite wrong; the bandaged guy turns out to be Merrin himself, and the woman with the bloody hand and bullet-holed neck, by virtue of their reprises in the final act of the film thanks to Merrin getting to “time travel for a shot at freedom”, it is then that they are assigned meaning; just by virtue of juxtaposition. The demon appearing in the dream, it should be self-explanatory, and thus has meaning by default. The dream was foreshadow, through and through.

Then, aside from all of this, if we consider that dreams are open to interpretation, some filmmakers like to go completely all-out. Schrader, though, only somewhat, here. Who hasn’t had really strange dreams? Who hasn’t had really straight-forward, true-to-life dreams?

It could be argued that Schrader was being realistic and true to life, after all, that Friedkin and Blatty with their fairly straightforward dream narratives were writing their audiences off as having no imagination. Even the dream sequence in The Heretic is vaild, arguably; or invalid, arguably. Jut like these other discussed dream sequences,

Now a photograph, it doesn’t lie. But a human brain in dream mode…? Anything goes.

Two cents.

MG

[ekm]

I would argue against Friedkin and Blatty offering “straightforward” dream sequences. Both are wonderfully surreal, with multiple layers. The former paints a stark and disturbing fever dream plagued by guilt, loss and abandonment, intercut with fleeting, disconnected images; the latter turns a metaphor into a metaphor.

[ManInKhakiExorcist]

I should have put quotes around that. Good observations, my friend. 🙂

[pazrags]

MANINKHAKIEXORCIST I really would like to read the sequel books you are doing! I bet it will be FAMTASTIC when finished!!!!

[pazrags]

sorry meant the prequels!!

[ManInKhakiExorcist]

Thanks, Paz.

By the way, gang, Monday I interviewed Caleb Carr, for 3 hours. An amazing interview, to say the very least.

I also did a 17-minute interview with Schrader’s First A.D., Aaron Barsky. Nice guy, with a great memory. Lots of these folks are telling me it’s hard to remember stuff; but they must be pulling my leg, given the sheer amount of content they’re bringing to the table…!

For the rest of the individuals interviewed, you know where to go:

http://www.evilagainstevil.com

Rolling away the stone,

MG

[ManInKhakiExorcist]

http://www.EVILAGAINSTEVIL.com — site is open!

[ManInKhakiExorcist]

Gang, a slew of interviews — all exclusives on a number of different levels — in the can, ensuring this book taking me longer than my already aimed-high ambitions first established things, thanks to the transcription process alone. Heh. Fortunately, the names are iconic, a number of them, so it should be well worth it, lemme tell ya!

Most recently, Vittorio Storaro, Caleb Carr, and some former Morgan Creek executives. And many more. Can others be on the horizon? There’s a few more folks I’m keen to speak to.

But interviews aside, this book will be up there with Mark Kermode’s best, if… I may be so bold. Sir.

http://www.evilagainstevil.com

20XX A.D. Guaranteed, should I live to finish it. Gotta be honest; there’s a HELL of a lot of work, to do this right, given all these recent interview acquisitions launching the book into truly definitive status (ie. something for everyone.).

Wish me luck, please. 🙂 I wish this labor of love were all I had to live for, daily work-wise! Fun fact: writing (for various formats/media) has trumped my passion for illustration; I love to draw, but writing is much more natural, a hidden talent gone undisclosed for too, too long. Comic books I’ll still be aiming for, but writing — in particular copy-writing (not to be confused with the legal concept of copyrighting) — is a much better, and better-paying, fit.

M.I.K.E.

[Author]

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