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I see it more as the soul of Karras coming forward despite being possessed; and therefore enabling him to make the choice to plunge to his death.
In other words, when his eyes stop being yellow, it’s not because he is no longer possessed – it’s because he has restored faith and is able to be the dominant soul in that body, even if just for a fleeting moment. Long enough to plunge out the window and end it all – until Warner Brothers demanded a sequel…
Of course, Legion was a tack-on. In the Legion novel, Karras only appears as his re-animated body. Karras is not present as a person. In fact the Gemnini himself says that Karras has gone on to his reward.
It is only in the Legion _film_ that Karras himself re-appears as a victim of (re-)possession, having been captured by demons in an act of demonic revenge.
Blatty’s book and Friedkin’s novel are explicit that Karras was redeemed and had a renewal of faith. The novel says his eyes had a glint of peace and triumph. Blatty is on record that the demon did not win.
The notion of Karras as having been re-captured by a demon or demons is solely the conceit of the Legion _film_. Blatty’s Legion novel wisely preserves Karras’s salvation.
Therefore, I believe it would be a mistake to consider tampering with the SFX (the yellow demonic eyes) at the end of The Exorcist to indicate that – after offering himself for possession, being possessed, and then throwing off the demon’s power – Karras had been possessed again.
That would only serve to invalidate his “hand-grasping confession” to Dyer, to confuse the question of his salvation, and to vitiate Blatty’s entire intention.
Well, Blizzi, thank you.
I really do think that, in the original story and film, a plot element of Karras’ re-possession by Gemini/Pazuzu, would certainly weaken the case for the redemption of “our beloved Damien Karras”.
Of course, Blatty consented to weaken the case when he agreed that Karras would personally re-appear as in the clutches of Gemini-Pazuzu. Guess we can blame Morgan Creek for that, at least in part.
Actually, re: a second application of the demonic yellow eyes to indicate that Karras, after successfully exorcising Regan, was re-possessed:
It strikes me that KARRAS WAS NOT ACTUALLY RE-POSESSED AT ALL!
He really exorcised Regan. He really “took the demon out the window” with him. He really saw a vision of God’s glory. Then, just before going on to his reward, he was abducted by Gemini-Pazuzu.
However, abduction does not equal possession. Karras was in the power of the demons, but his mind was clear (“Save your servant”) and his soul, though tormented was his own – and still good.
Granted, having this evil befall him after his heroic actions in saving Regan is a really nasty brutalization of a truly likeable and saintly character.
But it’s not as bad as actual possession. Karras, in the Legion to be demonically tortured, certainly, but as himself, unmarred by re-possession.
Damien Karras, we may comfort ourselves, was not re-possessed. He was demonically kidnapped, with soul and mind inviolate and intact!
And so he was able to “fight”, as Morning said, and eject the kidnappers from his body. Temple said that he got violent… it seems that James Venamun did not attack Karras’ body but his soul by forcing to watch his friends being murdered. If his soul was not intact, he would not have been able to exorcise himself of the demons/killer in either movie. Regan was completely dominated by her demon; the demon chose to show Karras Regan (in the book) when asked. Karras was more powerful than the demons (in both movies) and able to overcome them.
what exactly happened when the demon enters karras when his eyes are yellow and then he screams NO and his eyes are normal again. wasent the demon out of his body then?Then in legion wasnt it the demon/ gemini?? Why then? If anyone can describe their own opinion it would gladly be appreciated!!
Basically.
1. Karras gets possessed by Pazuzu.
2. This makes his eyes go yellow.
3. Karras drives out Pazuzu.
4. This makes his eyes go normal.5. The devil then puts the Gemini into Karras before he dies as revenge.
6. Not sure if his eyes go yellow again. They probably do. 🙂Hope this helps.
Captain Howdy said:
“when his eyes stop being yellow, it's not because he is no longer possessed – it's because he has restored faith and is able to be the dominant soul in that body, even if just for a fleeting moment. Long enough to plunge out the window and end it all”
Exactly.
First of all, to come to the right conclusion it is important to differentiate the movie from the novel. They are 2 different worlds. “Apples & Oranges”. Different subjects. Here we are talking about the movie, not the novel.
When possessing a human, there is no such thing as an abduction. You are either possessed or you are not. Period. A demon cannot enter a body without a person's consent. Karras knew that. That's why he told Pazuzu to take him. But, once a demon enters a body, by no means will he leave that body to enter or re-enter another living person. A demon cannot jump from body to body like a grasshopper. There are rules that even a demon cannot overcome.
Again, not taking the novel in consideration, Karras death was not instant. As his fingers were still moving when father Dyer grasped his hand. Pazuzu was still inside Karras. That's where Blatty saw an opening to write “Legion”.
When did demons ever follow the rules or even know that they apply to them?
Father B
Demons need no rules! 😉
Demons need no rules!
===
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That indeed seems to be the point of Blatty's novel. Even the experts don't really know what a demon is and even the Roman Ritual has no effect. We are left quessing as to how and why Merrin was able to expell “Pazuzu” twelve years earlier in Africa. He certainly wasn't making any headway in Georgetown. Then he died, leaving the outcome to Karras' combined compassion, courage, and anger. The demon doesn't seem to follow any rules, either in the book or in the film. It seems to be a malevolent, nonmaterial, temporarily incarnating (possessing) entity. It can't with any certainty be identified with a fallen angel, a djinn, the soul of a deceased person, a incorporeal alien, an interdimensional being. It's a complete “unknown”. Which only serves to make it that much more terrifying.
granville1 said:
“Demons need no rules! That indeed seems to be the point of Blatty's novel. Even the experts don't really know what a demon is and even the Roman Ritual has no effect.”
Demons need rules! If the experts don't know what a demon is by now it's because they are stupid. They are simply looking in the wrong direction.
1- What is a demon? A demon is an angel of God gone rogue. The first angel to become a demon is Satan. Many angels decided to follow Satan. Thus becoming bad angels called “demons”. Angels and demons belong to the family of “inmaterial” beings, because they cannot be seen by the human eye. They are bound by the rules of the anti-matter world. As the Bible clearly stipulates, Satan and including every single demon to exist have been trapped within the boundaries of the planet earth waiting for the “judgment day”.
2- Can demons possess any human? Demons cannot possess any human as they please. If that was the case, we would all be possessed by now. Since humans can be seen by the human eye, they belong to the “material” family (matter). As it is now widely confirmed by science, both worlds are separated by a universal law, matter particles and anti-matter particles cannot come in contact with each other, by danger of annihilating themselves and produced a massive explosion.
3- How can demons possess a human?  A demon always needs an invitation. There are 2 ways that a demon can enter a human. Directly or indirectly. What does this mean?
Directly: A demon can immediately enter a body if it is directly “invited” by the person. It works the same way like if you would invite a guess into your home. The same way Father Karras did.
Indirectly: A demon can also enter a body if this one begins to play with “demonic” games or toys. Like a “ouija” board. What is depicted in the movie “Exorcist” is correct. This is also what happened to little Roland Doe in real life.
But there is still one last rule a demon must respect…the very same rule that an hypnotist must respect if he wants to be able to hynotize a patient. An hypnotist cannot hypnotize anyone. There are 2 types of persons. “Positive” receptors and “negative” receptors.
Positive: A “positive” receptor is a person who is willing or believes in the art of hypnosis. Thus opening a “portal” in the brain which allows an alien entitie to enter his soul. This is exactly the kind of person that a demon looks for, and IS THE ONLY KIND OF PERSON IT CAN POSSESS!
Negative: A “negative” receptor is a person that does not believe in being hynotize. Thus maintaining the “portal” in the brain closed at all times. No matter how hard the hypnotist tries, he will never be able to hypnotize this person. This is the kind of person that A DEMON WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO POSSESS!
TRIVIA TIME: Did you know that it was not Friedkin's nor Blatty's idea of Karras throwing himself out the window like he did in the movie? It was Jason Miller's idea! The “Bills” wanted Jason to slowly walk towards the window, say a little cheesy prayer, take a deep breath and then jump. Jason went to talk with “Bills” and said: “Guys, this is insane. If I'm possessed by a killer demon, the last thing that I want is to take things easy. There's not time to lose! Let me jump the hell out of the window!”
Friedkin and Blatty agreed, that was the better option!
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