![]() ![]() Well, almost no film can overcome a willful desire not to be entertained.Īs far as boring, well, yeah, if you go in expecting special effects and violence from scene one, then you will be bored. Whereas once people went to the film in anticipation of being scared, now they go in as if challenged, and put up resistance to the film. I think what has happened is that the audience attitude has changed. I saw the film again a few years agot at a midnight screenining in Westood, California, and I have to disagree with those today who insist that it is no longer scary or that it is camp. At any rate, I doubt this happened very often (I saw the film three or four times during its intial release and never observed such an incident) probably the media exaggerated a very few incidents. If people had been waiting out in the sun, without eating anything, they might even be light-headed to begin with, hence the potential fainting. I would be willing to bet that the advance word-of-mouth, apprehension over the subject matter, the notoriety of the book, and the long time waiting…waiting…waiting to get inside and finally see the movie–all these contributed to a mindset conducive to being scared witless. The film played in only 60 theatres for several months if people wanted to go, they had to drive downtown and stand in line for hours. Remember, THE EXORCIST was released in the days before wide national releases opened films on 2000 screens the first weekend. ![]() Seems he had tried to identify the subliminals in the days before home videotape, laserdisc, and DVD needless to say, without frame-by-frame analysis, he ended up way off the mark.īy the way, I doubt the subliminals had much to do with the stories of people fainting in theatres. While pointing out the subliminals that actually are in the film, they also dissed an earlier article written by the guy that did that “Subliminal Seduction” book. ![]() There’s a big difference.Įven if Karras had committed a mortal sin (suicide or any other), he would not have been damned at the end of the film, as he makes a final (albeit silent) confession before dying.Īs for subliminal messages, Video Watchdog magazine did a good article on this (sorry, can’t remember the issue). There is a shot of the window before he shouts ‘Nooo!” and within the flicker of the curtains, he can see his mothers face.No, Father Karras did not commit suicide at the end of THE EXORCIST he performed an act of martyrdom in order to save Reagen Teresa MacNeil. He is possessed and about to jump out the window. This helps animate the dummy’s head.įather Karass demands that Pazuzu enter him. Regan spins her head around during the exorcism and we get a close-up of her face with Captain Howdy’s dissolved in. At one point, when the lights go down and Regan is turning her head to face us, it is Captain Howdy. The lights are flickering on and off, and Regan is flinging her head from side to side. When Regan is hypnotized and gets angry, an angry face of Captain Howdy blends in with hers on a close-up. This cross-fade subliminal was very cleverly added for The Version You’ve Never Seen. It can be hard to see (hence no image), but if you look, you will see Pazuzu! Watch the statue fade into view to the left of screen after Chris leaves Regan’s bedroom the room. It is very quick and bright, so don’t blink or you’ll miss it! The face of the Pazuzu statue can be seen against the black just before she opens it. One of the most recognized subliminal from The Version You’ve Never Seen.Ĭhris is about to open the door to Regan’s bedroom. ![]() The lights flicker on and Howdy can be seen. To the right of screen next to Chris’ face in the kitchen. Also look for many other great images that aid the story including the stopped clock from Iraq and the running dog, representing the dog fight Father Merrin sees when he goes to the Pazuzu statue. Her eyes open wide as she lays on the bed and this image of Captain Howdy flashes up on the screen for three frames.įather Karras’ dream sequence is where the first subliminal appeared in the 1973 original. The DVD time is relevant to The Version You’ve Never Seen edition. Here, I have listed all the subliminal images I have found in the latest version of The Exorcist. Many different people have different opinions of these subliminal moments and they were definitely a point of controversy when the film was released in 1973. As fans of the film know, The Exorcist is littered with many clever subliminal images that assist in telling the compelling story. ![]()
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