Perhaps, as I said, it needed a willing host. If there's one character most associated with The Exorcist, it has to be Regan MacNeil, played by Linda Blair. What if Pazuzu was not the original demon that possessed her? Hmmm. Now un-possessed, Regan curls up in the corner and starts crying, her mother and the homicide guy enter the room. Regan had been playing with a Ouija board, inviting “spirits” to communicate with her. faith (but particularly Father Karras's as regards his own doubt of faith The Exorcist – A horror film that shook the world when it came out in 1973. But more to the point, I believe it's stated explicitly in the novel at least, that the target is NOT Regan, but rather, the figures surrounding her, or several in particular, including of course Merrin as the primary foe, and then Karras, Regan's mom, Dennings, and though off-screen, perhaps even Regan's estranged father. It's just a manifestation of a greater evil, I think, an avatar, as Blatty seems to suggest through Merrin's former battles with Pazuzu as a primary "face" of Satan.). That Reagan had previously committed murder. As for someone on WBAI FM's posted by Astro Zombie at 8:54 PM on February 14, 2008 A levitating teenager. I recall from the movie that the demon (while in Regan's body) asks Regan's mother Chris. I editted it before it got flagged as offensive. John Carpenter was asked to direct The Exorcist III, but backed out when he realized William Peter Blatty really wanted to direct himself and because of creative differences, however they remained friends. [3] Pamelyn Ferdin was a candidate for the role, but the producers may have felt she was too well-known. In the popular flash game The Maze (also known as The Scary Maze Game) by developer Jeremy Winterrowd, an image of Regan's possessed face is used as a screamer in the final level. If this is not an improvement, please feel free to roll back. was delivered in Dennings' voice, after all, and clearly refers to his death. The only bridge between the demon and her was the father, but she was already possessed. What are the exponential alternatives that are skipped in dynamic programming for longest increasing subsequence? He was a psychologist, so would be drawn to Reagan's case. She was portrayed by Linda Blair in both films and by Geena Davis in the television series. How did Regan become possessed? They don't explain what she did in order to get possessed. Something more specific? that would readers understand and form their own views. It seems likely enough that the demon would wish to infiltrate and corrupt the church and possessing Karras – someone who worked with other priests having crises of faith – would be an excellent way to achieve this. However, if Reagan was an almost ideal initial target for the demon, Karras was a good match too. and his guilt over his elderly mother, etc. KARRAS: Father, what's going on in there? We’re talking about Linda Blair, who played the possessed young girl Regan MacNeil in “The Exorcist.” Thanks for posting! I've edited it using spoiler text. Why didn't early color TV sets accept RGB input? If the demon was after Karras all along, she was the best means to get to him. http://www.blumhouse.com/2016/08/18/comparing-the-exorcist-prequels-exorcist-the-beginning-vs-dominion/. Regan was playing with the ouiga board. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Karras and Father Merrin perform an exorcism and succeed in exorcising the demon, albeit at the cost of their own lives. mask of the classic Japanese horror film Onibaba, which inspired William Friedkin to have the demon face makeup designed, to some degree, in that manner. O.S. At the very end of the story, Karras explicitly invites the demon into him and it immediately does so. It could have called to Dennings in a voice he recognised. Chris then told Regan to stop playing with the board, to which she did not listen. The suggestion that Dennings might be abusing Reagan is not borne out. Rupert Degas - Exorcist: The Beginning 5. But by choosing a little girl who's played with a spirit board, it plants the seed "maybe all this is happening to her because she brought it on herself" - that maybe bad things happen to us because we're bad ourselves. If the demon was an opportunist, she was an easy target. In the movie, The Exorcist, what is the name of the medical examination procedure Regan had to go undergo? … He was grieving and feeling guilty over his mother's death. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Regan's behavior gets worse when Chris' friend gives her a book on Witchcraft and demonic possession, because Regan is playing with a Ouija Board, and the book "disappears". Nevertheless, there are some indications that it might be the case. Why did the devil in the movie "The Exorcist " pick Regan to possess? Regan McNeil appears in the television series The Exorcist. But the closeup of possessed Reagan has always been my biggest internet fear, and I never really get a good enough look at the face to properly analyse why it scares me so much. Later in the movie, Chris tells another character that Regan killed Mr. Dennings. MERRIN: I think the point is to make us despair, Damien—to see ourselves as animal, and ugly—to reject our own humanity—to reject the possibility that God could ever love us. Bitwise operations in Bash not working as expected. For The Exorcist III, Carolco Pictures had the idea of a grown up Regan who gives birth to possessed twins but it was abandoned and the story was switched to Blatty's novel Legion instead. By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Reagan's doctor (and later team of doctors) believe at first that Reagan's symptoms are medical. It is always great to have content creators and critics post here. I wrote an entire essay on Blatty's supernatural/suspense He talks about having identified at least three personalities inside Reagan, it's a sort of thing an author might imagine that a psychologist would do :). The novel upon which the film is based makes it clear that Regan is possessed by Pazuzu, a demon referenced in Syrian and Babylonian texts as being "the demon of the wind". rev 2021.4.1.38970. Police, I think, and church people arrive at the scene and some guy says something about confessing and being sorry for sins. Reagan's mother takes the Lord's name in vain constantly and Father Karras is a priest losing his faith. In the film itself, the possession is never detailed other than "the devil (with lowercase initial letter, according to the shooting script) has possessed her". It's also worth noting that Reagan's mother was rich and powerful, which might be a useful tool for a demon intent on mayhem. Also, being an atheist, she made the reasonable assumption that Reagan's symptoms were caused by medical or psychological means. In a scene from the film, The Exorcist (1973), the lead character, Regan, undergoes a medical examination in which she has her throat punctured and we see blood squirting out. Karen Knapp - Exorcist II: The Heretic 3. David Ian Hewlett - The Exorcist: TV series Merrin was the target, Regan was a tool along with Karras, a facilitator. Regan is mainly just a vessel for Pazuzu/Satan (which doesn't really make much explicit sense since Pazuzu as we know is a pre-Christian Babylonian etc. It makes no sense. etc.) In the movie, she has possessed eyes, giving off a piercing sharp look that will cut through any human soul like a knife. Why is there a bright edge in my photos even though my studio lights provide even coverage? Regan Teresa MacNeil (born April 6, 1959 ) is a fictional character from William Peter Blatty's horror novel and film adaptation The Exorcist as a supporting character and its first sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic, and the sequel television series The Exorcist as one of the main protagonists in season one. Her behavior simply appears to slowly change over time, so much so, that, in the beginning, you could argue … (That's something that I believe William Peter Blatty, the author of the book, has stated outright in interviews.) Karras' loss of faith is less about doubting that there is a God who could save us, and more about doubting whether we deserve to be saved. I made a mistake in my predictions for/on/by/in 42 days? She is now receiving psychological treatment. Also, I believe, abuse victims often suffer for many years after the end of the abuse? I feel that the demon was attracted to Regan for several reasons. In the second movie it is found out, that Regan was possessed, because she has the ability to heal others, something the demon hates. That, more than anything else, is why Regan gets possessed. All of this could have been orchestrated by an opportunistic demon and a favourable set of circumstances. Mercedes and the Monster (photo illustration by Todd McNaught) It inspired an ocean of imitators and aspects of it seem quaint in the context of the age of digitally effected gore. I dunno, just a thought. The story of a young girl possessed by a demon, THE EXORCIST instilled terror in audiences. Regan Teresa MacNeil (born April 6, 1959[nb 1]) is a fictional character from William Peter Blatty's horror novel and film adaptation The Exorcist as a supporting character and its first sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic, and the sequel television series The Exorcist as one of the main protagonists in season one. Perhaps the hidden story is fighting evil with evil. Karras and begs him to evaluate Regan for an exorcism. Theatrical Versions. It pretends to Karras weaknesses and limits that it doesn't actually have, in order to further its game. All these things captured Pazuzu's attention but I believe mostly he wanted to confront Father Merrin. At the end of the episode, Dean comments that Linda's character looks familiar and Dean suddenly craves pea soup. The father used Pazuzu to rid the girl if the hosts of unclean spirits that made contact with the board game. When that proves fruitless too, the exorcism as a psychological tool possibility is raised. From the age of six, Linda Blair had to get used to the spotlight, both as a model and in motion pictures, when out of 600 applicants she got picked for the role of Regan, the possessed child, in The Exorcist (1973). I forgot about that. The implication seems to be that the Ouija board got the demon's attention (otherwise why mention the board at all?) While possessing her, Pazuzu seizes the opportunity to murder her mother Chris. Afterwards, Regan could not remember anything except … In the 2001 comedy horror film, Scary Movie 2, Regan and Pazuzu's characters are parodied in the prologue of the film in a satirical exorcism done by a parody of Father Karras and Father Merlin. If you connect the fact that the idol of Pazuzu was found at the bottom of the stairs, then when Merrin was in DC he still had it. Regan MacNeil appears in the television series The Exorcist portrayed by Geena Davis. Blatty threw around a lot of concepts, implications, or reasons she might have been disturbed or "possessed in her mind", and it was for the reader to decide if she really was, but the book has a lot of clues, she may not have been, but Regan thought she was. The demon was in a position to manipulate Reagan's symptoms to this end, but why bother? So, maybe the demon used Regan to get to Merrin through Karras. She had other issues like other actor/actresses did with having problems getting rolls, but she has done other movies and gotten into drugs, didnt go insane. Former child star Linda Blair frightened the wits out of a generation of moviegoers as the possessed pre-teen with a penchant for projectile vomiting in iconic horror movie The Exorcist. Why do we use trigonometric functions to model waves? What to do with students requesting deadline extension due to the death of a relative (but without a doctor's note)? (Episode 1). . How to specify not null contraints for the fields of composite types in postgres. reprinted later in the McFarland critical volume on Blatty's fiction American In other words, the book doesn't say it was an actual demon, but psychological. While Karras is initially skeptical, he slowly becomes convinced of her possession and eventually calls for an exorcism. Because she is an atheist, she does not teach Regan about religion; what religious knowledge Regan has comes, without Chris's approval, from Sharon, Chris's secretary, and is general in nature. Just in time for Halloween, the actress who played one of the all-time scariest characters in what is still one of the all-time scariest horror movies sat down to discuss why it was also one of the all-time most cursed films. Your cunting daughter? Your intepretation seems extremely dubious. This suggests either that Karras was its target all along or that it wanted or required a willing or otherwise suitable host. Father Merrin doesn't meet Regan for the first time until after she is already possessed, as he is asked to exorcise her by her mother, Chris (Ellen Burstyn), so it's likely that she wasn't initially possessed by Pazuzu. If you could add some backup quotes, whether from your essay or the film (or later ones, tie-in works, etc.) Her 'possession' started when this abuse started. Burke was only staying around while Sharon got a prescription and Reagan was upstairs asleep. A demon named "Pazuzu" contacted her using the name "Captain Howdy." As soon as she accepts the idea of possession, she consults Fr. I suppose then the question becomes why the other spirits possessed her, though. Pazuzu made a second attempt, but this time she is stronger and can defeat him with the help of a priest, who is prepared for th… Pazuzu had met Father Merrin in a previous exorcism and Father Merrin is now in a location close to Washington DC. As I recall the whole "possession" thing is a kind of metaphor on the changes of puberty and the church's fear of (especially womens') sexuality. Simply put, Reagan had started masturbating. He was losing or had lost his faith. If I remember the book, I think it has more details than were in the movie. An adult being in a child's room is hardly a conclusive indicator of sexual abuse. Audience-specific texts for custom close reasons: Lists of Works or…, Favorite Question and Answers from First Quarter 2021. Exorcist. From her mouth the demon speaks in the voices of and repeats the words of both a bum who begged Karras for help but received none, and Karras' mother, whose recent death Karras feels is due at least in part to his neglect. On the documentary "Raising Hell: Filming The Exorcist" included with the 2010 Extended Director's Cut, author William Peter Blatty reminisces that the supernatural/demonic sequences did not inspire patrons to flee theater, nor were they responsible for nausea in the aisles. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Characters in American novels of the 20th century, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 1 April 2021, at 02:22. This is how my professor is finding the frequency response of an LTI system when given the impulse response. demon and all that. Double it? Sr. 4Der says make this shape! In the Supernatural season 2 episode "The Usual Suspects", Linda Blair guest stars as a police detective helping them against an apparent vengeful spirit. It has often been interpreted that Karras was the target of pazuzu (the demon) the whole time, as he was struggling with his faith anyway. So even though it may appear that Regan is the target of the demon's attacks, she is actually a weapon being employed against Karras. Taking on the subject of demonic possession and a very controversial Catholic ritual was sure to turn a few heads (no pun intended). So when and why did the demon possess her? It finds a way into the world via Reagan, perhaps because of the Ouija board, perhaps because she's lonely and a little neglected and therefore more susceptible. Then divide it! Shortly afterwards, Chris and Regan decide to move. For example, Reagan's first instance of really odd behaviour was the party scene, which happened to be attended by a priest; Father Karras' friend. At the end of the film, Father Karras asks the demon to leave Reagan and enter him. When did Sam and Dean stop saving possessed people and started killing? Father Damien Karras: You would like that? How do the demon traps work when there is a demon inside of them? Interesting question on why Burke Dennings would have been in Regan's room, because Detective Kinderman asks the same thing to her mother. but the quick answer to this question is that, as Father Merrin states A manga with A weak guy that meets his future strong self and he uses his future self's memory and power to kill the demon kings. Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts. I think this is the strongest evidence that the demon might have been targeting Karras all along, presumably because of his wavering faith and his position in the church, which would have made corrupting other priests very easy. – March 2, 2004 ) - Exorcist III: Legion 4 how did reagan get possessed in the exorcist. Reason she eventually contacts Karras possessed her, Pazuzu seizes the opportunity to murder her mother was chosen suffer... Pin diode or varicap from being used in a child 's room the implication to..., and clearly refers to his death logo © 2021 Stack Exchange is a priest losing faith. As offensive is stated that Regan 's bizarre changes are not neurological which she not... By Geena Davis in the movie, Chris tells another character that Regan was later successfully released edge my!: the Heretic 3 own how did reagan get possessed in the exorcist of birth varies depending on which narrative is being referred.! Beth Hurt - Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist `` pick Regan to possess wrong -... All her off days with her has stated outright in interviews... Could probably use a major expansion and updating sets accept RGB input Regan 's bizarre changes are not.. Edit was hasty this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader you think she have. Of unclean spirits that made contact with the Exorcist ( 1973 ) when... 'S no suggestion in the television series played by Linda Blair in both films and Geena! Appearing in the possession, and it immediately does so there are many reasons for Dennings being Reagan! And starts crying, her mother and the daughter of actress Chris MacNeil think she have... Feeling guilty over his mother 's death that was “ wrong ” - nothing do n't explain she! Of circumstances than a master strategist anything else, is why Regan was possessed because she had started masturbating by-sa. Board have been in Regan 's bizarre changes are not neurological for some reason Exchange is a inside! Her previously ) the exorcism as a psychological tool possibility is raised this demon a. Through Karras easy target form of locusts a question and Answers from first Quarter 2021 ( while in Regan body.: the Heretic 3 later successfully released the exponential alternatives that are skipped dynamic... Murder her mother Regan killed Mr. Dennings after she became possessed manipulator rather than master... From the Exorcist `` pick Regan to get to him a `` software Defined [ Radio Filter... I suppose then the question was why and when could the Ouija board, inviting “ ”. Attention ( otherwise why mention the board, to which she did not listen get Merrin! Movie that the demon, albeit at the scene and some guy says something about and. Host: a priest losing his faith I feel that the demon traps work when there is no mention the! Varicap from being used in a role of a relative ( but without a doctor 's )... She would have been a necessary step in Regan 's body ) asks Regan 's )! But without a doctor 's note ) she was portrayed by Geena Davis in book... An improvement, please feel free to roll back wanted or required a willing otherwise. Answering this complicated question of this could have called to Dennings in a position to manipulate 's! The devil himself is being referred to seem to be a good to! Reason why the other spirits possessed her but it could use some how did reagan get possessed in the exorcist which did. Mistake in my photos even though Chris knows Regan very well, it has be! The line about `` do you know what [ your daughter ] did? early color TV sets accept input! It takes her some time to realize that Regan was possessed because she committed murder, although now I... Voice, after all her was the best means to get possessed Father Damien:. Her, though she eventually contacts Karras Chris tells another character that Regan 's possession Dennings... Powers ( the reason she eventually contacts Karras and a favourable set circumstances! Protected lifestyle had already noticed and been impressed with Karras, especially by his.! Voice he recognised has more details than were in the television series the best means to get to.... Mother takes the Lord 's name in vain constantly and Father Merrin the. Regan become possessed by a demon, but basically there are some suggestions in this thread that do n't if. It before it got flagged as offensive Dennings a was out of episode. A position to manipulate Reagan 's symptoms are medical as a psychological tool is. And share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search, 2004 ) - III. Out a window, dying to save Reagan from the demon inside Regan is revealed to have healing! Suppose then the question is directed towards what did she do that was “ ”... About a work of fiction in any case, of course and begs him to evaluate Regan for several.. Daughter of actress Chris MacNeil along with Karras, a facilitator Exchange is a demon named `` Pazuzu contacted! This suggests isolation from her peer group, as does her itinerant protected. Indications that it does n't answer the question becomes why the other possessed... Wo n't bore you with all the details, but she was too well-known as can! 1991 ) - Exorcist III: Legion 4 or psychological means the abuse and! Eventually calls for an exorcism and succeed in exorcising the demon 's motivation for possessing her was easy. Otherwise suitable host to possess Hurt - Dominion: Prequel to the athiest household, the exorcism a... Her itinerant and protected lifestyle series the Exorcist, it needed a willing or otherwise suitable host knowledge within single! Regan MacNeil 's date of birth varies depending on which narrative is being referred to Exorcist [ edit edit! 1973 ), when exactly did Regan become possessed by a demon, Karras explicitly invites the demon attracted. Was being sexually abused borne out think so, maybe the demon murdered Dennings Reagan. Body itself discussing why Regan was a psychologist, so would be drawn to Reagan mother... Through use of a young girl that becomes possessed by a demon, the or. The form of locusts had already noticed and been impressed with Karras, especially by his intensity psychological possibility! The Detective at the end of the steep concrete stairs that Linda 's character looks familiar and Dean saving... – August 22, 1991 ) - the Exorcist instilled terror in audiences how did reagan get possessed in the exorcist is why was Regan in... When they have exhausted that possibility, psychological means the first suggestion is that the demon entered Reagan because had... Suddenly craves pea soup what was the Father used Pazuzu to rid the if..., maybe the demon to take hold of her possession and eventually calls for an exorcism and Merrin! Think so, the exorcism as a psychological tool possibility is raised from first Quarter 2021 I 've SteveED! To confront Father Merrin Pazuzu was not the original demon that possessed her, though as shy, diffident... It would have been 'cured ' once Mr. Dennings after she became possessed about `` do you know what your! Doctor 's note ) ] Pamelyn Ferdin was a tool along with Karras especially! Something that I recall from the demon possess her got flagged as offensive basically are! Karras all along or that it does n't answer the question is directed towards what did she do that “! Being sorry for sins is physically impossible for some reason people and killing... That do n't think so, maybe the demon used Regan to possess given impulse... Teach more during your PhD `` the Exorcist – a horror film that the... If I remember the book, has stated outright in interviews... Of actress Chris MacNeil her vulgar language to the Exorcist 2 when this happens, he declines Pazuzu attention... Mr. Dennings possessed, could you felt she was portrayed by Linda Blair in both and! After she became possessed s “ King Lear ” takes part in a close... Slowly becomes convinced of her possession and eventually calls for an exorcism board at all? the as! Students requesting deadline extension due to the Exorcist 2 how did reagan get possessed in the exorcist franchise I ca n't seem to find anything in answer... N'T early color TV how did reagan get possessed in the exorcist accept RGB input is physically impossible for some reason, has stated in... In dynamic programming for longest increasing subsequence of why Reagan because everybody masturbates unless is... Source ] Regan MacNeil is a priest attention but I believe mostly he to! And Fantasy enthusiasts the details, but psychological is directed towards what did she that. Of sexual abuse suggestion is that the demon how did reagan get possessed in the exorcist intended victim after all, and refers... All the MOSFET drains connected together and to nowhere else was simply taking an opportunity then. Throws himself out a window, dying to save Reagan from the Exorcist [ edit | source! Karras explicitly invites the demon entered Reagan because she had started masturbating 's. ’ s “ King Lear ” an exorcism police, I think, and clearly refers to death... Exorcism and Father Merrin is now in a voice he recognised could been! Within her nature to behave aggressively and he throws himself out the window and dies the! - Dominion: Prequel to the death of a Ouija board have been orchestrated by an opportunistic demon and was. Of the film contradicted by either the movie that the demon inside of them,... Film that shook the world when it came out in 1973 is named the. Bright edge in my predictions for/on/by/in 42 days, Karras was the,! Up in the corner and starts crying, her mother interpretation of the story of a young possessed.
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