How The Exorcist Keeps Its Distance

In defense of the infamous director's cut scene, I think it stands out as something exceptionally horrifying compared to scenes where little is seen. Less is often more, but a little more can be an effective juxtaposition. We see Reagan blitz the stairs upside down and hiss with a mouthful of blood, only for her mom to mouth out "oh my God," like she's too afraid to scream, and then it's never brought up again. That'll stick with you in a film like this.

edit: The jumpscares in St. Maud are exactly the same. They permeate an already eerie, bleak film, and make your heart sink.

Amazing take. It definitely makes a big difference when a horror movie is made by someone not purposely trying to be scary? Or is scared themselves, like the game developer of PT. Now regarded as one of the scariest games ever made.

Holy crap I never realized Chris set the cross down on the table and then it disappears before that scene... Wooow that's creepy. But it did dawn on me the exorcist doesn't even work. Brute force does.

It's not a horror movie bit a drama about faith. But it got the backing of the Jesuits by adhering to evil as it's defined by the Catholic Church. Freidkin included no or few horror tropes but invented a few, like the.demonic Ouija board, the.musical theme that becomes scary by association, the faith-wavering priest, the archaeological dig, the demon-generated illusions and hallucinations, the possessed person's ESP that allows for mind games, etc.
Few scenes take place at night. No orchestral music sweeps in to let us know when to be scared, there is no ambiguous ending that leaves open space for a sequel. Murders and assaults take place in a vacuum with no pesky cops poking their noses in to slow the momentum.Doctors aren't consulted who might offer rational explanations. We go straight to demon/devil without stopping at go. We go from burp to full possession as soon as the actors can get into makeup. Nothing is or seems normal. The most mundane objects or people or buildings are suddenly bathed with a mysterious or strange light. Music distracts you from the silliness onscreen. Jump scares goose your body and nerves.
Friedkin got rid of any cheesiness and that includes camera angles that would be impossible in a documentary..

What the hell? Im outta here.

Because it is called " Stablishing a character" . Something that movies today doesn't do anymore. That's why at the end you feel sad that Karras died, because you felt his struggles.

This was a very cerebral and well thought out take on this flick. I very much enjoyed it

One of the greatest and scariest movies ever made.

I never thought of it that way! Great video as usual!

Great review - just one thing - Karras did not kill himself - per Blatty, he altruistically sacrificed himself to save Regan, like when a soldier throws himself on a grenade to save the other guys.

Watching this video after your Passion of the Christ one. You really pulled out some things of The Exorcist I haven't heard elsewhere and I am pretty well versed/studied on this film. It is one of my favorites and in my view, it is ALL about Father Karras.

The reactivity of film, the lack of post-production, and the lens execution along with lighting requirements was top notch.

I finally refound your channel. I had subscribed or watched through a different account a few years ago. I remember when you came out with your Midsommar video and I got attached.

I really love this analysis on this movie. As someone surrounded by death throughout life my favorite quote or snippet that connected deep within me was “The Exorcist (it) isn’t really about the fear of death so much as the despair of decay”

"Ha ha, so ... they sent YOU." Very clever non-specifically specific gaslighting that weary Merrin would recognize, but Karras, too lost and naive.

Not only was this an excellent essay on a less-discussed aspect of this wonderful film, I never noticed that about the disappearing/reappearing crucifix!

Great analysis.

“The two priests’ belief wasn’t actually enough..” Yeah, which is why this film, like most horror films over yolks, over levens, the power of evil. It’s actually a type of satanic anti christian propaganda. Faith isn’t that hard, in fact it isn’t hard at all, it’s very easy. It’s just accepting the gift, the grace of hope love and being.. Indwelling from the ontological source of all goodness himself. Who, if you love him, isn’t distant in any way, at all.. If you love him, you’ll love everyone, everything, even your solitude in which you will never be truly alone.. In fact, you’ll learn to love even the scourge and temptations of the demons, who are in light of love’s forgiveness pathetically pitiful more than anything else..

Still to this day it's stands up well. Just an amazing movie period. And no one but the demon won at the end. Pazuzu wanted to do what was done.

I feel like the reason for Karras' long walk is also to show hopelessness, it feels like God abandoned us

excellent video, thank you

banger ass video

Never heard such a thorough explanation. Brings a whole new perspective. Liking the content.

Brilliant... just brilliant. Bravo!

Thank you so much for the flashing lights warning! Great video. Keep up the good work!

I’ve watched this 3 times. The walking scenes give me a feeling of internal dialogue happening within the characters. We spend much of our time separate from those we love. In fact most of our day is working and dealing with strangers or coworkers. As we walk or drive home or to lunch break etc we are alone with our thoughts. Absorbing what happened during the day and thinking and planning what’s next. We are mostly alone all day. Mostly alone. Sometimes with family and friends. These characters are distant from themselves and others. We get the impression of the deep internal world that we all live in daily. And in the end we fight our battles alone. The sadness of loneliness and despair is so intense in the Exorcist. We need others in the end to battle evil. We can’t do it ourselves.

Fr. Karras' possession was actually inspired by an actual priest Involved in an alleged possession cast in 16th century France. It took place in a nuns' cloister in Louden France. It had to do with a wicked priest who did things to those poor women. There was another priest who happened upon this peculiar instance, and decided to do something. Unfortunately, this priest was ignorant enough to challenge the demon(s) to come into him. He was there after tormented by them then found dead.

Yes, three men die to save one girl, but in the Christian faith, Merrin knows he will die, and Karras rediscovers his faith, then is absolved of his sins after throwing himself out the window. So the devil loses, but only through human suffering (a particularly Catholic attitude).
As an atheist, I see this film as portraying three people who confront their fears: the sage priest who expects to die confronting his adversary, the in-denial mom watching her daughter become a stranger, and the conflicted priest who must take a stand at last.

Your examination of Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” is so intelligent and insightful. Your insights are surely why this film is so compelling and terrifying to watch. A very human story as well and very relatable.

Excellent analysis!

This is truly an extraordinary analysis. The one thing I feel like you do get wrong though in respect to Charis’s character, is he somebody who at the beginning of the film doesn’t really want to deal with the issues of people and in the end takes them upon himself in order to save another. He is an unwilling Christlike figure. I think what it’s saying is you can’t beat the devil with theology the only way you beat the devil is through sacrifice. Which is what Christ did by sacrificing in order to save the world. This man sacrifices himself to save the child.but really fantastic analysis

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Actually Father Karras mother appears three times not two . The third time comes as a vision superimposed on the window just before Father Karras crashes through the window to his death .

While there are aspects of the director's cut that aren't so successful, I honestly think the shot of Karras' and Merrin's conversation on the stairs gets to the very heart of what William Peter Blatty was up to.

Excellent video essay. Well thought-out and deeply perceptive. And I agree that faith doesn't come out looking so hot in the best horror movie ever made.

Very good analysis of this film. Enjoyed watching this.

This is a brilliant outlook on The Exorcist. You're right about Father Carris, he only took the Evil outside where the steps are. Thats why Father Dyer has a minute to himself when he's near the steps and decided to not go down them as something more than likely would happen. Every detail in the film is brilliant.

I love critiques of this film. More and more, when I catch it on television, I'm more interested in the drama aspect than the horror.

Why does God even allow demons to torment humanity?

This film will never lose it cinematic power....ever.

I would love if the acolyte to check out "the rite" ; It's full of european creppy pasta lore.

One of the best analyses of the movie. And I am only halfway through the review.

Thank you for doing justice to this excellent, life encapsulating movie.

London to New York tunnel

Don't confuse faith with magic

One additional comment - Karras doesn't "kill himself after" taking the demon inside of himself. He doesn't want to kill himself, an act of despair which would only be mere suicide. Rather, he wants to - as you said - take the demon back outside, and he succeeds. The act constitutes his own redemption (he accepts Dyer's absolution) and a return to a faith that incorporates both an evil and a benevolent transcendental factor (as the book specifies, if you take a demon seriously you are also susceptible to taking God seriously). Karras's acceptance of the demon's reality ("YOU son of a bitch!"), per Blattian principles, necessarily entails Karras's return to God.

Get this theres a documentary in which the writer of the exorcist witnessess a real exorcism

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