"Despair can be isolating, but it can have a way of banding broken people together. In this way, despair will always sow the seeds for its own defeat". Thanks for the most uplifting quote about despair I've ever encountered.
covering really classic, well-known movies can feel daunting for me because i always think so much has been said about those movies already that it'd be hard to add anything new to the conversation. and, dammit, you have proved me wrong. this is the most refreshing take on the film i've seen in years, you're brilliant, thank you for sharing
Fun fact: When Father Karras visits the linguist, the words written in Japanese above the door is "tasukete" which translates to "Help Me." The same phrase we see etched into Regan's belly.
As a lifelong Exorcist fan, I would like to congratulate you for a well-researched, well-written and extremely well executed video essay. You've brought up points that I never noticed before, and narrated it with a sensitivity I rarely see about this film! I will be coming back to this video many, many times; I cannot thank you enough for giving a respectful and insightful glimpse to this cinematic masterwork.
i found this film incredibly touching for the same reason as cronenberg's the fly. even when he is disgusting on every level and physically rotting, she still hugs him without recoiling. even though regan is in agony, possessed by a terrifying demon and physically wasted away, they hold her hand, and touch her forehead, and give their lives just trying to save her. to me it's not about the question of finally getting rid of the demon, because we all know pain can't be eliminated. they reached out to this little girl and were there in such a dark, ugly space alongside her in her suffering. even though she still has that distance from her mother from the beginning of the film and doesn't seem able to talk to her at all about what she went through, to the point of pretending she doesn't remember, regan does remember that she had people who stayed with her through her darkest time and saved her life.
I figured she did actually remember what happened because she saw the priests collar at the end of the movie and kissed him on the cheek thinking it was him who was one of the ones who saved her.
The novel is definitely a meditation on why God allows terrible things to happen, and how that challenges our faith (or informs our lack of faith). The film beautifully reifies that sense of isolation, helplessness, despair, and all of the existential miseries embedded in everyday life. Absolutely brilliant analysis; unique and groundbreaking. SO well-done!!!
Thank you for articulating my favourite part of the Exorcist - all the parts that aren't with the demon. So perfectly encapsulates the possession literature I am familiar with from the Middle Ages, and how the 'possessed' were not just the stage and performance, but also the gravity well to draw community and people together.
@@AcolytesOfHorror Complicated field, and I am not sure how many you want (I tend to default to accidentally unloading my bibliography on people)... but here are a select few that cover off the middle ages, early modern, brief introduction to historical witchcraft, the divine .... etc. Brian P. Levack, The Devil Within: Possession and Exorcism in the Christian West, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2013. assets.cambridge.org/97805218/13235/frontmatter/9780521813235_frontmatter.pdf (open access) Nancy Mandeville Cacioloa, 'Discerning Spirits : Divine and Demonic Possession in the Middle Ages' - she is trying to link later witchcraft demoniacs with earlier forms of divine possession into the legal task of 'discernment.' (if you want more on divine possession, then I'll link) Stuart Clark's 'Thinking with Demons: The Idea of Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe' is an oldy but a good primer for the debates that are still going on. Something for England: Erika Gasser, 'Vexed with Devils: Manhood and Witchcraft in Old and New England' Albrecht Classen covers off a bit on 'Mental Health, Spirituality, and Religion in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Age.' The chapter on Petrach and Weyer might be interesting. And last, but not least an article on children and how it integrates them back into society (and I would argue implicitly, society around them): 'Diabolical Rage? Children, Violence, and Demonic Possession in the Late Middle Ages' by Sari Katajala-Peltomaa. :)
The part when Chris MacNeill breaks down crying whilst begging Karras for help is maybe my favourite scene. It underscores why Blatty chose to make the character a famous actress, she’s in literal disguise to avoid hassle from the public whilst internally she’s crushed & helpless. It’s also a fairly straightforward scene but elevated by truly talented actors, you just don’t see this kinda thing much now. Absolutely heart rending & something that only clicked with me when I got little older.
You are absolutely right about the loneliness and resignation of The Exorcist's tone and the cinematography and pacing is so powerfully constructed around that feeling. Fantastic explanation of the film, your videos are on another level and every single one has made me want to reexamine the film. You aren't an Acolyte, you're a Master!
Like everyone else is saying, I've heard/seen dozens of analysis videos/podcasts on this movie and none of them touched on anything you mentioned in this video. What an amazing take on such a classic film.
I just wanna say that your "frolicking demons everywhere" comment finally put into words something about this movie that deeply unsettled me and did so very effectively but I never knew why. Just the implication that there are invisible demons capering in the backdrop of human suffering is chilling and this movie somehow captures that feeling
That was awesome. Such a cool analyzation. I never would've noticed those things on my own. It's amazing how much feeling and thought goes into a good movie. I saw The Exorcist in 1982, when I was eight years old, and it absolutely terrified me. I'm a huge horror genre fan, and it's still number one on my list of scariest movies ever. Thank you for making and sharing this. Great video!
I 1st saw The Exorcist in 1974 after it had originally came out a day after Christmas in 1973. I saw the movie at a local drive in when I was 6 Another time when I saw The Exorcist again at a different drive in I laughed during some parts while my cousin was cringing in terror in the backseat. He still remembers me laughing though
It’s the best horror movie in my opinion and one of the best movies of all time . Jason miller’s performance as father Damien karras impacted me in such a way because I was a Christian struggling with my faith then I regained it .
Finally, the best part of this movie is addressed. The Exorcist has been my favorite film since I was 13 or 14 mostly for a lot of the points discussed here. One thing that I think should be mentioned, also, is that the sound of this film adds to that open world crafted through the cinematography. I don't think I've seen hardly any other films that are mostly devoid of incidental music, and where that silence is filled in by sound of the world it is in. I've seen this film countless times, and each time I'll pick up on the sound of the wind or the sound of a car horn in the background that I've never noticed before. All of these subtle atmospheric noises contribute heavily to this idea of distance playing a key role in the film. That said, very well done video.
So well observed. It reminds me of the slowness in Picnic At Hanging Rock, though with that film, it’s very dreamlike….but in both, the quiet and slowness lulls us. Lulls us into feeling quiet inside, then the shocks that come are so dramatic, and it’s partly because we are right there, paced with the film. It’s also very real, because that walk from a to b, that beginning of the day, that late night…it’s all long, unedited, no music. Without the horror it would be ultra realistic and gaunt. I’m still terrified of this film, it’s that good. I loved this, thank you so much!
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”
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.
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.
It's incredible that you managed to say...not just something new about The Exorcist, but something that is so glaringly obvious that it totally avoids notice. Bravo.
Really fresh perspective. I agree with you about the bleakness that washes over one while you watch the movie. More than being terrified, I was left feeling this emptiness inside and everything seemed so morose, but the ending helped a bit with that. I also agree with another comment about the problematic use of non-Christian deities in Western horror.
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.
15:00 I see what they mean about the Exorcist having a bleak ending based on these points, but that existential uncertainty is what makes the concept of hope so much more profound. bonus, the ending in the book promotes this idea of Karass' spiritual fulfillment and the tragic idea of fate. (I guess it works for Christians for a reason!)
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.
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.
@@AcolytesOfHorror i will say that the creeping dread of watching father karras walk up those stairs is comparable to me seeing i only had a minute left in the video! great work as always!!!
I really loved your take on The Exorcist's vastness in terms of setting; I feel it's a very overlooked feature of horror that honestly, when done well, does wonders to make a movie stand out. I loved the fact that The Exorcist felt very "lived in" in a way and how they really took their time to focus on individual character's lives outside the possession. In fact, that's why it's one of if not my favorite horror movie. It added to the overall realism making everything even scarier!
Fascinating essay Nathan!! Really enjoyed the points you raised, especially the fact Regan/Pazuzu is sneaking out of her room yet always returns... creepy!
Been loving this channel. Just found you from a comment you made on somebody else's video. And I think u might be better then whoever they were. Can't wait to keep coming back here every new upload. And I love that you chose to say Garwin I'm the Green Knight video. Subscribed.
Literally every video by you makes me think so hard and learn new things and gain new opinions, you're so well-spoken and so thoughful about dissecting these films. It's brilliant.
I was looking away from the phone when the video started and 'Don't cha' by the pussy cat dolls starting playing. I was VERY confused until I saw the KFC ad rolling before your video. Masterful video as usual 😊
Blatty said that Karras’s self-sacrifice to him was proof of the divine; a local exception to the general rule of selfishness, overcoming the selfish gene and so on.
Damian as a name serves a few meanings in the book. For one his name means "to subdue" in Greek origin. The novel references Saint Damien, the patron saint of people suffering from leprosy. Lastly Damien wears a St. Nicholas necklace which depicts a patron carrying a child across a river. At the end of the movie, the demon tears off Damian's necklace which is when it possesses Karras. Piecing together all this maps out how Father Karras would ultimately end Regan's suffering by drawing out the sickness that was the demon, then subduing it becoming a martyr. Which would metaphorically take the child (Regan) across the river.
I’ve seen the film countless times and explored every analysis out there but I never would have looked at it this way. You say things I just never would have thought of in a thousand years but it all makes sense the moment I hear it. That doesn’t happen to me very often. What is old is new again. Your work is a fresh breeze through my brain!
It is INDEED a fresh take on a subject that’s been analyzed to death, resurrected, and picked apart again. I concur with your opinion about this videos’ use of hyyyyuunnggghh yearrggghhhh blarrrp. It’s analysis goes beyond surface-level BLLLEEEAAARRGGGGHHHHHNUNNNNGH BBLLLLLAAAARRRPPPPP UNNNNGHHHH BLEARGGNARGHLBARGHLARGHL coincidentally, it’s accuracyyyyyy YYEEEAAARRRGGGHHHH UNNNNGH HYUUUUUUNNNNGH BLEARRGGHHHHHHH finally exposing the obvious AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! AHHHH!!!!! subscribeHYYYUUUNNNGGGHHHH AAAAAAAAA!!!
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 review. The Exorcist have been an all tie favourite since I first saw it as an 8 year old. For years it remind in my memory for how much it freaked me out until I reawatched it again a few years later. As a child I was scared of the Demon and Raigin decay, but as an adult it scared me because it puts me in a situation where I can no longer escape my loneliness and it affirms it more.
A landmark achievement, from a landmark 70’s movie. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, For best achievement in sound, cinematography, editing, adaptation, make-up and visual effects, acting, writing, and direction. Considered the greatest horror movie of all time, and one hell of a rollercoaster ride. A titan in movie history. Often imitated, yet never duplicated. The one, the only. The Exorcist.
Great video Nathan & Phoebe!! I loved the focus you gave to this analysis and the eerie feeling you captured in the video. 🙌🏻 Hope you're doing great. Also thanks for the heads up for the next video! It gives us a chance to rewatch/watch these movies and really get the points you discuss in the videos 🙆🏻♀️
Just love your channel. I think you are brilliant! So articulate, observant, emotionally intelligent. It’s like you bring a whole other dimension to my experience of these films finding these themes and connections I never noticed even if I’ve seen it so many times. You deserve all the success coming your way.
The choice of using the entity Pazuzu as the baddie is weird in this story. Early Mesopotamians used likenesses of Pazuzu kind of like gargoyles to ward off the child-stealing spirit Lamashtu. Story would have worked better for me if Lamashtu was the possessing spirit, Catholic exorcism had no impact, and they were forced to use Pazuzu to ward off Lamashtu, but that probably wouldn’t have been a hit movie.
According to Catholicism all pagan gods are demons, so the story would need to be drastically changed. And even if Pazuzu is actually an angel, angels don't actively take part in exorcisms. No hate against non-Christians religions, but this movie is theologically accurate from a Catholic perspective, which is why a lot of Catholics find this terrifying, while most people think it's just a horror movie. Yes, you can't get rid of a demon. He just goes back to hell. Yes, a demon chooses to stay within the possessed person. Yes, God usually allows things to get worse during an exorcism before progress can be made, and yes, it's not uncommon for people to die during exorcisms. The point of the movie is demons are like the nuclear weapons of the spiritual world. They're not to be trifled with.
Yes! It pained me how little research they did! Pazuzu isn't a evil demon, he's a monstrous protector called to repel them! It's like saying that Shrek is a dangerous fiend, based only on his appearance... 🥺 Too much Disney and angels, America! Things are more complicated than that 😝!
@@yehoshua77 No, it does not. I'm not trying to convert you. I could be an atheist for all you know. I'm just saying that's what the movie is about. My comment wasn't even about my personal beliefs. An atheist could make the same point that you can understand why the movie is a masterpiece if you understand the Catholic theology behind it.
This has been my favourite movie for the last 20 years. But quality videos like these, that go deep into the subject matter and nuances, help me love the movie even more. So thank you from the bottom of my heart. 💙
Thank you for this video. It is nice to see such takes on movies. I really wish there were more horror movies like this one, finding good horror like this is nearly impossible nowadays, you look at lists of "Scariest horror movies" and often you see comparatively lame stuff like The Conjuring or Insidious, like, really people? They are good popcorn flicks to tickle the creepy bone a little, but you can't compare. Younger people even claim The Exorcist is "boring" and "not scary" because it doesn't throw cheap jumpscares at you every 3 seconds. They don't get the immersion, subtlety and deeper meanings are what make this movie great. We really need more horror like this.
You'd think after seeing this movie analysed and scrutinized for years nothing new would come up, but this video managed to explore a side of the Exorcist I hadn't thought about yet. You deserve a lot more attention than you get!
I've come to dearly love your videos. I'm super fascinated but all these personal insight into what makes all these movies themselves. Hope you get more and more attention, eventually.
Whoa! Nathan! This is dope. Never thought I’d run into an old acquaintance via a horror film Reddit that lead me to a pretty successful RUclips page. Congratulations! BRB gotta go binge your vids!
Great points made. I'm also a huge fan of The Omen with Gregory Peck. His world becomes smaller and full of despair the longer he keeps hiding the terrible secret from his wife that they are raising an unknown child. The powerful Thorn character can't find much help from the outside world and loses everything.
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.
Came to comment after watching the review. What a wonderful analysis, I hope this comment finds you well. The character of Father Karras is very moving for me: tormented and troubled, yet noble soul redeems its life and honor by the last selfless sacrifice.
I loved the stark cinematography and pace, it was almost a forerunner to the “found footage” rage with the side story building that was actually unaware of that was to come instead of the modern consciously unconscious. I loved your take on this, empathy over preservation. The loneliest genre… it, when done well, feeds on that instinct that says we are pack animals
Good video dude! My mom used to talk about how the Exorcist was too slow for her to watch, but i see where that screen time goes to-- might have to re-watch it.
This is a good video. Friedken said in the past that the randomness of the possession is what really scared people. Also, if you look at the scenes as you described as long as drawn out, I think friedken meant this and he has described it as with all of the nightmarish ordeal happening in the house life is going on as normal for everyone else, something about that made it more menacing
In October of 2022 I decided to listen to a famous scary book each week on audiobook. I picked this and honestly I couldn’t stop listening. It was as creepy, so much detailed and interesting. The movie sticks to the book so much. It became one of my favorite books.
Wow. You do such a great job in your analyses! I love your perspectives - usually something new which I hadn't previously considered. Haven also been raised devoutly Catholic, and also the same age as Linda Blair was, this movie truly terrified - and fascinated me at the same time. I never even saw the actual film until I was 16. I can now appreciate the creative brilliance of all the film evoked, as clarified by your brilliant reflections on it!
Can we just sit and have a conversation about horror movies for like 3 hours please? 🤣 great video! Put together very nicely, spoken perfectly, and so interesting!
Another lovely commentary as always! AoH never ceases to surprise me by bringing new life back into films I'd already thought to death. Keep doing what you're doing!
I agree with everything but the end. I think the end is very distinctly Catholic and what may seem dark to someone secular or more Protestant, it’s really dead on for Catholicism, the religion the movie deals with. Karras doesn’t “beat the demon up and negotiates with it,” he finally sets aside his selfishness and his reluctance to help and performs the ultimate act of Christian martyrdom. He becomes a Catholic Saint, sacrificing his very life both for his newly renewed faith and his empathy and love for a little girl he doesn’t even know. He puts himself through pain and death to confront and vanquish evil in God’s name. It may sound bleak, but Catholicism can be a bleak religion. Look up any Saint and read about the torture they (supposedly) endured in God’s name. Look at the depictions of their bleeding, mutilated bodies. Catholicism is all about suffering, so imo, this is the PERFECT ending to a movie that centers around this religion. Karras became a Saint. His martyrdom for God is the perfect ending to his arc. It is the full, total embracing of the faith he questions throughout the entire film. He’s not just finding God again, he is LIVING Catholicism in a very literal way. It’s the most extreme way he could have resolved his questions about faith and it’s just perfect.
My reading of Karras's decision to take in the demon and then kill himself was Karras's knowledge of and acceptance that killing himself was a mortal sin and that he would be condemned to hell. To me, that is both a greater sacrifice and far more horrifying than the sainthood you suggest.
@@markiep8477 Again, I feel like this is a more Protestant view on things. Lots of Saints committed acts that look suicidal to us in God’s name. They faced certain torture and death but did what they did anyway, and that’s what makes them martyrs. This definition of “suicide” isn’t applicable here imo. It’s not suicide to, for instance, push someone out of the way of a car, knowing you’ll be hit, or to take a bullet for someone. That’s self sacrifice and fearlessness in the face of death. Karras isn’t killing himself because of “selfish” despair or sorrow; he’s laying his life on the line to save an innocent *non-religious* (so, from a Catholic view, a sinful) little girl. He’s effectively “dying for her sins” and committing a Christlike act of sacrifice and therefore martyring himself like a Saint.
Agreed. Taking on the pain and suffering of others -- suffering in their stead -- is seen as a virtue. When I got to that part in the video, I said aloud, "Of course it's a victory" from the Catholic perspective... Father Karras's faith is restored, and he sacrifices himself to remove the demon from this innocent girl. 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' I also agree that Karras's death at the end is martyrdom and not suicide. He dies to save someone else from death and damnation, not to save himself from further suffering.
This was a brilliant dissection of the Exorcst. I'm a real fan of the movie and I try to find anything I can on this classic and this is the best I've seen so far.
I am an expert on this film and this is a very interesting take. Something different. Friedkin was originally a docu filmmaker so it makes sense to shoot the entire scene without cuts.
"Despair can be isolating, but it can have a way of banding broken people together. In this way, despair will always sow the seeds for its own defeat". Thanks for the most uplifting quote about despair I've ever encountered.
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i felt same way about that
"Horror is the loneliest genre" that's why all us loners love it
Count me in. I m a loner that loves The Exorcist movie. I have The Exorcist. Original Director s Cut on DVD
You still watch dvds
Yes! 😂
Brilliant
Hello fellow horror loving folks
covering really classic, well-known movies can feel daunting for me because i always think so much has been said about those movies already that it'd be hard to add anything new to the conversation. and, dammit, you have proved me wrong. this is the most refreshing take on the film i've seen in years, you're brilliant, thank you for sharing
thanks so much for the kind words, Yhara. Love your stuff too, I was just showing somebody your vid on Cherry the other day :)
oh my god our queen is here
Love your channel 💕
it's sad that this movie was based on a true story. I also knew someone haunted by this demon and he didn't make it. Very sad
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For such a well discussed, thoroughly examined movie like The Exorcist, this was an extremely fresh, interesting take on it.
Wasn’t it tho?
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@@jairayala8309can anyone play this backwards and translate?
@@dancutdPaul is dead
@@myles_bennett77 Myles, you made me laugh. (And realize how old I am).
Fun fact: When Father Karras visits the linguist, the words written in Japanese above the door is "tasukete" which translates to "Help Me." The same phrase we see etched into Regan's belly.
As a lifelong Exorcist fan, I would like to congratulate you for a well-researched, well-written and extremely well executed video essay. You've brought up points that I never noticed before, and narrated it with a sensitivity I rarely see about this film! I will be coming back to this video many, many times; I cannot thank you enough for giving a respectful and insightful glimpse to this cinematic masterwork.
This video isn’t good! ..Theres better ones out there ruclips.net/video/M0TmHK6e4SM/видео.html
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i found this film incredibly touching for the same reason as cronenberg's the fly. even when he is disgusting on every level and physically rotting, she still hugs him without recoiling. even though regan is in agony, possessed by a terrifying demon and physically wasted away, they hold her hand, and touch her forehead, and give their lives just trying to save her. to me it's not about the question of finally getting rid of the demon, because we all know pain can't be eliminated. they reached out to this little girl and were there in such a dark, ugly space alongside her in her suffering. even though she still has that distance from her mother from the beginning of the film and doesn't seem able to talk to her at all about what she went through, to the point of pretending she doesn't remember, regan does remember that she had people who stayed with her through her darkest time and saved her life.
I figured she did actually remember what happened because she saw the priests collar at the end of the movie and kissed him on the cheek thinking it was him who was one of the ones who saved her.
The novel is definitely a meditation on why God allows terrible things to happen, and how that challenges our faith (or informs our lack of faith). The film beautifully reifies that sense of isolation, helplessness, despair, and all of the existential miseries embedded in everyday life. Absolutely brilliant analysis; unique and groundbreaking. SO well-done!!!
Thank you for articulating my favourite part of the Exorcist - all the parts that aren't with the demon. So perfectly encapsulates the possession literature I am familiar with from the Middle Ages, and how the 'possessed' were not just the stage and performance, but also the gravity well to draw community and people together.
oooh shoot me some recs for some of those books
@@AcolytesOfHorror
Complicated field, and I am not sure how many you want (I tend to default to accidentally unloading my bibliography on people)... but here are a select few that cover off the middle ages, early modern, brief introduction to historical witchcraft, the divine .... etc.
Brian P. Levack, The Devil Within: Possession and Exorcism in the Christian West, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2013.
assets.cambridge.org/97805218/13235/frontmatter/9780521813235_frontmatter.pdf (open access)
Nancy Mandeville Cacioloa, 'Discerning Spirits : Divine and Demonic Possession in the Middle Ages' - she is trying to link later witchcraft demoniacs with earlier forms of divine possession into the legal task of 'discernment.' (if you want more on divine possession, then I'll link)
Stuart Clark's 'Thinking with Demons: The Idea of Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe' is an oldy but a good primer for the debates that are still going on.
Something for England: Erika Gasser, 'Vexed with Devils: Manhood and Witchcraft in Old and New England'
Albrecht Classen covers off a bit on 'Mental Health, Spirituality, and Religion in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Age.' The chapter on Petrach and Weyer might be interesting.
And last, but not least an article on children and how it integrates them back into society (and I would argue implicitly, society around them): 'Diabolical Rage? Children, Violence, and Demonic Possession in the Late Middle Ages' by
Sari Katajala-Peltomaa.
:)
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"she can pay people to help, but she can't pay people to hurt - like she hurts." sorry, that prose just bitch slapped me.
The part when Chris MacNeill breaks down crying whilst begging Karras for help is maybe my favourite scene. It underscores why Blatty chose to make the character a famous actress, she’s in literal disguise to avoid hassle from the public whilst internally she’s crushed & helpless. It’s also a fairly straightforward scene but elevated by truly talented actors, you just don’t see this kinda thing much now. Absolutely heart rending & something that only clicked with me when I got little older.
Thank you. I feel the same.
It’s ironic that a mother with “no religious beliefs” desperately seeks help from a priest who has lost his faith.
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Me walking towards the premieres with increasing enthusiasm : GIMME GIMME GIMME-
hahaha
@@AcolytesOfHorror
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For me, this is the scariest movie of all time. As a 53-year-old man, I still have the occasional nightmare because of this film.
Loved this and super excited about the American Psycho vid to come!
:)
You are absolutely right about the loneliness and resignation of The Exorcist's tone and the cinematography and pacing is so powerfully constructed around that feeling.
Fantastic explanation of the film, your videos are on another level and every single one has made me want to reexamine the film.
You aren't an Acolyte, you're a Master!
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Like everyone else is saying, I've heard/seen dozens of analysis videos/podcasts on this movie and none of them touched on anything you mentioned in this video. What an amazing take on such a classic film.
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Agreed, no one comes anywhere near this depth and insight.
Ever since I saw the Midsommar video I knew you were gonna be one of my favorite channels.
I just wanna say that your "frolicking demons everywhere" comment finally put into words something about this movie that deeply unsettled me and did so very effectively but I never knew why. Just the implication that there are invisible demons capering in the backdrop of human suffering is chilling and this movie somehow captures that feeling
That was awesome. Such a cool analyzation. I never would've noticed those things on my own. It's amazing how much feeling and thought goes into a good movie. I saw The Exorcist in 1982, when I was eight years old, and it absolutely terrified me. I'm a huge horror genre fan, and it's still number one on my list of scariest movies ever. Thank you for making and sharing this. Great video!
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I 1st saw The Exorcist in 1974 after it had originally came out a day after Christmas in 1973. I saw the movie at a local drive in when I was 6
Another time when I saw The Exorcist again at a different drive in I laughed during some parts while my cousin was cringing in terror in the backseat. He still remembers me laughing though
16:25 overcoming that despair is why you go to church, for yourself and those around you.
It’s the best horror movie in my opinion and one of the best movies of all time . Jason miller’s performance as father Damien karras impacted me in such a way because I was a Christian struggling with my faith then I regained it .
Finally, the best part of this movie is addressed. The Exorcist has been my favorite film since I was 13 or 14 mostly for a lot of the points discussed here. One thing that I think should be mentioned, also, is that the sound of this film adds to that open world crafted through the cinematography. I don't think I've seen hardly any other films that are mostly devoid of incidental music, and where that silence is filled in by sound of the world it is in. I've seen this film countless times, and each time I'll pick up on the sound of the wind or the sound of a car horn in the background that I've never noticed before. All of these subtle atmospheric noises contribute heavily to this idea of distance playing a key role in the film. That said, very well done video.
the audio design especially in that opening sequence with Merrick is AWESOME
So well observed. It reminds me of the slowness in Picnic At Hanging Rock, though with that film, it’s very dreamlike….but in both, the quiet and slowness lulls us. Lulls us into feeling quiet inside, then the shocks that come are so dramatic, and it’s partly because we are right there, paced with the film. It’s also very real, because that walk from a to b, that beginning of the day, that late night…it’s all long, unedited, no music. Without the horror it would be ultra realistic and gaunt. I’m still terrified of this film, it’s that good. I loved this, thank you so much!
The part about everyone working to contain something that doesn't want to leave really made me think!
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”
"The Spider-Walk was a mistake" - Hayao Miyazaki
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.
As a lifelong horror/literature need I have to say BRAVO. You treat the genre as a serious study and that is rarely seen.
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.
It's incredible that you managed to say...not just something new about The Exorcist, but something that is so glaringly obvious that it totally avoids notice. Bravo.
“And.. yeah I’m not showing that on RUclips”
Ah yes…. That.. that scene
The reactivity of film, the lack of post-production, and the lens execution along with lighting requirements was top notch.
Really fresh perspective. I agree with you about the bleakness that washes over one while you watch the movie. More than being terrified, I was left feeling this emptiness inside and everything seemed so morose, but the ending helped a bit with that. I also agree with another comment about the problematic use of non-Christian deities in Western horror.
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.
15:00 I see what they mean about the Exorcist having a bleak ending based on these points, but that existential uncertainty is what makes the concept of hope so much more profound. bonus, the ending in the book promotes this idea of Karass' spiritual fulfillment and the tragic idea of fate. (I guess it works for Christians for a reason!)
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.
"despair will always sow the seeds for its own defeat."
I’m so glad your reviews exist. They illuminate so many corners of thought I don’t ever think to explore, dude.
The editing for this video was really top notch! Glad I sat down for this video
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.
you know its a good damn day when new aoh is uploaded
it's an especially good damn day for me, because that means I'm finally DONE with a video, phew (wipes sweat off brow)
@@AcolytesOfHorror i will say that the creeping dread of watching father karras walk up those stairs is comparable to me seeing i only had a minute left in the video! great work as always!!!
I really loved your take on The Exorcist's vastness in terms of setting; I feel it's a very overlooked feature of horror that honestly, when done well, does wonders to make a movie stand out. I loved the fact that The Exorcist felt very "lived in" in a way and how they really took their time to focus on individual character's lives outside the possession. In fact, that's why it's one of if not my favorite horror movie. It added to the overall realism making everything even scarier!
Fascinating essay Nathan!! Really enjoyed the points you raised, especially the fact Regan/Pazuzu is sneaking out of her room yet always returns... creepy!
Been loving this channel. Just found you from a comment you made on somebody else's video. And I think u might be better then whoever they were. Can't wait to keep coming back here every new upload. And I love that you chose to say Garwin I'm the Green Knight video. Subscribed.
Literally every video by you makes me think so hard and learn new things and gain new opinions, you're so well-spoken and so thoughful about dissecting these films. It's brilliant.
Excellent and well-observed work. It also proves once more what an amazing multi-layered masterpiece Friedkin has made. I'll never tire of it.
I was looking away from the phone when the video started and 'Don't cha' by the pussy cat dolls starting playing. I was VERY confused until I saw the KFC ad rolling before your video. Masterful video as usual 😊
Blatty said that Karras’s self-sacrifice to him was proof of the divine; a local exception to the general rule of selfishness, overcoming the selfish gene and so on.
Dude, this sounds like a college essay that deserves an A+++. I will never watch this movie the same way again. Bravo!
Damian as a name serves a few meanings in the book. For one his name means "to subdue" in Greek origin. The novel references Saint Damien, the patron saint of people suffering from leprosy. Lastly Damien wears a St. Nicholas necklace which depicts a patron carrying a child across a river. At the end of the movie, the demon tears off Damian's necklace which is when it possesses Karras. Piecing together all this maps out how Father Karras would ultimately end Regan's suffering by drawing out the sickness that was the demon, then subduing it becoming a martyr. Which would metaphorically take the child (Regan) across the river.
I’ve seen the film countless times and explored every analysis out there but I never would have looked at it this way. You say things I just never would have thought of in a thousand years but it all makes sense the moment I hear it. That doesn’t happen to me very often. What is old is new again. Your work is a fresh breeze through my brain!
It is INDEED a fresh take on a subject that’s been analyzed to death, resurrected, and picked apart again. I concur with your opinion about this videos’ use of hyyyyuunnggghh yearrggghhhh blarrrp.
It’s analysis goes beyond surface-level BLLLEEEAAARRGGGGHHHHHNUNNNNGH BBLLLLLAAAARRRPPPPP UNNNNGHHHH BLEARGGNARGHLBARGHLARGHL coincidentally, it’s accuracyyyyyy YYEEEAAARRRGGGHHHH UNNNNGH HYUUUUUUNNNNGH BLEARRGGHHHHHHH finally exposing the obvious AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! AHHHH!!!!!
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Hey RUclips, your algorithm is broken - it looks like Nathan's videos aren't showing up in everyone's recommended AND THEY SHOULD BE.
Love your channel ❤ glad to see your still posting new videos!!!
sure am! had some hard drive probs a few weeks ago, so that set things back a few weeks
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 review. The Exorcist have been an all tie favourite since I first saw it as an 8 year old. For years it remind in my memory for how much it freaked me out until I reawatched it again a few years later. As a child I was scared of the Demon and Raigin decay, but as an adult it scared me because it puts me in a situation where I can no longer escape my loneliness and it affirms it more.
A landmark achievement, from a landmark 70’s movie.
Nominated for 10 Academy Awards,
For best achievement in sound, cinematography, editing, adaptation, make-up and visual effects, acting, writing, and direction.
Considered the greatest horror movie of all time, and one hell of a rollercoaster ride.
A titan in movie history.
Often imitated, yet never duplicated.
The one, the only.
The Exorcist.
Great video Nathan & Phoebe!! I loved the focus you gave to this analysis and the eerie feeling you captured in the video. 🙌🏻 Hope you're doing great. Also thanks for the heads up for the next video! It gives us a chance to rewatch/watch these movies and really get the points you discuss in the videos 🙆🏻♀️
Excellent analysis. I never noticed the 'background' 'foreground' element before.
Just love your channel. I think you are brilliant! So articulate, observant, emotionally intelligent. It’s like you bring a whole other dimension to my experience of these films finding these themes and connections I never noticed even if I’ve seen it so many times. You deserve all the success coming your way.
The choice of using the entity Pazuzu as the baddie is weird in this story. Early Mesopotamians used likenesses of Pazuzu kind of like gargoyles to ward off the child-stealing spirit Lamashtu. Story would have worked better for me if Lamashtu was the possessing spirit, Catholic exorcism had no impact, and they were forced to use Pazuzu to ward off Lamashtu, but that probably wouldn’t have been a hit movie.
yeah horror movies have a pretty bad track record with their depictions of non-Christian religious figures, sadly
According to Catholicism all pagan gods are demons, so the story would need to be drastically changed. And even if Pazuzu is actually an angel, angels don't actively take part in exorcisms. No hate against non-Christians religions, but this movie is theologically accurate from a Catholic perspective, which is why a lot of Catholics find this terrifying, while most people think it's just a horror movie.
Yes, you can't get rid of a demon. He just goes back to hell. Yes, a demon chooses to stay within the possessed person. Yes, God usually allows things to get worse during an exorcism before progress can be made, and yes, it's not uncommon for people to die during exorcisms. The point of the movie is demons are like the nuclear weapons of the spiritual world. They're not to be trifled with.
Yes! It pained me how little research they did! Pazuzu isn't a evil demon, he's a monstrous protector called to repel them! It's like saying that Shrek is a dangerous fiend, based only on his appearance... 🥺
Too much Disney and angels, America! Things are more complicated than that 😝!
@@krdiaz8026 Your comment assumes Christianity and Catholicism as truth somehow, rather than the fairy tales they are.
@@yehoshua77 No, it does not. I'm not trying to convert you. I could be an atheist for all you know. I'm just saying that's what the movie is about. My comment wasn't even about my personal beliefs. An atheist could make the same point that you can understand why the movie is a masterpiece if you understand the Catholic theology behind it.
This has been my favourite movie for the last 20 years. But quality videos like these, that go deep into the subject matter and nuances, help me love the movie even more. So thank you from the bottom of my heart. 💙
Never heard such a thorough explanation. Brings a whole new perspective. Liking the content.
Thank you for this video. It is nice to see such takes on movies. I really wish there were more horror movies like this one, finding good horror like this is nearly impossible nowadays, you look at lists of "Scariest horror movies" and often you see comparatively lame stuff like The Conjuring or Insidious, like, really people? They are good popcorn flicks to tickle the creepy bone a little, but you can't compare. Younger people even claim The Exorcist is "boring" and "not scary" because it doesn't throw cheap jumpscares at you every 3 seconds.
They don't get the immersion, subtlety and deeper meanings are what make this movie great. We really need more horror like this.
You'd think after seeing this movie analysed and scrutinized for years nothing new would come up, but this video managed to explore a side of the Exorcist I hadn't thought about yet. You deserve a lot more attention than you get!
I've come to dearly love your videos. I'm super fascinated but all these personal insight into what makes all these movies themselves. Hope you get more and more attention, eventually.
Whoa! Nathan! This is dope. Never thought I’d run into an old acquaintance via a horror film Reddit that lead me to a pretty successful RUclips page. Congratulations! BRB gotta go binge your vids!
I really appreciate this new perspective and insight into this film.
Great points made. I'm also a huge fan of The Omen with Gregory Peck. His world becomes smaller and full of despair the longer he keeps hiding the terrible secret from his wife that they are raising an unknown child. The powerful Thorn character can't find much help from the outside world and loses everything.
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.
Came to comment after watching the review.
What a wonderful analysis, I hope this comment finds you well.
The character of Father Karras is very moving for me: tormented and troubled, yet noble soul redeems its life and honor by the last selfless sacrifice.
I loved the stark cinematography and pace, it was almost a forerunner to the “found footage” rage with the side story building that was actually unaware of that was to come instead of the modern consciously unconscious. I loved your take on this, empathy over preservation. The loneliest genre… it, when done well, feeds on that instinct that says we are pack animals
Well done you. Thank you for such an enjoyable video essay.
Please know y’all’s work makes my life just that bit more enjoyable.
The Exorcist movie was always existentially dark. Nobody won, the mother and daughter merely survived.
Good video dude! My mom used to talk about how the Exorcist was too slow for her to watch, but i see where that screen time goes to-- might have to re-watch it.
I could just talk horror with you forever your takes are always so lovely to listen to! 🥰
This is a good video. Friedken said in the past that the randomness of the possession is what really scared people. Also, if you look at the scenes as you described as long as drawn out, I think friedken meant this and he has described it as with all of the nightmarish ordeal happening in the house life is going on as normal for everyone else, something about that made it more menacing
Can't believe I missed this video coming out, this is one of my favorite creators all around.
In October of 2022 I decided to listen to a famous scary book each week on audiobook. I picked this and honestly I couldn’t stop listening. It was as creepy, so much detailed and interesting. The movie sticks to the book so much. It became one of my favorite books.
it's so good!
One of my favorite horror movies, and your review does it justice. Excellent essay Nathan.
Amazing video. Completely reshaped my understanding of the Exorcist. Please do not stop analyzing horror films!
Wow. You do such a great job in your analyses! I love your perspectives - usually something new which I hadn't previously considered. Haven also been raised devoutly Catholic, and also the same age as Linda Blair was, this movie truly terrified - and fascinated me at the same time. I never even saw the actual film until I was 16. I can now appreciate the creative brilliance of all the film evoked, as clarified by your brilliant reflections on it!
The Exorcist is my favorite scary movie, and your analysis was refreshing and fascinating. I love your channel!
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.
Very hopeful note at the end, thank you.
I never thought of it that way! Great video as usual!
I love the attention to detail across your work
Very good analysis of this film. Enjoyed watching this.
Thank you for the new insight on this film!!!
This is why I love the movie so much. It truly is brilliant.
Thank you so much for the flashing lights warning! Great video. Keep up the good work!
Can we just sit and have a conversation about horror movies for like 3 hours please? 🤣 great video! Put together very nicely, spoken perfectly, and so interesting!
Another lovely commentary as always! AoH never ceases to surprise me by bringing new life back into films I'd already thought to death. Keep doing what you're doing!
amazing video mate, keep it up
This was a very cerebral and well thought out take on this flick. I very much enjoyed it
Love your vids, thanks for the upload!!
Thanks for this unique perspective into this film. Well done.
Great video as always. Love your work.
I agree with everything but the end. I think the end is very distinctly Catholic and what may seem dark to someone secular or more Protestant, it’s really dead on for Catholicism, the religion the movie deals with.
Karras doesn’t “beat the demon up and negotiates with it,” he finally sets aside his selfishness and his reluctance to help and performs the ultimate act of Christian martyrdom. He becomes a Catholic Saint, sacrificing his very life both for his newly renewed faith and his empathy and love for a little girl he doesn’t even know. He puts himself through pain and death to confront and vanquish evil in God’s name.
It may sound bleak, but Catholicism can be a bleak religion. Look up any Saint and read about the torture they (supposedly) endured in God’s name. Look at the depictions of their bleeding, mutilated bodies. Catholicism is all about suffering, so imo, this is the PERFECT ending to a movie that centers around this religion.
Karras became a Saint. His martyrdom for God is the perfect ending to his arc. It is the full, total embracing of the faith he questions throughout the entire film. He’s not just finding God again, he is LIVING Catholicism in a very literal way. It’s the most extreme way he could have resolved his questions about faith and it’s just perfect.
My reading of Karras's decision to take in the demon and then kill himself was Karras's knowledge of and acceptance that killing himself was a mortal sin and that he would be condemned to hell. To me, that is both a greater sacrifice and far more horrifying than the sainthood you suggest.
@@markiep8477 Again, I feel like this is a more Protestant view on things.
Lots of Saints committed acts that look suicidal to us in God’s name. They faced certain torture and death but did what they did anyway, and that’s what makes them martyrs.
This definition of “suicide” isn’t applicable here imo. It’s not suicide to, for instance, push someone out of the way of a car, knowing you’ll be hit, or to take a bullet for someone. That’s self sacrifice and fearlessness in the face of death.
Karras isn’t killing himself because of “selfish” despair or sorrow; he’s laying his life on the line to save an innocent *non-religious* (so, from a Catholic view, a sinful) little girl. He’s effectively “dying for her sins” and committing a Christlike act of sacrifice and therefore martyring himself like a Saint.
Agreed. Taking on the pain and suffering of others -- suffering in their stead -- is seen as a virtue.
When I got to that part in the video, I said aloud, "Of course it's a victory" from the Catholic perspective... Father Karras's faith is restored, and he sacrifices himself to remove the demon from this innocent girl. 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'
I also agree that Karras's death at the end is martyrdom and not suicide. He dies to save someone else from death and damnation, not to save himself from further suffering.
This was a brilliant dissection of the Exorcst. I'm a real fan of the movie and I try to find anything I can on this classic and this is the best I've seen so far.
Your videos are my new addiction now at 4:23am
I am an expert on this film and this is a very interesting take. Something different. Friedkin was originally a docu filmmaker so it makes sense to shoot the entire scene without cuts.