The Exorcist

[dms1972]

I watched this film years ago, and have occasionally looked up scenes online.

However I read an interesting comment about it once to the effect that despite the film's title there was no exorcism took place, but instead a substitition. It's fair to say the priests sought initially (until the older priest suffered a heart attack) to perform an exorcism on the possesed girl - then the younger priest overcome with emotion at the end, on finding the older priest dead screams "Take me!" to the demon and invites it to transfer out of the girl into him. He seems to be strong enough for a moment to resist the demon and throws himself out of a window to his death.

A similiar thing happens in the second film in the Amityville Horror, the priest at the end seems to become possessed while the young man is restored. He shouts repeatedly "Let it be me".

I have never witnessed an exorcism except for a chap who posts videos online. But there doesn't appear to be a depiction of the exercise of spiritual authority in these films.

In the film The Exorcism of Emily Rose it seems like the main character may have got herself into such difficulties perhaps through substitutions?

Are there any films where there actually is an exorcism and not a priest sacrificing himself?

Leanne Payne critiques and warns against the practice of substitution in her book The Healing Presence. She says the Exorcist film graphically illustrates that there is always a price to pay in substititions.

 

[ozso]

Well to be nit picky, the tile is "the exorcist" (Fr. Merrin), not "the exorcism".

Some interesting things about The Exorcist is that it's based on the book written by William Peter Blatty who was a Roman Catholic. And one of the priests in the film (Fr. Dyer) was played by a real life RC priest. Blatty based his book on a real life documented exorcism. In that instance the demon finally just departed from the child and no one died in the process. Also as an OT side note, a movie called The Ninth Configuration (1980), written and directed by Blatty, is technically a sequel to The Exorcist. Because according to Blatty, the main character is the astronaut Regan told "you're going to die up there".

 

[dms1972]

Well to be nit picky, the tile is "the exorcist" (Fr. Merrin), not "the exorcism".

Yes, I thought of that when I was writing the post. What I don't understand or like about the film is the priests fail to do it. Was that supposed to be because of the younger priest's weak faith?

 

[ozso]

Yes, I thought of that when I was writing the posts. They were attempting to perform an exorcism up until near the end in any case. What I don't understand or like about the film is the priests fail to do it. Was that supposed to be because of the younger priest's weak faith?

Maybe partially. I'd say the main reason is because Fr. Merrin died before it could be completed. As I recall the documented exorcism the story was based on, went on for weeks (and they said in the movie the last exorcism Merrin did (of the same demon) took a month). Whereas in the movie it was more a span of only a few hours before Merrin died and Karras resorted to having the demon enter him. I think that was probably supposed too be due to him wanting to save Regan's life because apparently she was on the verge of dying from heart failure. Which was driven by him feeling hugely guilty, because he felt that he had let his mother die.

 

[dms1972]

Maybe partially. I'd say the main reason is because Fr. Merrin died before it could be completed. As I recall the documented exorcism the story was based on, went on for weeks (and they said in the movie the last exorcism Merrin did (of the same demon) took a month). Whereas in the movie it was more a span of only a few hours before Merrin died and Karras resorted to having the demon enter him. I think that was probably supposed too be due to him wanting to save Regan's life because apparently she was on the verge of dying from heart failure. Which was driven by him feeling hugely guilty, because he felt that he had let his mother die.

I've never read Peter Blatty's book. But there was a interesting TV audience discussion at the time in the UK which I watched. But no mention that in the end the priest practiced a substitution. I understood he was having emotional struggles due to his mother's death

 

[ozso]

When it comes to the Amityville Horror, I believe that was proven to be a complete hoax the writer of the book and the homeowner George Lutz came up with. I don't recall the priest in the book becoming actually demon possessed in any way. I only vaguely recall the first movie version (which was awful in my opinion) and I've never seen any remakes. But basically most any demon movie since The Exorcist has been a takeoff of that movie. I'm not familiar with The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

As far as the substitution thing goes, a demon could not possess a Christian, because a Christian is already "possessed" by the Holy Spirit. And I have never heard of such a thing happening in real life. It certainly did not happen in the real life exorcism The Exorcist was based on.

 

[sandman]

I watched this film years ago, and have occasionally looked up scenes online.

However I read an interesting comment about it once to the effect that despite the film's title there was no exorcism took place, but instead a substitition. It's fair to say the priests sought initially (until the older priest suffered a heart attack) to perform an exorcism on the possesed girl - then the younger priest overcome with emotion at the end, on finding the older priest dead screams "Take me!" to the demon and invites it to transfer out of the girl into him. He seems to be strong enough for a moment to resist the demon and throws himself out of a window to his death.

A similiar thing happens in the second film in the Amityville Horror, the priest at the end seems to become possessed while the young man is restored. He shouts repeatedly "Let it be me".

I have never witnessed an exorcism except for a chap who posts videos online. But there doesn't appear to be a depiction of the exercise of spiritual authority in these films.

In the film The Exorcism of Emily Rose it seems like the main character may have got herself into such difficulties perhaps through substitutions?

Are there any films where there actually is an exorcism and not a priest sacrificing himself?

Leanne Payne critiques and warns against the practice of substitution in her book The Healing Presence. She says the Exorcist film graphically illustrates that there is always a price to pay in substititions.

I remember renting that movie. I thought it was hilarious, but I felt sad also.

It was funny because I saw the ritual that they were performing, which was all made up religious acts …something from a vampire movie. I felt sad…. because I realized how uneducated people are when it comes to that kind of stuff.

I don’t know when the RCC started this practice. A priest told me that it goes back to the 1600’s or 1400’s I can’t remember…. but he did tell me there is no official training for doing this and there is/was not much that they could study about it…..that was a while back maybe things have changed.

I don’t remember much about the movie, but I can assure you the stuff with the crucifix and holy water…… all bogus. That doesn’t affect them in the lest, although the devil spirit(s) may put on an act like it does …but it does not.

Here is the bottom line …You have been endued with power from on high, you have Christ in you. Devil spirits respond the power and authority that you have ….and as a believer ….you do have it!

You don’t have to perform any ritual…no dancing around the mulberry bush, no sprinkling or anything with the crucifix. When God gives you the revelation through word of knowledge and what to do through word of wisdom ….you have the power and authority to cast it or them out…Just as Jesus Christ did.

 

[ozso]

I've never read Peter Blatty's book. But there was a interesting TV audience discussion at the time in the UK which I watched. But no mention that in the end the priest practiced a substitution.

I think that's probably entirely something the author invented. But it falls in line with us being willing to sacrifice our life for another, just as Christ sacrificed his life for us.

 

[ozso]

I remember renting that movie. I thought it was hilarious, but I felt sad also.

It was funny because I saw the ritual that they were performing, which was all made up religious acts …something from a vampire movie. I felt sad…. because I realized how uneducated people are when it comes to that kind of stuff.

I don’t know when the RCC started this practice. A priest told me that it goes back to the 1600’s or 1400’s I can’t remember…. but he did tell me there is no official training for doing this and there is/was not much that they could study about it…..that was a while back maybe things have changed.

I don’t remember much about the movie, but I can assure you the stuff with the crucifix and holy water…… all bogus. That doesn’t affect them in the lest, although the devil spirit(s) may put on an act like it does …but it does not.

Here is the bottom line …You have been endued with power from on high, you have Christ in you. Devil spirits respond the power and authority that you have ….and as a believer ….you do have it!

You don’t have to perform any ritual…no dancing around the mulberry bush, no sprinkling or anything with the crucifix. When God gives you the revelation through word of knowledge and what to do through word of wisdom ….you have the power and authority to cast it or them out…Just as Jesus Christ did.

Yeah but that would make for a really short movie with little to no special effects. I've heard several stories told of demons being driven out by those who were there when it happened. And while the person/demon may behave wildly, it's always been a matter of just commanding the demon to leave in the name of Christ, and didn't take too long to accomplish.

As far as the documented case the movie was based on, taking weeks, many believe the boy who was supposed to be possessed was faking it. And/or it was psychosomatic.

 

[dms1972]

I think that's probably entirely something the author invented. But it falls in line with us being willing to sacrifice our life for another, just as Christ sacrificed his life for us.

I don't believe christians are supposed to take demons into themselves to deliver others. I have read of deliverances such as that of Dorothy Irvine who was heavily into witchcraft and satanism, it went on over weeks, and some of the ministers involved gave up, because she had many demons, but she was eventually freed, and there was no substitution practiced.

 

[dms1972]

It was funny because I saw the ritual that they were performing, which was all made up religious acts …something from a vampire movie. I felt sad…. because I realized how uneducated people are when it comes to that kind of stuff.

That was something that came out in the TV Discussion, some ministers pray extemporaneously as they are led by the Holy Spirit, when performing a deliverance. Others follow a rite very strictly, like we see in the Exorcist film.

Is following a rite of exorcism wrong?

 

[ozso]

I don't believe christians are supposed to take demons into themselves to deliver others. I have read of deliverances such as that of Dorothy Irvine who was heavily into witchcraft and satanism, it went on over weeks, and some of the ministers involved gave up, because she had many demons, but she was eventually freed, and there was no substitution practiced.

I suddenly remembered that substitution did occur in the Bible.

Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Matthew 8:30-32

 

[dms1972]

This was the TV discussion, its quite old, like the film.

The Dimbleby Talk-In | The Exorcist - YouTube

 

[dms1972]

I suddenly remembered that substitution did occur in the Bible.

Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Matthew 8:30-32

That is quite different.