One of my favorite horror films, and think that taking a look at how Blatty adapted his own book to direct it would be insightful, especially with the changes the studio made him make. Any tips would be appreciated.
I came across this one in a local bookstore. I've read the synopsis, and although it sounds interesting, the story seems pretty derivative.
For those who read it, is it any good? What do you think about it?
I've read ''The Exorcist'' and liked it, even though I think I enjoyed the movie more.
I just finished this book and I have to say it is a fun ride. Having seen the movie a few times I was curious to see how the book would differ.
The movie stayed true to the book. That makes sense since Blatty also wrote the screenplay. Where the book shines is deeper character development that can’t be captured in cinema.
What I really enjoyed about it was how you got to follow Father Karras as he slowly comes to accept that it may be a possession. When you meet him he is a priest trained in science who is experiencing a crisis of faith. Throughout the book he tries to rationalize what he’s seeing with his science background.
I will note that I am an atheist with no belief in ten paranormal. I still enjoyed it though.
A demon possesses a young girl named Regan Macneil.
Quote: Demon referring to Regan and speaking to a priest attempting to perform an exorcism: "Prideful bastard...! Scum! You will loose! She will die! The pig will die!"
Overall: Great book with it's main strengths being excellent characters with distinctive personalities, as well as a really good story. Sets a very dark atmosphere and the final section of the book is some of the best horror I've read - particularly the conversations involving the demon. It's surprisingly very emotional too. Recommended.
However I can't give it 5 stars due to>!too many sections where almost everyone is trying to state that it is a problem in Regan's mind, rather than anything supernatural. Karras feels the freezing temperature of her room, sees her move objects with her mind, hears her speak multiple languages, use a voice too powerful to be a child's, use extreme strength and watches her get flung around, all at the same time - yet he justifies it as psychological issues. I get including some psychoanalysis, but it was unbelievable imo that it would go on so long. Could've replaced some of that with other content eg. the demon causing more harm to people.!<
Question: For those who have read Legion (1983) by Blatty, did you like it as much as this? Thanks.
I just finished reading it this morning. Curious to hear this subreddit's thoughts.
NON-SPOILER THOUGHTS
If you enjoyed 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' you'll probably like this book. Or if you're interested in the subject of military PTSD.
I'm not a religious person, but I enjoy the spiritual themes of Blatty's work, particularly his discussions on faith. In that regard, there are aspects of this book similar to "The Exorcist."
Also, it's a very short read. Lots of dialogue, so it moves at a good clip.
SPOILER THOUGHTS
>!The end of the book left me with a mixture of sadness and hopefulness. The sadness was because of the loss/sacrifice of a good person. The hopefulness was because of the themes affirmed in the final pages - that kindness has real weight in the world; that human logic and skepticism can sometimes be mankind's worst enemy.!<
I know! I’m 28 and I’ve never seen “the Exorcist”. I do have the book, and was put under a state wide “shelter in place” order. I want to remember things can always be worse, SO!
Is it worth the read? Yes or no? Why or why not?
From Conter-Spy Vol.1 Issues 4&5, 1974 (https://altgov2.org/wp-content/uploads/CounterSpy_1-4and5_Weisberg.pdf)
Examining the Exorcist
One of the most widely-advertised and popular, but least-understood films to reach mass audiences in several years is THE EXORCIST, based on a novel by William Blatty. Some background on the author and his techniques in the book and film tend to explain the effect of Blatty's work on a mass audience.
After graduating from Georgetown University (where the campus scenes in the movie were shot), Blatty worked for the Central Intelligence Agency in Lebanon in the 1950's, undei US Information Agency cover. Later, he returned to Washington to become Policy Branch Chief of the Psychological Warfare Division of the US Air Force. As such, his job involved the military's promotion of popular anti-communist sentiment around McCarthyism at home and Cold War foreign policy abroad.
An example of the work carried out by psychological warfare in US foreign policy is the orchestrated exodus of Catholics from North to South Vietnam in the mid-fifties. In collaboration with Dr. Tom Dooley (whom Blatty quotes in his book) and others, an extensive campaign was carried out by the Catholic Relief Service, local Catholic leaders and an American psychological warfare team to drive peasants south of the DMZ by telling them "the Virgin Mary has departed from the north" and Christ has gone to the south." Amateur as this appears now, "The mass flight was admittedly the result of an extensive, well-conducted, and in terms of its objective, very successful American psychological warfare operation." (quote in The Indochina Story, Bantam, 1970).
In this post-60's era of return to political passivity, when the majority of youth on and off campus display a frustration with or an abandonment of political consciousness, movie-going has enjoyed a sharp rise. This atmosphere has created a mass audience, one without specific political or spiritual direction and ripe for the suggestions which THE EXORCIST carries.
The techniques used by Blatty in his EXORCIST were well-honed by years of practice in the above government business. While in the fifties crude psychological warfare could be foisted on naive groups, Mr. Blatty's sophisticated talents have several messages in the mid-70's:
- Social conscience and faith in our own identity is eclipsed by the threat of infestation by demonic forces (the devil). Or to quote Father Merrin in his central role as th
I spent the weekend watching both the theatrical version and his director’s cut (retitled with the much cooler sounding LEGION) and I was pretty blown away by it. I hadn’t seen it before and had pretty much dismissed it as just a cheap cash-in sequel to one of the greatest (and one of my personal favourite) not only horror films but films in general.
Now, it still doesn’t come anywhere near the original in terms of what that film did but the tone and atmosphere of Exorcist III is truly and bizarrely unsettling. It almost feels Lynchian with its dream-like camera work and long takes. There’s a very unique sense of creepiness going on throughout the whole movie that I haven’t quite seen in anything else.
Now that we are so far removed from the release of the original I think it’s easier to look at Exorcist III as it’s own thing and not something that’s living in its predecessor’s monumental shadow and I think for the most part Blatty managed to craft a genuinely unsettling horror film.
Some pretty great acting in there too from Brad Dourif and George C. Scott and much of the supporting cast.
If you haven’t seen it and are a fan of horror in general I think you probably owe it to yourself to check it out.
PS. Exorcist III features easily the most well-crafted and effective jump scare I think I’ve ever seen in a horror movie.
Just wondering if anyone has read this book? It was recommended to me after I ordered ”The Exorcist”. The synopsis sounds like a political/spy thriller, is this correct?
