The Exorcist
The Basic Plot in Five Words or Less: Devil possession really kinda sucks.
My Basic Ramblings: Another sort of Brush with Fame here. When my sister was in high school, she was in a play that was directed by Reverend William OíMalley, who plays Father Dyer in this film.
I donít know whether I read this somewhere or Iím just making it up, but donít you think this movie could be used by over-worrisome parents to explain their teenage childís behavior? Something like, "Gee, honey, Trisha used to be so happy and polite. She always looked so clean and neat. But ever since she turned fourteen, sheís grumpy and moody, uses bad language, and her complexionís gotten worse. Oh my God! She must be possessed! Get the holy water, call the priest and get her out of that bedroom with the big picture window overlooking the steep stairwell!"
Then thereís the physics behind someoneís head turning completely around. Does the skin at the neck just twist around, or is it like a Barbie dollís head, where the neck and the head are two separate pieces and they spin with ease?
Then thereís the subliminal shots. (During Father Karrasís dream, there are two quick shots of a black screen with a grimacing face, painted white.) I understand that itís supposedly supposed to be scary, but is it, really?
William Peter Blatty wrote the novel, and the screenplay for this film. The novel takes its time in creating Reganís possession - there are more "Oh, Regan, your bedroomís so cold, why is that?" scenes. They donít make the big jump from "brain problems" to "demonic possession". And, of course, thereís no Tubular Bells in the book.