The Exorcist's Underlying Theme of Child Abuse

jason_bourne · 08-06-2009, 05:11 PM

The Exorcist

Film analysis by Rob Ager at http://www.collativelearning.com

Quote:

Aside from its obvious horror genre appeals, much has been made of The Exorcist’s narrative themes of good versus evil, science versus superstition and psychiatry versus faith. It is full of signs and symbols that let us know there is much more going on than the dialogue is telling us and we are left with lots of unanswered questions even as the closing credits appear.

A curious aspect of the story is the death of the film director Burke Dennings. We do not see Burke’s death, but we know that his head was twisted around and he was then thrown from Regan’s window. This is told to us in exposition and as the story unfolds we discover that the possessed daughter Regan was more than likely the murderer. A friend of mine, after viewing the film, asked the insightful question “When Burke Dennings was killed, what was he doing in Regan’s bedroom?”

This question fired my interest so I decided to re-watch The Exorcist with the issue in mind. Some interesting factors then came to my attention.

The Exorcist Film Analysis Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7awZIkcO7Fk

The Exorcist Film Analysis Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSDMgVP3T10&feature=related

The Exorcist Film Analysis Part 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVkLJQ4vxT8&feature=related

Source: http://www.collativelearning.com/exorcist%20review.html

gluoniel · 20-11-2010, 06:21 AM

Amazing. The analized actions subliminally lead to the conclusion that there was a sexual abuse. O_O

However, this creates a new paradigm: paranormal activities were hallucinations and mass hysteria that utilized the demonic mental symbolism as a representation of the perverted sexual awakening of Regan caused by Burke Dennings (and maybe the doctors!).

leon11 · 20-11-2010, 11:46 PM

Rob Ager's analysis' are very thought provoking. check out the /big Lebowski one too...but on the subject of The Exorcist there is definately seedy undertones in it. Demons also (apparently) will find it much easier to possess vulnerable people (e.g. abused children).

pixie_shhh · 20-11-2010, 11:57 PM

Dont know if it relates directly but heres the story behind the movie.. i bring it up really cos i watched it yesterday lmao...

part one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDgoNlOn-hk&feature=related

part two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUVm8iK8nT4&feature=related

part three

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj1j0Us1CUc&feature=related

part four

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ-0lPNIBC4&feature=related

bobbydiva · 10-04-2011, 03:14 PM

Just re-watched and I can definitely see it.
The scene when the (inspector?) asks if Dennings was in her room, and then when he leaves there's a realization on the mother's face...she goes upstairs, then there's the stabbing scene and the "demon" says "do you know what she did...your cunting daughter".

Makes the film even more scary.

stickypudding · 13-06-2011, 03:24 AM

all these videos have been removed, that's too bad I'd like to see them.

I'd always wondered about the reptilian demon, Pazuzu, in the movie, the Exorcist.

stickypudding · 13-06-2011, 03:27 AM

This post also made me think about the correlation to child abuse, how the demon selected a child to torture in the most hideous way imaginable.

The above freak Gluoniel, thinks what happens to Regan is a normal part of her sexual awakening. Oh, the reptilians DO have a sense of humor. they probably watch the Exorcist and laugh, just like they do when it's really happening, when it's not just a movie.

stickypudding · 13-06-2011, 03:29 AM

I think the white face, was edited in, as a kind of anti-white theme, note the reptilian demon speaks in a British voice, it speaks french, but also notice, that the demon statue, Pazuzu, is worshipped by Africans, and is recovered in an African archeological dig by the priest.

Pazuzu is an African deity, like Yahweh is.

lizzyking · 14-06-2011, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickypudding

I think the white face, was edited in, as a kind of anti-white theme...

[...]

Pazuzu is an African deity, like Yahweh is.

Check out this perversion. A black Rastafarian Santa Claus, with white dreads.

martg · 14-06-2011, 05:34 AM

It's certainly possible that there is a subtext to the film (and book) after all it was written by a trained Jesuit.

but I should point out that the bones of the story is based on true events.
it's based on the story of a boy in the southern states of the U.S. who is named in the case history as 'Robby'.

20-11-2010, 06:21 AM	#2
gluoniel Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Central America Posts: 48	Amazing. The analized actions subliminally lead to the conclusion that there was a sexual abuse. O_O However, this creates a new paradigm: paranormal activities were hallucinations and mass hysteria that utilized the demonic mental symbolism as a representation of the perverted sexual awakening of Regan caused by Burke Dennings (and maybe the doctors!). __________________ http://www.myspace.com/ericknielssen "expert, taxpert, joking smoker don't you think the joker laughs at you?" (Hee-Hee-Hee~Ha-Ha-Ha)

10-04-2011, 03:14 PM	#5
bobbydiva Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 5,582	Just re-watched and I can definitely see it. The scene when the (inspector?) asks if Dennings was in her room, and then when he leaves there's a realization on the mother's face...she goes upstairs, then there's the stabbing scene and the "demon" says "do you know what she did...your cunting daughter". Makes the film even more scary. __________________ What Zero Dark Thirty isn’t Telling You about Bin Laden and the CIA WideShut.co.uk - alternative news exposing the New World Order WideShut.co.uk on YOUTUBE Wrestling News

13-06-2011, 03:29 AM	#8
stickypudding Banned Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 150	I think the white face, was edited in, as a kind of anti-white theme, note the reptilian demon speaks in a British voice, it speaks french, but also notice, that the demon statue, Pazuzu, is worshipped by Africans, and is recovered in an African archeological dig by the priest. Pazuzu is an African deity, like Yahweh is. Last edited by stickypudding; 13-06-2011 at 03:30 AM.

14-06-2011, 05:34 AM	#10
martg Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,147	It's certainly possible that there is a subtext to the film (and book) after all it was written by a trained Jesuit. but I should point out that the bones of the story is based on true events. it's based on the story of a boy in the southern states of the U.S. who is named in the case history as 'Robby'. __________________ ever wanted to fly?

20-11-2010, 11:46 PM	#3
leon11 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: UK Posts: 1,313	Rob Ager's analysis' are very thought provoking. check out the /big Lebowski one too...but on the subject of The Exorcist there is definately seedy undertones in it. Demons also (apparently) will find it much easier to possess vulnerable people (e.g. abused children).

13-06-2011, 03:24 AM	#6
stickypudding Banned Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 150	all these videos have been removed, that's too bad I'd like to see them. I'd always wondered about the reptilian demon, Pazuzu, in the movie, the Exorcist.

13-06-2011, 03:27 AM	#7
stickypudding Banned Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 150	This post also made me think about the correlation to child abuse, how the demon selected a child to torture in the most hideous way imaginable. The above freak Gluoniel, thinks what happens to Regan is a normal part of her sexual awakening. Oh, the reptilians DO have a sense of humor. they probably watch the Exorcist and laugh, just like they do when it's really happening, when it's not just a movie.