As we approach the end of Murder, Monsters & Mayhem, I thought it would be appropriate to feature the book (and subsequent movie) that continues to terrify me: The Exorcist. I don’t see myself as a person that is easily frightened which makes this book ever the more frightening!
- Hardcover:400 pages
- Publisher:Harper; 40 Anv edition (October 4, 2011)
- ISBN-10: 0062094351
- Source: Publisher
We’re all familiar with the story, right? Actress and single mother, Chris MacNeil, is about to start a new film, creating a bit of chaos in her normal schedule. Her young daughter, Regan, begins to complain about sounds at night, her bed shaking. MacNeil assumes it’s her daughter’s way of dealing with her parent’s divorce. When her behavior continues to deteriorate, including using foul language, having accidents in her bed (and in the middle of an important dinner party), MacNeil becomes worried and contacts Regan’s doctor.
Despite dozens of medical tests, including screening for mental issues, Regan’s doctor is unable to find anything. Regan’s behavior worsens; they have to tie her down to her bed after her body is found levitating and thrashing above it. With nowhere else to turn, MacNeil reaches out to a Jesuit priest who attended her recent dinner party. He recommends Father Karras who just happens to be a psychologist as well. Father Karras is dealing with his own demons; he feels guilty for the death of his elderly mother, his faith is in question. Aided by Father Merrin, a priest with experience in exorcisms, the two attempt to rid the young girl’s body of the demon that is possessing it.
At the same time, DC Police Lieutenant William Kinderman is investigating a ritualistic serial killer that has been desecrating nearby churches. He pays another visit to the MacNeil home after a good friend of the family is found dead in the stairwell under Regan’s bedroom window, his neck broke so severely his head was found facing backward.
It’s been forty years since this classic horror novel was published and it continues to stand the test of time. The Exorcist is a multi-faceted novel; not only does it deal with the possession of a young girl, but also faith (or the lack thereof). It’s a classic for several reasons, it became a literary phenomenon, the first novel published in the horror genre (and others!) that took the risks of dealing with the Catholic religion, the priesthood, and ultimately, demonic possession. It is a truly rich character driven novel as well, the reader is left wondering if young Regan is actually possessed or just mentally insane.
I’d be remiss not to mention the movie production of this book, one of the most shocking films ever. Viewers quite literally fled the theaters out of fear, some so affected that they became physically ill. As Scott Poole mentioned in his book Monsters in America, the number of people seeking religious advise increased dramatically; people began to believe that they, too, were possessed and requested exorcism.
Back to the book…I read the original novel when I was a young teen, shortly after watching the movie. Reading it again, decades later, my experience is the same: I was terrified. Silly me read this book at night, during a particularly windy evening. Every sound sent chills down my spine. Yet, I loved this book. I can’t help it. It made history! Horror authors today still mention this book and the author as a source of inspiration for their writings.
As a citizen of the DC metro area, I have actually visited the infamous stairwell in Georgetown, pictured below:
They are pretty creepy stairs; I was unable to force myself to walk them, chills going down my spine simply by being in their presense.
I read the 40th Anniversary edition of this book. Blatty states (source):
“The 40th Anniversary Edition of The Exorcist will have a touch of new material in it as part of an all-around polish of the dialogue and prose. First time around I never had the time (meaning the funds) to do a second draft, and this, finally, is it. With forty years to think about it, a few little changes were inevitable — plus one new character in a totally new very spooky scene. This is the version I would like to be remembered for.”
Other than the new character & scene, I really didn’t sense any real changes. I don’t mean that as a stab at the author, but the writing just flows so well, anything added is completely undetectable. Bottom line: highly recommended…if you dare….
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