MovieChat Forums > The Exorcist (1973) Discussion > Dazed

Dazed

posted 7 years ago by StyxNyx (859)
9 replies | jump to latest

Hey Dazed, here's out convo from the ugly thread...lol. 😉 The last post is the one you didn't get to read.

[–] Dazed (208) a day ago
When I first watched the film I was wrapped up in the idea that it was a horror and came away disappointed. There was a huge amount of hype still surrounding it and I think that also swayed my opinion.
Years later I had a conversation with someone on IMDb who suggested that I give it another go,he suggested I try to watch it in a different way.He said forget what you know about it being a horror story,concentrate instead on the character of Father Damian,watch how he struggles with his faith.
I watched it again and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[–] StyxNyx (662) a day ago
Yep, Father Carras was struggling with his own demons and at the same time, trying help cast a demon out of the girl. Focusing on Father Carras was a good idea because he was an important character in the film.

Seeing it in 75 was good for me cause I got the full impact of the film...a different perspective than the younger generation. If I didn't see it until, say, 2000, it probably wouldn't have been as good to me as it was in 75, with all the improved film making and CGI crap that they rely too much on nowadays, in order to try and make a film really good...which, IMO, often fails.

That's what the problem with the younger crowd is though, they are hooked on CGI generated films, which to them, makes classics harder to appreciated because they have to pay attention to the actual story rather than having visual stuff, such as CGI thrown at them to SHOW them the story. When all one does is look at visuals in a classic film, they won't understand it.

Glad you enjoyed it Dazed. 😃

[–] Dazed (208) 20 hours ago
You were lucky to see it in 75,I was 11 then and waited until it was finally released on video in the UK.

I'm not totally against CGI in films,not by any stretch,but I love the creativity that it took to make iconic scenes like Regan vomiting (our resident idiot troll's favourite scene!).

Look at Ray Harryhausen's work on films like Clash of the Titans.It blew my mind at the cinema! That was dedication and hard work.Or the scene in An American Werewolf in London where David changes,all done without CGI,amazingly creatively done.

I think without all that pioneering groundwork maybe CGI wouldn't exist.

[–] StyxNyx (662) a few seconds ago
I was 15 when I saw "The Exorcist". I'm not totally against CGI films either but some can be a bit too extreme, therefore, making the films look too cartoonish and stupid, IMO. But yeah, there's a lot of films with CGI that I like too. I'm just glad I grew up in a time BEFORE CGI even existed, so that I can better appreciate older films without CGI rather than depend on it.

Clash of the Titans was great! I've got it on DVD too. Really wish I had seen it in the theatre though. American Werewolf in London was pretty good too. Yep...all without CGI...incredible!

I think they made CGI in order to enhance scenes like that and try to make them more realistic. Some CGI films though, are far from being realistic which makes a lot of them just look ridiculous to me.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] StyxNyx (859) 7 years ago

You're welcome Dazed. 😊

Totally agree Dazed. I also think CGI doesn't leave much, if anything, to the imagination. For things, as you said, explosions or subtle creepy scenes in a horror film, it often works well. I love supernatural films by the way...those are some of my faves...unless, of course, too much CGI invades it, then it just fails. But, no CGI, such as "The Exorcist", made that film perfect with what they did. I'm surprised they haven't tried to remake it recently...hope they never do because I think it'll be awful! My bad...I just checked and there WAS a remake in 2016. Ohhhh...do I dare watch it? That is the question. 😓

As far as 2 and 3 go..."The Exorcist II: The Heretic", I thought, stunk! Haven't seen it in ages so I don't remember much of anything about it but I know it stunk. 'The Exorcist III", I thought, was excellent! Another one I haven't seen in some time but definitely need to re-watch soon! I've also seen "Exorcist: The Beginning" and "Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist". I don't remember them at all, neither of them impressed me from what I can remember. Have you seen any of the other Exorcist films? If not, you should definitely watch 3, that one was pretty creepy in parts and really good as a whole! Damien Carras (Jason Miller) was a cameo in it too. I think 3 should've been the second one since the way it ended with Father Carras dying while possessed. But, anyway, that's my take on all of them. Sorry I can't remember and tell you something about them. My memory is no longer my strongest feature...especially my short term. I've probably told you this already but I don't remember. 😐

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] StyxNyx (859) 7 years ago

Yeah, Brad Dourif was in it. I know the jump scare too, got me pretty good...lol. I liked how the Gemini killer, (Dourif), explained to Kinderman, (Scott), in such articulate detail about **SPIOLERS** how a decapitated head can see for approximately 20 seconds and how he likes to hold it up to his victims so they can see their body...that was just creepy. I wonder if that's actually true? And then the part on how he drains their blood from Father Dyer without spilling one single drop...eeeewwww! It's the WAY he explained it all, that sent shivers up my spine! 😲

"The Exorcist: The Beginning", is when Father Merrin first encounters the demon, Pazuzu, in East Africa, and his initial battle with Pazuzu and the rediscovery of his faith.

And "Dominion: The Prequel to the Exorcist" was pretty much the same as "The Beginning", but with an extra sequence. Both films had Stellan Skarsgård as Father Merrin. I have no idea why they bothered to make 2 of them either...other than to add another sequence. I think the first one, "The Beginning", was a lot better than the second one though...and definitely done on a much higher budget ($50,000,000, grossed $41,814,863) and better turnout in the theatre! The second one's budget was $30,000,000, grossed $236,901.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] StyxNyx (859) 7 years ago

"Tales of the Unexpected", now there's a show I haven't seen in ages! I used to watch it all the time...loved it! Unfortunately, I don't remember any of the episodes anymore. 😩 Hmmm...I might be able to find it on YouTube, think I'll check on that in a bit. But, I think for now, "The Exorcist III" is the only thing I've seen Brad Dourif play in, I'll have to watch him in "Tales", and some other stuff too. I've seen George C. Scott in several films, he's a really good actor. Haven't seen "Legion" yet, but I may check it out too.

Speaking of "Tales", I also LOVE "Tales From the Crypt", that's one of my faves! The crypt keeper always cracks me up too. I call him, Bruce...don't ask me why but, for some reason, I've always called him that...lol. 😉 Another show I liked was "Tales From the Dark Side". Not as good as the first two but it was ok. Lots of "Tales" here...lol. To break the monotony, Rod Serling's, "Night Gallery", was really good too. And, of course, Rod Serling's, "The Twilight Zone",...the old B&W's, LOVED watching that show when I was little, and still do! 😄

[–] BenStrousers (443) 5 months ago

What happened to Dazed?

[–] BKB (5835) 5 months ago

Guess he was Dazed after watching the New EXORCIST and wasn't a Believer

[–] MichaelJPollock (649) 5 months ago

He got confused.