THE EXORCIST - The Regan sexual abuse theory

[Ash28M]

I just came across this analysis on Youtube and this guy talks about themes of child abuse in the film and how Regan possibly could of been sexualy abused by Burke Dennings. I don't know if I totally buy into it but it is very interesting.

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

[sumo8675309]

a little off topic but has anyone seen the5 sec version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_7zFC5Twsk) ?

[vampyr789]

...that is interesting...but i would have never thought of that

[Matt89]

a little off topic but has anyone seen the5 sec version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_7zFC5Twsk) ?

^ LMAO there lies the REAL answer. :lol:

~Matt

[adric]

i read the book and never caught anything of the sort. hes a pretty minor character. i dont think its much but it is interesting take.

[maybrick]

Still doesn't explain the head-spinny thing.

[vampyr789]

watch the ones for The Shining (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEulbcXkgjo&feature=channel_page), Alien (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFGV2ZeZ9xw&feature=channel), and The Thing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S0txZXLuJI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecollativelearning%2Ecom%2F THE%2520THING%2520analysis%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded)...those are very thought provoking.

[Harry Warden]

I think this guy has too much time on his hands. Christ..who the hell is going to sit an analyze every character's action frame by frame. Burke Dennings is a minor character at best. I certainly believe films can have hidden or even intential messages at time, but this seems pretty far fetched to me.

[Ash28M]

I think this guy has too much time on his hands. Christ..who the hell is going to sit an analyze every character's action frame by frame. Burke Dennings is a minor character at best. I certainly believe films can have hidden or even intential messages at time, but this seems pretty far fetched to me.

It did feel at times like he was reaching. He does brings up a good question in what Dennings was doing in her room.

[CrazyFatEthel]

a little off topic but has anyone seen the5 sec version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_7zFC5Twsk) ?

Lmao, that was hilarious! :lol:

[Harry Warden]

It did feel at times like he was reaching. He does brings up a good question in what Dennings was doing in her room.

I would think that perhaps he ventured upstairs in response to a noise of some kind. We probably would never know since that isn't shown, but I'm more inclined to believe that he would be the type of person who could be easily influenced by what he thought would be the innocence of a child who had been very ill, only to be killed by whatever demonic force engulfed Reagan. Of course, this is only my opinion, but Dennings to me comes off as an individual who is kind in nature and seems to adore the girl's mother. Yes, he does say some nasty things when drunk, but so do alot of people when their inhibitions are down from alcohol. I just don't see him as some type of sexual predator. I'd be very interested in knowing what William Friedkin's thoughts are on this. I read Blatty's book when it came out and I can't recall anything that would even suggest Dennings was up to no good, but it's been years since I've read it. Perhaps I would have a different view today. I think the part where this fellow is really reaching is by suggesting that Dennings voice is used by the demonic force at various points in the movie. How could one really tell whose voice was whose? His theory is somewhat interesting but it also filled with a lot of holes.

[Ash28M]

I'm more inclined to believe that he would be the type of person who could be easily influenced by what he thought would be the innocence of a child who had been very ill,

Dennings to me comes off as an individual who is kind in nature and seems to adore the girl's mother.



That's what they said about Michael Jackson.:)

[_pi_]

I'm all for analysis of films, but that guy seems to be confusing (or at least mixing) subtext with what's there on screen.

I can agree that there might be a case for subtextual child abuse in The Exorcist - that the film can be seen in some ways as a metaphor for it - but when he says that it's Burke doing the abusing, there's frankly nothing in the film to substantiate the claim. Subtext is one thing, making stuff up based on the subtext is something else completely.

[The Chaostar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU1eTC3ipJo

[thrashard76]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU1eTC3ipJo

:spit:

[Shlockjock81]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU1eTC3ipJo

I love toilet humor and that made me split my sides hahaha.

[Ash28M]

I was watching my Exorcist Blu-Ray the other day and it got me paying attention to any sexual abuse subtext. One thing I did find interesting is that the doctors said they exhausted all avenues and could find anything wrong, yet they never once asked the mother about the potential of her being sexual abused. She sure was exhibiting plenty of signs in and out of the doctors presence, which should of raised that possibility.

[wago70]

I'm just glad NONE of this is in the film. Sexual abuse is best left in a Made for TV movie on Lifetime or Hallmark AND NOT fantasy horror film! It has turned into the laziest and easiest crutch writers have resorted to using and now the search for subtext in an already disturbing and scary film?
Lame!