r/TheExorcist

It's basically the same shot. And the same gesture, with the same hand.

What do you think Friedkin had in mind?

And of course, we see the statue's penis in other shots, which is related to the idea of male sexuality. We know the kind of language Regan speaks while possessed.

So what would any of this have to do with father Dyer, with his sexuality? He seems to be gay -as he is in the novel. (Friedkin had directed the gay-themed Boys in the Band and would later direct the gay-themed Cruising)

Captain Howdy=Ouija board.

And where was the board? In the closet.

What's an exorcism? An ancient ritual the church keeps in the closet, as one of the doctors say. Same exact words.

So we have:

1. In closet=ouija/Hello/Howdy.

2. In the closet=exorcism=goodbye.

So at an abstract visual level there seems to be something there. But what of it at the plot/character level? What of Father Dyer?

If Regan meant at some level sexual awakening and that means also vulnerability to demons, well, what about being both gay and a catholic priest? That means also demons right? Homosexuality is a sin if you're a catholic priest, and yet homosexuality is not going to go away only because of that. You willl suffer and will have to repress yourself and become angry. So here we have Kinderman being maybe close to the truth:

KARRAS You think the killer and the desecrator are the same?

KINDERMAN Maybe somebody crazy, someone with a spite against the church, some unconscious rebellion, perhaps.

KARRAS Sick priest, is that it?

KINDERMAN Look, Father this is hard for you- please. But for priests on the campus here, you're the psychiatrist; you'd know who was sick at the time, who wasn't. I mean this kind of sickness. You'd know that.

KARRAS I don't know anyone who fits the description.

KINDERMAN Ah, doctor's ethics. If you knew you wouldn't tell, huh?

KARRAS No I probably wouldn't.

There's more:

KINDERMAN And Dennings, you read how he died?

KARRAS Yeah, a fall.

KINDERMAN Let me tell you how Father, and please confidential. Burke Dennings, good Father, was found at the bottom of those steps leading to 'M' Street, with his head turned completely around. Facing backwards.

The song Father Dyer sings at the piano dates back to 1926. We only hear the first line in the film but here are the complete lyrics:

"Down on the East side, on the East side/that's my home, sweet home./Some people think it's the home of black eyes./Just because guys don't wear collars and ties./ That's all the bunk, they just say that in fun./ Real East side folks is the best what come./ They'd give you their shoit only they ain't got none./Down on Thoity Thoid and Thoid./   

Folks buy pianos for one dollar down/Then wait with sticks For the guy to come 'round/Gawd help collectors when they come to call/Three flights of stairs is a helluva fall/Speshly with hard marble floors in the hall/Down on Thoity Thoid and Thoid.

Down on the east side of toidy toidy and toid/That's my home sweet home, sweet home./When a guy dies it's the best time of all,/ We go on out and we hire a hall./ We gets a bathtub and fills it with gin,/Pick up the corpse and we throw the stiff in./Dead or alive you should see that guy grin,/ Down on toidy toid and toid." 

That 'we' at the end is speshly creepy. Possessed Regan says 'us'. Father Dyer drowning himself in alcohol and then becoming possessed (off-screen) would be the idea. Maybe the demon went from him to Regan.

(In Friedkin's Cruising there's supposedly a gay serial killer but then the film ends and you get the idea that there's maybe two or more)

So at the end of the film it's not that Regan doesn't remember. Neither of the two, girl and man, daughter and 'father' do.

Just wanted to share some zippos I made based on my favorite horror movies. Brass armor zippos with 3D relief engravings. Currently working on Halloween, Friday the 13th, Hellraiser, TCM, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Terrifier!

All day or for those wanting to make a full size prop