Rebecca's Reviews > The Exorcist

“Perhaps evil is the crucible of goodness. And perhaps even Satan - Satan, in spite of himself, somehow serves to work out the will of God.”

The Exorcist tells the story of Chris MacNeil, a successful actress at the height of her career. Chris is beautiful, rich, famous, and about to transition from leading lady to film director. She lives with her twelve year old daughter Regan in a rented accommodation. Regan begins to display strange and unusual behavior. Gradually, the peculiar turns to the bizarre, and within a brief span of time, Regan is displaying all the signs of demonic possession.

The Exorcist is without a doubt, one of the best horror novels ever written. The story is incredibly complex, and the representation of it’s characters as flawed human beings, each with their own doubts, guilt and struggles makes the character work in this novel superb. The novel is also as graphic as it is complex. An early scene in the book describes the desecration of a church that is certainly not for the squeamish. The Exorcist has a plethora of scenes that range from creepy to bone chilling to outright shocking! Spin a wheel and pick your favourite!

“Gliding spiderlike, rapidly, close behind Sharon, her body arched backward in a bow with her head almost touching her feet, was Regan, her tongue flicking quickly in and out of her mouth while she sibilantly hissed and moved her head very slightly back and forth like a serpent. Sharon stopped then screamed as she felt Regan's tongue sneaking out at her ankle. That day, everywhere Sharon went, Regan followed...”

“Do you know what she did? Your c*nting daughter?”

The connection that the author creates between the reader and Father Karas while he is questioning his God and the involvement it has with Regan and her situation was so beautifully done. He created one of the most believable and tragic characters and this was my favourite part of the novel. The relationship between Chris and Regan is also very key. Chris loves Regan and cares for her deeply but it almost starts to feel like the character of Regan doesn’t exist anymore. One of my favourite quotes is when Merrin says to Karras that the demons deeds are not aimed purely at Regan, but in fact at the others in the house.

“The demon's target is not the possessed; it is us the observers.. everyone in this house. I think the point is to make us despair..to reject our humanity: to see ourselves as ultimately bestial, vile and putrescent; without dignity; ugly; unworthy.”

This is a breathtaking novel, certainly not for the easily scared or faint of heart and no novel or movie/tv work has come close to the sheer terror, creepiness and gripping nature of this tremendous story. While I love the film adaptation and have watched it more times than I care to mention, the book has an intense depth and details that the film only hinted at.

William Peter Blatty deserves, just for this book alone to be recognised as an important and prolific author.

My Highest Recommendation.

“You don't blame us for being here, do you? After all, we have no place to go. No home... Incidentally, what an excellent day for an exorcism...”