Glad you watched this movie after the original! Exorcist 3 is one of my fave horror flicks, due to the excellent acting and script.

Yup you touched on the biggest incontinuity between the 1st & 3rd. I haven't read the original Exorcist but I did read Legion (Exorcist 3), and the book shows that they were friends. I think the movie exaggerates their friendship even more, but it's one of those things that you kinda just accept, because that makes the scenes work better.

Another change Blatty made during filming, which wasn't in the book but I think it works much better in the movie, is that the priest's soul Karras wasn't really present in the book version. The demon merely possessed his body as an instrument of destruction. But the movie makes the tragedy deeper by showing that Karras' soul was imprisoned within the priest/killer's body as murders were taking place, forcing him to watch and suffer the demon's vengeance. This, I think, was absolutely chilling. And it gives way to one of Brad Dourif's great monologues.

So you can see how these 2 changes come together with great effect. It makes the murders worse knowing that the priest Karras was forced to witness it all, and Kinderman his "friend" also feels his pain since they were so close. Since the original writer Blatty directed this, I guess we can let it pass as a necessary "revision"?

@rooprect said:

Glad you watched this movie after the original! Exorcist 3 is one of my fave horror flicks, due to the excellent acting and script.

Yup you touched on the biggest incontinuity between the 1st & 3rd. I haven't read the original Exorcist but I did read Legion (Exorcist 3), and the book shows that they were friends. I think the movie exaggerates their friendship even more, but it's one of those things that you kinda just accept, because that makes the scenes work better.

Another change Blatty made during filming, which wasn't in the book but I think it works much better in the movie, is that the priest's soul Karras wasn't really present in the book version. The demon merely possessed his body as an instrument of destruction. But the movie makes the tragedy deeper by showing that Karras' soul was imprisoned within the priest/killer's body as murders were taking place, forcing him to watch and suffer the demon's vengeance. This, I think, was absolutely chilling. And it gives way to one of Brad Dourif's great monologues.

So you can see how these 2 changes come together with great effect. It makes the murders worse knowing that the priest Karras was forced to witness it all, and Kinderman his "friend" also feels his pain since they were so close. Since the original writer Blatty directed this, I guess we can let it pass as a necessary "revision"?

Yeah, thats what I figured since Blatty had control of the movie as well. I just don't understand why Karras' soul had to be in control of the body before Kinderman could dispose of him. I guess because Gemini would just jump into one of the people at the hospital? How did they explain this in the book since Karras' soul wasn't even involved?

@movie_nazi said:

@rooprect said:

Glad you watched this movie after the original! Exorcist 3 is one of my fave horror flicks, due to the excellent acting and script.

Yup you touched on the biggest incontinuity between the 1st & 3rd. I haven't read the original Exorcist but I did read Legion (Exorcist 3), and the book shows that they were friends. I think the movie exaggerates their friendship even more, but it's one of those things that you kinda just accept, because that makes the scenes work better.

Another change Blatty made during filming, which wasn't in the book but I think it works much better in the movie, is that the priest's soul Karras wasn't really present in the book version. The demon merely possessed his body as an instrument of destruction. But the movie makes the tragedy deeper by showing that Karras' soul was imprisoned within the priest/killer's body as murders were taking place, forcing him to watch and suffer the demon's vengeance. This, I think, was absolutely chilling. And it gives way to one of Brad Dourif's great monologues.

So you can see how these 2 changes come together with great effect. It makes the murders worse knowing that the priest Karras was forced to witness it all, and Kinderman his "friend" also feels his pain since they were so close. Since the original writer Blatty directed this, I guess we can let it pass as a necessary "revision"?

Yeah, thats what I figured since Blatty had control of the movie as well. I just don't understand why Karras' soul had to be in control of the body before Kinderman could dispose of him. I guess because Gemini would just jump into one of the people at the hospital? How did they explain this in the book since Karras' soul wasn't even involved?

You got me on that, I can't remember how the book handled it. If I can dig up the book I'll let you know because that's suddenly bothering me too!

I never read the book but this might explain it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(Blatty_novel)#Plot_summary

@bratface said:

I never read the book but this might explain it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(Blatty_novel)#Plot_summary

It doesn't but thanks anyway.

@movie_nazi said:

@bratface said:

I never read the book but this might explain it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(Blatty_novel)#Plot_summary

It doesn't but thanks anyway.

You can read the book for free at this link (it has 336 pages but you can skip through to the last couple of chapters if you are so inclined):

https://freenovelread.com/william-peter-blatty/page,20,36167-legion