El the exorcist book, if you saw the famous 1973 movie and you loved it, it is very sure that you will like the book.
Enter a world of terror
Many know the famous cinematographic tape of The Exorcist, which came from director William Friedkin. However, very few know that this film is an adaptation of the book namesake written by William Peter Blatty.
The Exorcista terrifying book
The plot of the exorcist book, follows the same as the one in the movie. It all starts with an archaeological dig in Nineveh, Iraq; carried by the archaeologist and priest Lakenster Merrin. Just as the father prepares to make his journey back to the United States, he obtains a mysterious amulet in the shape of the statue of Pazuzu, an ancient demon with whom the father had had a fateful encounter in the past; As a result of this terrible accident, Father Manister knows that he will soon have to face this ancient enemy once again.
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strange happenings
Meanwhile, the author introduces us to the two protagonists of the book, Chris MacNeil, a recently divorced single mother and actress; with his daughter Regan MacNeil. Both are in Washington DC, in a house recently rented by Chris, near Georgetown University, where he will be part of a movie. At the moment in which he is rehearsing some lines for his movie, he begins to hear strange noises in her house; Likewise, he begins to notice Regan's change of mood and erratic behavior, this leads Chris to think that he is part of puberty, but nothing is further from reality.
All this because Regan gets a Ouija board in the basement of her new house, where she comes into contact with a spirit whom she knows as "Captain Howdy" and he takes possession of the girl, which causes the changes and strange progressive behaviors of it.
Looking for assistance
Chris takes his daughter to different doctors to find out the cause of this sudden behavior, but none of them can give him an answer. In addition, her mother suspects that this whole event is due to something more than a simple psychiatric illness of Regan and that something is controlling her. She later finds out that this possession of "Captain Howdy" is nothing more and nothing less than the demon Pazuzu.
As a result of all these events, Chris, still a fervent atheist and also desperate to want to save and help his own daughter, runs in search of a Jesuit priest, belonging to a monastery located near the house of Chris and Regan, called Damian Karras.
Father Karras, who is also a psychiatrist, notices Regan's strange and supernatural situation and knows that this is all due to something much more complicated. Not being an expert on the subject, Karras asks the Catholic Church for an expert who can help him carry out el exorcism. That's when Father Lakenster steps in to help with the ritual.
Once both priests meet, they proceed to perform the exorcism on Regan. Although the ritual is performed successfully, unfortunately it is not perfect. Father Lakenster, who has long suffered from heart disease, dies during the ceremony, leaving only Father Karras, who continues with the exorcism.
It is then that Karras comes face to face with the evil spirit that possessed the girl, Pazuzu and that, through an agreement between the two; the being takes possession of the priest, setting Regan free. Before the father loses control of himself, he commits suicide by throwing himself out of a window and dies, thereby taking the evil spirit with him as well.
The Exorcist (book) vs The Exorcist (movie)
If you have already seen the movie and want to read the book or vice versa, you should know that there are certain differences between one and the other. For example:
- The Ouija board in the book; Chris remembers buying it. However, in the movie version, Chris is shown surprised to see the board.
- Regan in the book knew that "Captain Howdy" was the one who was possessing her and making her do things, but not in the movie.
- Chris's youngest son, who died, does not appear in the film, while the book does mention this event.
- A difference can be seen between the closeness of the relationship Karras' character has, along with Chris.
- In the book, when Father Lakenster gets the statue of Pazuzu, the author speaks in detail about who this demon is, while in the film this is not said.
As a tip, if you've already seen the movie and haven't read the book yet, now is a good time to start. This way you will notice more differences and common things that the film tape and the literary work share. As a curiosity, it is said that during the recording of the film, many strange and unfavorable events occurred, believing that there was something cursed.
subplot
As is well known, many details are left out in the movies, which appear in the books. this is to not make the movie so long. If you are a reader and you have had to see the film adaptations of some of your books, probably on more than one occasion, you have felt disappointed not to see details of great importance in the cinema, which appear in the book.
Many of these details are of great importance and help to clarify plot holes that remain in the film. They help to delve into the story, to empathize more with the characters, to know their reasons, among others.
In the book, for example, we are shown a much deeper and much more detailed story of what Chris's life is like as a single mother. How she turns down a great opportunity in her life as an actress, just to be able to care for and protect Regan, her daughter; she being an attentive and responsible mother, quite intelligent and active. We are shown a deeper relationship between Chris and the owners of the house where she is staying.
Inspiration
William Blatty, author of the book, tells us that the events in the book are based on a real exorcism; which he was researching during his stay at the university. If you are a lover of the horror genre, you cannot miss this wonderful and terrifying opportunity to read this macabre book, which will hook you from the first moment you read it.