The Exorcist: Fear stems from the collapse of faith

First, it must be acknowledged that sociology is a great discipline, as certain laws can still be proven and accepted by us, such as "what kind of society produces what kind of culture." In the US in the 70s, an epic horror film was born: "The Exorcist."

We should be thankful that 1970s America was relatively serious, and horror films from that era have the same tone. The demon in this film is not one of those lost and wandering spirits crawling out of televisions but is deeply imbued with religious meaning, representing the age-old feud between the Church and the Devil. It just so happens that this local church is the most conservative branch of Christianity, the Catholic Church. Where does the demon come from, and what is its purpose? The film doesn't explain, but it takes possession of the body of a virgin girl, something considered the holiest by Christians. This is undoubtedly a strong metaphor. It blasphemes holy icons, induces the young girl to urinate in public, exposes her private parts in front of doctors, and even uses a crucifix to harm herself. For a country with over 70% of the population being Christians, this is the greatest insult—what could be more absurd than this defilement of what is supposedly a gift from the Lord? The demon's audacity, the doctor's helplessness, and the priest's hopelessness contrast sharply, as if the end of the world is upon us but the salvation promised by the Lord is absent. We can borrow no power from whom we believe in. In face of the demon, all the priest can do is to sprinkle holy water, recite the Bible, and make the sign of the cross over his chest. In the presence of the demon, these actions seem humble, as the evil is so overpowering that we are feeling the deepest desperation.

The Bible tells us that the demon is a natural deceiver, manipulating the human mind and stealing souls. From the very beginning, the devil, Satan, tempted the first humans into committing original sin. When Father Merrin meets a tragic end at the hands of the demon and the possessed young girl reveals a sly and eerie smile, it all becomes clear: The devil has been deceiving us all along. It pretends to fear holy water, which Father Karras uses to test it with. It pretends to speak in Latin to confirm its ancient identity, but a playback of the recording reveals it was merely speaking English in reverse. It pretends to be on the brink of defeat when confronted by Father Merrin, only to launch a counterattack. It displays its vulnerabilities to give us a faint glimmer of hope, only to crush that hope when we strive to exploit it. The devil is too powerful, knowing all and penetrating all, even mimicking the voice of Father Karras' deceased mother to distract him.

The audience realize that even the omnipotent Lord is rendered ineffective in its presence. The fundamental doctrines of Christianity, the Trinity, and the concept of original sin are twisted by the demon's rampage. The demon's birth seems to be an annulment of the sins that God created humanity for, and it takes over God's role in judgment of Armageddon. Instead of separating the righteous to heaven and the wicked to hell, the demon's judgment condemns all to death. At this moment, the lifelong faith of devout Christians crumbles. Just like in the climactic scene of the exorcism, Father Karras repeats with trembling voice after Father Merrin, "The power of God will confess you!" It appears as though he's trying to muster courage by raising his voice, while his inner faith has already started to waver.

Speaking of this, it's impossible to ignore the United States of the 1970s: a blend of the Vietnam War, Baby Boom, feminist movement, sexual liberation, and the hippie culture. It's like rock music infused with the scent of marijuana, continually challenging the conservative societal norms of the time. Anything that challenged the mainstream society was hailed as heroic, which unsettled the traditional mainstream society. The United States, undergoing a period of social change, witnessed various outrageous movements. The film may imply mainstream society's fear of new ideas and the prevalence of unconventional thoughts. In the film context, it's a power struggle between the Church and the Demon. And it's interesting how modern medicine is satirized as worthless in the film, suggesting that only religion can represent the deepest fears and hopes of the innermost being of mankind

I would admit that the head-spinning and spider-like crawling of the girl initially startled me, but upon reflection, what's truly horrifying is the pervasive atmosphere of religious mysticism, the desecration of bleeding holy relics, the emotionless face of Mary, and the young girl's series of impure acts. "The Exorcist" is more than just a horror film; it also sparks deep reflections about religion, faith, and societal change. The film's complexity and multifaceted themes make it a classic, continuing to engage audiences in profound exploration and discussion.