As Deliver Us From Evil lands on disc in the UK, we look back at key lessons the movies teach us about possession...
The idea of demonic possession goes back thousands of years, to before we had film. Most religions carry their own interpretation of what it means for a person to be 'possessed' by a demon or a spirit and it's a complicated, arcane subject shrouded in mystery and ritual.
The Sumerians, thousands of years before Christ, believed all diseases were caused by 'sickness demons' and had their sorcerers attempt early exorcisms as cures. The Quran talks extensively of Jinn (demons) that can drive people to insanity and may only be expelled via worship. In the Bible, Satan and his demons are very much at large using human beings as vessels for devilish deeds. Jesus casts a whole bunch of them out before he's accused of being demon-possessed himself...
The idea of demonic possession goes back thousands of years, to before we had film. Most religions carry their own interpretation of what it means for a person to be 'possessed' by a demon or a spirit and it's a complicated, arcane subject shrouded in mystery and ritual.
The Sumerians, thousands of years before Christ, believed all diseases were caused by 'sickness demons' and had their sorcerers attempt early exorcisms as cures. The Quran talks extensively of Jinn (demons) that can drive people to insanity and may only be expelled via worship. In the Bible, Satan and his demons are very much at large using human beings as vessels for devilish deeds. Jesus casts a whole bunch of them out before he's accused of being demon-possessed himself...
- 1/4/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Mikael Hafstrom’s latest feature The Rite, starring the legendary Sir Anthony Hopkins, newcomer Colin O’Donoghue and Alice Braga, gets its UK release on February 25th and to celebrate we thought we’d take a look at the Top 10 Movie Exorcists…
1/2) Max Von Sydow as Father Merrin & Jason Miller as Father Karras – The Exorcist
You couldn’t compile a Top 10 list of movie exorcists without the two most famous exorcists from The most famous exorcism movie of all time, The Exorcist. The frightening and realistic tale of an innocent girl inhabited by a terrifying entity, her mother’s frantic resolve to save her and two priests – one doubt-ridden, the other a rock of faith – joined in battling ultimate evil.
3) Anthony Hopkins as Father Trevant – The Rite
Inspired by true events, The Rite follows skeptical seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue), who reluctantly attends exorcism school at the Vatican.
1/2) Max Von Sydow as Father Merrin & Jason Miller as Father Karras – The Exorcist
You couldn’t compile a Top 10 list of movie exorcists without the two most famous exorcists from The most famous exorcism movie of all time, The Exorcist. The frightening and realistic tale of an innocent girl inhabited by a terrifying entity, her mother’s frantic resolve to save her and two priests – one doubt-ridden, the other a rock of faith – joined in battling ultimate evil.
3) Anthony Hopkins as Father Trevant – The Rite
Inspired by true events, The Rite follows skeptical seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue), who reluctantly attends exorcism school at the Vatican.
- 2/21/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
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