Why “The Exorcist” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” Are the Most Spiritual Films I’ve Seen

William Friedkin’s masterpiece is my favorite horror film. Martin Scorsese’s classic is among his finest. Both films moved me like few others. P.S. I’m Jewish, and agnostic.

“Fathers” by ‘Console-Master,’ Courtesy of Deviant Art. Creative Commons license.

I’m a Jew with no religious beliefs so let’s get that out of the way.

My spirituality, however, is very real. So too is my love of cinema, and respect for its power.

Both William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist,” based on William Peter Blatty’s runaway bestseller of the same name, and Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ,” based on the acclaimed novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, are works of estimable craft.

I believed every last minute of them both. Well, almost. I have a bone to pick with the former.

If Linda Blair’s Regan MacNeil could spin her head 360 degrees … okay, 180 as seen here (the GIF is far too short) why didn’t her neck break?

In truth, the digression matters a great deal. Why?

Whether this iconic scene was the result of an honest oversight on the part of the filmmakers, or intentionally representative of something beyond any scope of human understanding, the film had already arrested my resistance. Considering what had passed to then, I was now rooting for Fathers Merrin and Karris to channel Jesus’ power and release Pazuzu from further abusing this innocent little girl.

“The power of Christ compels you!” — Father Merrin, later with Father Karris

I was fully engaged in the supernatural … from the safe seats.