Barbara Creed’s article, Horror and the Monstrous-Feminine: An Imaginary Abjection and William Freidkin’s The Exorcist contains some of the most graphic and horrific examples of abjection ever before seen in the horror genre.
The abject is known to be life threatening and can best be described as something which threatens the stability of order (Barbara Creed, pg. 39). The abject symbolizes disparity between human and inhuman or man and beast just as Reagan is trapped in her physical body but her personality itself is absent from her body and a malicious presence has taken over (Barbara Creed, pg. 42). From speaking the English language backwards, to speaking in different tones and her head rotating 360 degrees, it is logical to say the presence which resides in Reagan is not only supernatural and demonic but menacing. This monster living in a 12 year old female body has enough strength and force to kill Burke, Father Dyer and takes Father Karras’s life.
(Reagan is being hypnotized by her doctor when the demonic presence emerges.
Source: Warner Bros., 1972, The Exorcist.)
Creed also identifies the resemblance between the maternal figure and the monstrous-feminine. The maternal figure is protective and refuses to renounce the hold which she has on her child (Barbara Creed, pg. 44). Chris repudiates even the momentary idea of giving up on Reagan. She persistently takes her to doctors, psychiatrist, hypnotist and anyone who she believes can improve her daughters way of life once Reagan turns violent and begins acting out irrationally. As practitioners begin confessing to Chris they don’t know what is wrong with Reagan Chris acts out in rage and begins speaking in a ferocious tone as the monstrous-feminine begins to emerge from her.
(Chris expresses her frustration as doctors do not know what’s causing
Reagan to act out. Source: Warner Bros., 1972, The Exorcist.)
Creed mentions that polluting objects fall into two categories: the first being that which endangers the identity from the outside known as excremental and the second being that which endangers from within, known as menstrual (Barabara Creed, pg. 44). The Exorcist depicts scenes with vomit, blood, urine, saliva and more which is identified as excremental. However, when Sharon brings Father Karras to Reagan’s bedroom and shows him the print on Reagan’s stomach which spells out “help me,” this can be distinguished as menstrual. Reagan is clearly trapped inside this demonic other and is pleading for help. Though as the movie progresses we begin to see less of Reagan, however, this scene proves she is still existing within this evil figure and is fighting to take back her body spiritually and physically.
In conclusion, abjection goes beyond the norm and means being confronted with the difference between self and other. The film hits home giving several illustrations of abjection throughout the film by means of excessive vomit, profanity and blood used in a cruel context in accordance with a cross which is a sacred symbol for many religions.
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