William Freidkin’s The Exorcist (1972) is a great example of the monstrous feminine. Throughout the film we see the concept of abjection. As Reagan becomes possessed by the demon claiming to be “the devil himself”, he violates order in the McNeil’s lives (Creed’s article). To restore order, the demon must be expelled from her body through exorcism. At the beginning of the film, Reagan and her mother were extremely close. As the film goes on and Reagan becomes possessed, her behavior towards her mother becomes aggressive and violent. Chris tries to help Reagan in any way that she can but she only ends up agitating her more. In this way, Chris is becoming abject in Reagan’s life. As a child grows up and tries to break free of their mothers care and nurturing tendencies, the mother is reluctant to to release the child (Creed’s article). As Chris tries to help Reagan, she is reluctant to step back and listen to the doctors about what they think is wrong with Reagan. She tries time and time again to help Reagan even though her behavior is clear that she wants nothing to do with Chris. This demonstrates the maternal figure as abject.
Throughout the film, we see a woman aligned with the devil and how the foul and monstrous woman is represented (Creed’s article). As Reagan is possessed her behavior and language is controlled by the demon (who happens to be male), but is still in the body of a twelve year old girl. The foulness and monstrous aspect is shown through her physical appearance and her behavior. The demon takes more and more control, Reagan loses her control over the various bodily functions. Her body quickly becomes a canvas for vomit, scratches, blood, urine, and excrement (multiple different forms of abject).
The monstrous side is shown through her behavior and language. She uses vulgar language excessively and makes noises that almost sound like a beast. For example, she constantly growls and does other beast-like actions such as accessing a superhuman-like strength. Reagan’s body is slashed and mutilated to the point where she almost resembles a zombie type form. This disfigurement can signify a castrated state for Reagan herself, but also the possibility of castration for the man that is controlling her from the inside (Creed’s article). This film is a great example of abjection and the monstrous and foul feminine and very closely relates to Barbara Creed’s article “Horror and the Monstrous-Feminine: An Imaginary Abjection”.
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