MovieChat Forums > Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005) Discussion > How Are You Supposed To Feel When..........

How Are You Supposed To Feel When........

posted 15 years ago by ThunderDonkey
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Regarding this movie, how are you supposed to feel when the demon actually comes off as having more common sense and giving a more challenging argument than Father Merrin? Well I feel sort of guilty, but he was right in some respects, after all Father Merrin did bear the guilt of what happened in Nazi Germany, it was a guilt that God didn't abate and like the demon said still the people died anyway. He was right when he said "All God gave you was guilt, I offer you freedom. You tried, you did all you could do, even laying down your own life. What more could have been expected? Wander the earth, be your own man"

All Merrin did in response was pray, I see that as sort of weak, that he had nothing of his own to counter what the demon was saying so all he could do was recite prayers. But like I said how is one supposed to feel when the devil or a demon in this case gives more of a valid argument? It's not like God answered and spared him the guilt & torment, and the people still died nonetheless.

Plus the way they redid the scene in Germany, didn't make a bit of sense to me at all. Father Merrin actually shot the head Nazi guy. What the hell was he thinking? He must have known that was automatically his death and the death of everyone else he was trying to save as well, that whole scene didn't make sense. At least in "The Beginning" that scene made sense where the Nazi's forced him to choose who would die, and who would not in order to save the most of them. THAT I can see screwing with your head and tormenting you but as it is portrayed in DOMINION just didn't make any sense whatsoever. Anyone feel the same way?

[–] gentlegiant783 15 years ago

The Demon was using the truth against Merrin.
In the Original Exorcist, Merrin says that The Demon will "Mix lies with the truth, to attack us, the attack is psychological"

The Demon try's to convince Merrin that because of certain Truths, that God does not care.

Part of the persuasion is giving Merrin the chance to Do things differently, even after Merin gets on his knees to beg forgiveness from God and prepare for the Exorcism, He still has doubts, When he inters The Cave to do battle, He Still has doubts.

Merrin begins to fall into this trap by the Demon, He is consumed by the Fact that he is in that situation again, he can make a different choice, The Choice He wishes he would have made, and he makes it, He is not Being rational about what would Happen, this is Merrins Darkside, The Hate, The Anger, He makes his choice, and it lead to an even worse consequence.

The Paradox is that people were going to die that day either way, Merrins original choice was ultimately the lesser of 2 evils, Merrin May not have been able to save everybody that day in 1944, But on this night in Africa, he is there for a reason, The Natives and the British could kill each other(like in the other movie) Merrin Has a Chance to save lives, he knows this, his whole life has led him to this moment, Merrin Makes a choice, and he doesn't give up and despair, He Defies the Demon, Merrin is a threat, that was the reason for the Demon to try and detour Merrin.

[–] ThunderDonkey 15 years ago

Great response gentlegiant783! Many thanks to you for your input. Happy Holidays & a great new year!