Movies
Pazuzu Unveiled: The Demon Behind The Exorcist Franchise
Today’s lesson is gonna make your head spin.
Welcome back to Horror 101, a series of articles where we explain horror movie legends and their lore. For beginners, the confused, or just those who need a refresher, these articles are for you.
We know October 2023 will be a big month for horror, and chiefly among the big releases of that month is David Gordon Green’s hotly anticipated The Exorcist: Believer. This is not only the first film in the series in 18 years, but also the beginning of a brand-new trilogy helmed by Gordon Green following his work on Blumhouse’s Halloween franchise.
So, in preparation for a new installment, we unearth the true nature of another all-time great antagonist, this time the unforgettable Pazuzu from The Exorcist franchise. The Exorcist’s reputation of being the most frightening horror film ever hinges on the strange demonic entity, whose vile actions while possessing a young Regan MacNeil have permanently engrained him into the cultural consciousness.
ALL ABOUT THE EXORCIST FRANCHISE
David Gordon Green has said The Exorcist: Believer will treat all the previous films in the series as “acceptable mythology,” implying a sort of extended five-movie canon. For this article, however, Exorcist: The Beginning will be ignored for several reasons: It implies contradictory elements about Pazuzu’s origins with the whole Byzantine Army coverup plotline; By treating it as events following Dominion, it effectively reverses Father Merrin’s story throughout that film; and most importantly, Dominion is closer to the original vision of the prequel as intended by director Paul Schrader and writer William Wisher Jr., which lends credence to it as the “true” version of events.
The 2016 television series, likewise, will not be touched upon as it only follows the events of the first film and splits off into a separate timeline. And it did that before it was the cool thing to do too!
So, try not to lose faith (or let any of that projectile pea soup touch you) as we explain horror’s most iconic possession and the abomination that caused it.
WHAT IS PAZUZU?
Initially presenting itself to Regan under the friendlier pseudonym of “Captain Howdy,” the being known as Pazuzu is an ancient demon associated with the Mesopotamian mythological figure of the same name. A demon of the wind in Assyrian mythology specifically, he was the son of Hanbi, who was identified as the Sumerian god of all evil.
Throughout history Pazuzu has afflicted many humans, but most notable was his possession of a young girl named Regan MacNeil in Georgetown, Washington. Daughter of actress Chris MacNeil, she killed director Burke Dennings under Pazuzu’s influence, and was subsequently exorcised by Father Lankester Merrin and Father Damien Karras at the cost of both of their lives. Though Father Karras identifies three distinct voices and Pazuzu refers to itself as “us,” Father Merrin confirms that Pazuzu is a single entity speaking as a collective.
Throughout the series there is a correlation that Pazuzu may be Satan himself; Pazuzu names himself as such when speaking with Father Karras. This, however, is never confirmed, and given Pazuzu is a notorious liar who plays mind games with Karras to make him walk away from exorcising Regan, this can only be taken as hearsay.
WHAT ARE PAZUZU’S ABILITIES?
Pazuzu’s powers are chiefly mental in nature, being able to cause hallucinations, divine information, drastically change temperature, and telekinetically move objects. He could also mimic the voices and likenesses of the dead, which it used to intimidate and deceive its targets.
And of course, what’s an exorcism without the demon being able to possess victims? Most frighteningly, Pazuzu could warp and change the body of the ones he possessed to perform biologically impossible acts and decay the human form, dislocating limbs, and breaking bones in ways that would kill most. He could also do the opposite and temporarily “heal” victims by removing the disabilities of one of his earliest victims, Cheche, in the movie Dominion.
Animals also seemed to be especially sensitive to Pazuzu’s influence: In Exorcist 2: The Heretic, Pazuzu is able to summon and control swarms of locusts as they were a symbol of his worship. In Dominion he commands a pack of cattle to slaughter a pack of hyenas.
Stranger even, Pazuzu could manipulate evil souls like that of the Gemini Killer and lend his powers of possession to them. Pazuzu allowed the Gemini Killer to continue murdering from beyond the grave in the body of Father Damien Karras, who he had placed the killer’s soul into at the point of death, extending his lifespan in the process.
WHAT IS PAZUZU’S WEAKNESS?
Ultimately, the fatal flaw of Pazuzu’s possession was that they were ineffective on people with strong wills and could be suppressed by a person of faith. Or, in the case of Regan MacNeil, around the time of Exorcist 2, a significant force of will and psychic ability.
WAIT. NOPE. HOLD ON. PSYCHIC ABILITY?
I don’t even want to touch on that last part, but I kind of have to.
In Exorcist 2: The Heretic, it’s revealed that Father Merrin, in his death throes, made a speech to Pazuzu. In it, he detailed that people like Regan and the young man Kokumo had “evolved” psychic abilities that counteracted the evil of Pazuzu (and presumably all other demons) and made them resistant to his powers.
They are dubbed the “good locusts” of humanity, a callback to Kokumo’s conversation with Father Lamont about actual grasshoppers that could resist changing into locusts and break the chain reaction of the swarm turning aggressive. It’s basically one big bug-based metaphor for humanity slowly growing out of its regressive and selfish ways together, breaking cycles of violence and abuse, and surpassing the evils of Satan.
Yeah, kind of a weird story decision.
Nice sentiment, at least?
WHAT DOES PAZUZU WANT?
Primarily, its goal is the ruination of life and the desecration of all sacred things. It’s a demon, what else did you expect?
However, Pazuzu’s longest-running feud is against the church itself. This began as a long-running rivalry with Lankester Merrin that we first see chronologically in Dominion. Merrin became the primary target of his anger for foiling Pazuzu’s plans in 1947 by saving the life of young possessed Cheche and the other inhabitants of the Derati Valley he had been terrorizing.
Merrin rediscovered his faith and connection with God through the trials of Pazuzu. The two were then constantly locked in a spiritual battle up until the point of Merrin’s death in the original 1973 film, in which Merrin died clutching to the faith Pazuzu desperately wanted to take from him.
The significance of why Pazuzu takes joy in befouling and mocking men of the cloth makes the most sense thematically: he is an allegory for losing faith in not only the religious sense, but faith in oneself.
WHAT HAPPENED TO PAZUZU IN THE END?
Following the events of the first film, Pazuzu eventually moved on to torturing Father Karras through the workings of the Gemini Killer. He was “vanquished” when police Lieutenant Kinderman killed a possessed Karras out of mercy, presumably stopping the Gemini Killer and Pazuzu in one fell swoop. Chronologically, this would be the last time we saw him.
Ultimately, Pazuzu’s fate is unknown. Though we can assume the demon was trapped or diminished somehow in the process of Father Karras’ true death in The Exorcist III, we can’t truly be sure.
While David Gordon Green’s new trilogy has yet to confirm, it’d be hard to imagine the series just moving on from Pazuzu. I would hedge my bets that Karras’ demise was simply another chapter in the war of man and devil that Blatty started, and it’s hard to tell if Green will be the one to end the tale.
And that will be it for today’s Horror History 101 lesson. See you in the next class, and stay tuned to Horror Press’s social media feeds for more content concerning horror movies, television, and everything in between!
My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time watching my favorite app. Luckily, Shudder is not taking it easy on us this holiday season, so I may meet my quota this January. The streamer is bringing in the new year with quite a few bangers. We have classics from icons, a new title from the first family of indie horror, and a couple of lesser-known films that have finally found a home. So, I am obviously living for this month’s programming and think most of you will too. I have picked the five films that I believe deserve our collective attention the most. Get into each of them and start your 2026 off on the right foot.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Carrie (1976)
A sheltered teen finally unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated for the last time. Carrie is the reason I thought proms might be cool when I was a kid. This Brian De Palma adaptation is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. It is also an important title in the good-for-her subgenre. I cannot help rooting for Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) when I watch her snap at this prom and then head home to accidentally deal with her mom. The only tragedy of this evening is that Carrie had to die, too. I said what I said, and I will be hitting play again while it is on Shudder. This recommendation goes out to the other recovering sheltered girls who would be the problem if they had powers. I see you because I am you.
You can watch Carrie on January 1st.
Marshmallow (2025)
A shy 12-year-old gets sent to summer camp and finds himself in a living nightmare. While Marshmallow did not land for me, I know plenty of people who love it. Which makes this the perfect addition to the Shudder catalogue. I am actually excited to see more folks fall in love with this movie when it hits the streamer. If nothing else, it will help a few folks cross off another 2025 title if they are still playing catch-up with last year’s movies. It also gets cool points from me for not taking the easy route with the mystery it built. I hope you all dig it more than I did, and tell your friends about it. Perhaps you could even encourage them to sign up for the app.
You can watch Marshmallow on January 1st.
Chain Reactions (2024)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre cemented his horror legacy over fifty years ago. So, it is long overdue for a documentary where horror royalty can discuss its impact on them and their careers. I have been waiting for a couple of years to hear Karyn Kusama and Takashi Miike talk about Hooper’s work and how he inspired them. So, I am super geeked that Shudder is finally giving me the chance to see this film. The streamer is also helping the nerds out by adding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986) this month. If you are also an overachieving couch potato, I will see you at the finish line next week.
You can watch Chain Reactions on January 9th.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
An insurance investigator discovers the impact a horror writer’s books have on people. I love chaos, and John Carpenter chaos happens to be one of my favorite kinds of chaos. While we talk about The Thing and Halloween all the time, this maestro has given us plenty of horror to celebrate. In the Mouth of Madness is very much one of those titles vying for a top spot among the best of his filmography. To sweeten the batshit pot, this movie features Sam Neill. You know that he only shows up in our genre if the movie is going to be legendary. You cannot tell me this is not a Shudder priority this month.
You can watch In the Mouth of Madness on January 10th.
Mother of Flies (2025)
A terminally ill young woman and her dad head to the woods to seek out a recluse who claims she can cure her cancer. The Adams Family has been holding court on Shudder for years, so it feels right that Mother of Flies is a Shudder Original. More importantly, this fest favorite has one of the best performances of 2025. Which makes it a great time for people to finally get to see it and get in line to give Toby Poser her flowers. Whatever you think your favorite Poser role is, it is about to change when you see her as Solveig. I am being serious when I say that this movie might be the first family of indie horror at their best.
You can watch Mother of Flies on January 23rd.
New year, but same Shudder. I would not want to go into 2026 any other way, personally. I hope these horrific recommendations bring you the good kind of anxiety. Or at least distract you from the state of the world for a bit.
I’m happy Netflix knew I would be back on my bull shit. Now that we’re in January, and the end-of-year lists are done, I’m trying to cram as many 2025 titles into my eyeballs as I possibly can. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s sadly a yearly tradition now. No matter how many titles you cram into a year, there are always a ton more you missed. Because I am broken, I need to know if I missed anything that should have been on my lists ASAP. Then I can drag myself for not getting my eyeballs on things sooner. Or worse, seeing titles that came out after my deadline and would have definitely been on there. I need to feel resentment for their schedules not letting me be great.
Luckily for me, the streamer has dropped quite a bit of new stuff recently. This includes movies and shows that I put off, or that legitimately premiered a couple of weeks ago. So, now I can spiral in the comfort of my own home as I binge all of these titles like a maniac. If you are also trying to walk into the new year stressed out, then maybe this streaming guide is for you, too.
City of Shadows (2025)
When a burned body is put on display on the facade of an iconic building, two inspectors must work together to solve the crime. I don’t know much about this Spanish thriller, but I know winter is the time for an unsettling mystery. The show is based on the first book of the Milo Malart tetralogy written by Aro Sáinz de la Maza. So, if it’s as good as I hope it is, there is a whole world with this inspector awaiting us in print. I’m ready to take all six of these episodes in one setting if the streaming Gods allow.
Frankenstein (2025)
Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Christoph Waltz are among the names in this newest adaptation of the beloved Gothic horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clearly one of the top priorities this month. While I skipped it in festivals because of the runtime, I knew I would have a date with it on Netflix this winter. While it has been on the streamer for a minute, I wasn’t able to dedicate two and a half hours to it. I also had watched my friends’ mixed reviews come in, and couldn’t take another disappointment last year. So, I saved this treat for the holiday. Fingers crossed, it is better than people are saying it is.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
A new group of friends is tormented by a new stalker in this sequel to Kevin Williamson’s other ’90s slasher. I’m indifferent to the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies. Some are less awful than others, and I think this one was fine, but I know the original source material. Which means I know just how far they stray from what the original author, Lois Duncan, was about. So, I look at these movies and the flimsy premise they repeat differently than a lot of my friends. I think it’s an interesting look at how IP gets handled in Hollywood, but I don’t usually get much out of these. Which is another reason I’m kinder to this Jennifer Kaytin Robinson film than some people. While I won’t be rewatching it this January, I think a lot of people who missed it in theaters are going to have fun with some of these kills now that it’s on Netflix.
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)
The long-awaited conclusion to Stranger Things is finally upon us! Will Vecna take out some of this ridiculously large cast on the way out? I hope so. Will we pretend to be surprised when Eddie Munson gets a few seconds of screentime? I refuse to play this game. However, are we all going to tune in to see how this epic ride ends? You betcha! I hate that they’re breaking this final season up into three chunks, but I will be sitting for all of them.
The first four episodes hit in November. The next three landed on Netflix on December 25, and the finale premiered on December 31. I don’t know what to expect, but I know I am so ready to close this chapter of my relationship with Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. If it is even half as good as season four, then I will be a very happy nerd.
Troll 2 (2025)
A new troll awakens, causing Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris to find new allies to take it down. This Norwegian monster flick almost got by me, so I’m happy Netflix dropped the trailer for this one. I’m using this as an excuse to finally watch the first one. I’m thinking a double feature is in order, so I can spend a whole day with these trolls. This is not my usual type of party, but after Troll Hunter won me over, I figure anything can happen. So, I will not judge you if you’re not feeling this out of left field pick. Just know that I’m running at it with an open mind and hoping to see some carnage as a reward.
These are just the Netflix titles I’m prioritizing. This is in no way a complete overview of all of the new shows and movies they’ve added this winter. We also know that they usually have a ton of international bangers that they refuse to advertise. So, I end up stumbling over Korean titles every January and then trying to tell people we missed some really excellent stuff. So, pick up your remote and turn your phone off. It’s time to Netflix and Chill in the less sexy and more nerdy way.
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