History Main / ExorcistHead

* In a rare comedy example [[MysteryScienceTheater3000 Tom Servo]] rotates his head 180 degrees.

* One early ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode has a giant praying mantis in human form. Early tip-off: She [[BuffySpeak "does a full-on Exorcist twist"]] when she hears someone come up behind her.

* Pops up naturally in the ''Exorcist'' parody ''{{Repossessed}}''.
* In ''{{Terminator}} 3'', the T-X's head does a 360 spin after the Terminator hits her full-on with a fire extinguisher. Her response is a QuizzicalTilt.

* DeathBecomesHer, one of a pair of {{Alpha Bitch}}es, Mandy, (now made immortal by a magic potion) falls down the stairs and cracks her neck. Not only does she survive (or un-survive) the fall, she gets back up with her head twisted completely backwards, facing her backside. Although her head is reoriented to its proper position, it leaves her with a bone protrusion on her neck.

In most forms of media, a character is shown to have the ability to dislocate his bones in very bizarre places. The most popular way is turning your head 360 degrees before facing the front again. Can fall into either {{Squick}} or {{Nightmare Fuel}} for some people.

Often done as a ShoutOut to the TropeNamer, ''Film/TheExorcist''.

Subtrope of {{Abnormal Limb Rotation Range}}, Compare {{Body Horror}}, {{Losing Your Head}}.
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[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* A rather [[{{Squick}} gross]] and [[NightmareFuel unsettling]] example of this trope shows up in ''Anime/BoogiepopPhantom''.

* Jack's [[MoralityDial evil form]] from ''[[Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries Calvin and Hobbes: The Series]]'' does this just a bit after fully [[FaceHeelTurn face heel turning.]]

* Done as a parody to ''Film/TheExorcist'' by the magical cartoon physics baby in {{Son of The Mask}}, when his worn-out and nearly out of his mind father suggests he take him to a doctor, and then an exorcist.
* {{Death Becomes Her}}, one of a pair of {{Alpha Bitch}}es, Mandy, (now made immortal by a magic potion) falls down the stairs and cracks her neck. Not only does she survive (or un-survive) the fall, she gets back up with her head twisted completely backwards, facing her backside. Although her head is reoriented to its proper position, it leaves her with a bone protrusion on her neck.

* Woody does this in the first ''ToyStory'' film as a ShoutOut to ''Film/TheExorcist''.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* Mimi in ''VideoGame/{{Super Paper Mario}}'' does this upon revealing his true form in the game's second chapter. However, instead of twisting her head around, she somehow spins her head on her neck, causing her head to turn upside down.
* [[VideoGame/{{Mortal Kombat Deception}} Havik]] from ''{{Mortal Kombat}}'' has the ability to contort his entire body in odd and sickening ways. In fact, two of his specials allow him to [[{{Too Kinky to Torture}} regain health]] by doing so.

* The Flying Dutchman actually did this twice in ''{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}''.
* One ''[[{{The Simpsons}} Treehouse of Horror]]'' episode has Homer Simpson doing this, parodied in some way.
** In ''The Simpsons'' episode [[{{The One With}} where]] Homer and Marge are declared unfit parents and the kids given to the Flanders family to foster, Ned takes them to the river to baptize them. Bart and Lisa are sitting in the back seat and Maggie is in front.
--->'''Maude:''' Oh, relax, Bart. Your sister Maggie isn't scared.
--->'''Bart:''' That's because she can't talk.
--->'''Maggie:''' ''[pulls her pacifier out]'' Daddily doodily!

* Done by Omi, of all people, in {{Xiaolin Showdown}} after he makes a temporary {{Face Heel Turn}} and joins Chase Young on the Heylin side when he gets his good chi being left behind in the Yin-Yang world, coming back with only his bad chi remaining. When the remaining Xiaolin apprentices try to restrain him so they can restore his chi, including trying to sneak up behind him during his rampages, Omi makes a complete 180 degree head turn, complete with {{Ax Crazy}} grin, {{Red Eyes Take Warning}}, and the sound of scraping metal.
* In WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic [[TheOwlKnowingOne Owlowiscious]]/[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Owloysius]], being an owl, can twist his head extremely far. Spike [[CrowningMomentOfFunny calls this creepy]].

* There are people recorded to be capable of turning their heads 180 degrees, like this example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHjRORiMl7E

* In an anime-only episode of RosarioToVampire, Koko pulls this off while under the influence of [[ItMakesSenseInContext mind-altering curry]].

* It happened in the [[http://www.smuncensored.com/images/screencaps/ep001-s19.jpg first episode]] of ''Anime/SailorMoon''. But it only appeared in the Japanese version.

* Done as a parody to {{The Exorcist}} by the magical cartoon physics baby in {{Son of The Mask}}, when his worn-out and nearly out of his mind father suggests he take him to a doctor, and then an exorcist.

* Woody does this in the first ''ToyStory'' film as a ShoutOut to ''The Exorcist''.

Often done as a ShoutOut to the TropeNamer, ''TheExorcist''.

* The TropeNamer is the 1973 {{Horror}} film ''TheExorcist''.

** Maggie also does this in the very first ''Treehouse of Horror,'' in a [[IncrediblyLamePun nod]] to ''TheExorcist.''

* Done by Omi, of all people, in {{Xiaolin Showdown}} after he makes a temporary {{Face Heel Turn}} and joins Chase Young on the Heylin side when he gets his good chi being left behind in the Yin-Yang world, coming back with only his bad chi remaining. When the remaining Xiaolin apprentices try to restrain him so they can restore his chi, including trying to sneak up behind him during his rampages, Omi makes a complete 180 degree head turn, complete with {{Ax Crazy}} grin, {{Red Eyes Take Warning}}, and the sound of scraping metal, making it all {{Accidental Nightmare Fuel}}

* Owls are famous for being able to turn their heads extremely far in either direction. Unlike many animals like humans, owls lack the special muscles in their eyes that would allow them to rotate or roll.

* {{Death Becomes Her}}, one of a pair of {{Alpha Bitch}}es, Mandy, (now made immortal by a magic potion}} falls down the stairs and cracks her neck. Not only does she survive (or un-survive) the fall, she gets back up with her head twisted completely backwards, facing her backside. Although her head is reoriented to its proper position, it leaves her with a bone protrusion on her neck.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* Woody also does this in the first ''ToyStory'' film as a {{Shout Out}} to the above example.

** Maggie also does this in the very first ''Treehouse of Horror,'' in a [[IncrediblyLazyPun nod]] to ''TheExorcist.''

* A rather [[{{Squick}} gross]] and [[{{Nightmare Fuel}} unsettling]] example of this trope shows up in ''{{Boogiepop Phantom}}''.
* It happened in the [[http://www.smuncensored.com/images/screencaps/ep001-s19.jpg first episode]] of SailorMoon. But it only appeared in the Japanese version.

* The {{Trope Namer}} is the 1973 {{Horror}} film ''{{The Exorcist}}''.
* Woody also does this in the first ''{{Toy Story}}'' film as a {{Shout Out}} to the above example.

* In ''{{Beetlejuice}}'', apparently this happens to the titular ghost at random.

* It might've happened in the fourth episode of ''{{Sailor Moon}}''.