Heartwarming / The Exorcist

The Film

• At the beginning (book and film), there are parallel scenes; Karras visiting his mother in her apartment, and Chris putting Regan to bed. Both mothers are warm and nurturing, and perceive their kids as each having something on their minds that they don't fully reveal. It also establishes character dispositions and state of mind. Even CinemaSins noted it and removed a sin for it.
  While scenes like this between Chris and Regan may seem long and drawn out, they effectively show why what's about to happen is so devastating. Most horror movies these days don't give us this dynamic with kids and their parents — the kids start seeing weird shit and draw a bunch of disturbing pictures in school and we're supposed to care because... they're KIDS, man. Anyway, I'm removing a sin for this.
• The scene in the book where Dennings gives Regan a birthday party on the set, rewarming the lights to film her cutting her cake — he calls it a screen test, and promises to make her a star. This can literally bring tears to your eyes knowing what's about to happen to Dennings.
  • The film equivalent of this is a deleted scene in which Chris takes Regan on a tour around Washington D.C. for Regan's birthday. The scene is a bit darker as well, as it reportedly involves Regan asking her mother why people have to die while at a soldier's funeral. This scene was to be restored into the film in the 2000 rerelease, but the soundtrack became lost.
• During the Exorcism, Father Merrin treats the girl very gently. He still knows that in the body is the little girl, trapped and held hostage by the demon.
• At the end of the movie Regan McNeil hugging and kissing Father Dyer on the cheek after seeing his collar. Especially since it comes right after we have been told she doesn't remember anything of her ordeal. In the book, and the film stage directions, she has a "sudden remembrance of forgotten concern." Blair's expression is perfect.
• After a bit of Nightmare Fuel where Sharon shows the "Help Me." mark to Karras, the next scene immediately has Karras request to his higher ups permission to perform an exorcism. This is a man who was in the middle of a Crisis of Faith. A man who intended to treat Regan no different than any psychiatric patient. (He's also a shrink.) But when he finally realizes that this is no psychosis, he is willing to do all he can to save the girl. Especially at the cost of his own life.
• It's an easy one to miss but while preparing for the exorcism, Regan's mother asks Father Merrin if he would like some brandy. He looks to her and says "My doctors tell me I shouldn't, but thank God my will is weak." And he accepts her hospitality.
• The extended ending, where Lt. Kinderman and Father Dyer bond and Kinderman invites Dyer to go to the movies with him in the same manner he did with Karras.

The Series

• The Rances, sure they have their ups and downs, but they do all love each other as all families should. Then Casey gets possessed...
  • The fact Chapter 8 has Angela become involved in the exorcism despite the risk of Pazuzu trying to take her hits heartwarming, even if it does backfire.
    • As bad as her decision was, Angela giving herself up to Pazuzu to not harm her daughter is heartbreakingly sweet.
  • Chapter 10: How does Pazuzu finally become defeated? Tomas and Henry, Kat, and Casey all recite a scripture from the Bible, allowing Angela to finally get the courage to fight back and become Mama Bear over the fact Pazuzu attempted to harm her family.
  • Chris's attempts to reconnect with Angela/Regan, especially when Angela reveals she knew where she was all these years.
  • "She's still alive..."
• Tomas and Marcus's friendship. Vitriolic Best Buds, but still best buds.
  • The little moment the two have after Casey's exorcism at the bar, especially with Tomas asking if he'd stay.
• Marcus regaining his faith, after using Mother Bernadette's techniques of forgiving the fallen angel, rather than beat them out of the possessed.
  • The way he goes from violent... to gentle and telling the fallen spirit it is forgiven and seeing it work is both this and saddening, due to everything Marcus has gone through.
  • His little speech to Casey over how she's such a strong person after everything she's endured.
  Thank you.
• Tomas's love of his parish, so much so he becomes disgusted at the fact the Church wants him to leave his parish and is slated to be shut down.
• As twisted the situation was, Kat shattering her own kneecap at the last second in order to save her father from having his arms ripped off by Pazuzu.
• The very end of the season showing the whole family is now on their way to recovering from the events, with Angela stating she finally feels safe.
• A small one, to be sure, but Father Tomas apologizing to Verity upon hearing she was forced into "conversion therapy", while also condemning the people who did it as wrong and unchristian.
• Rose taking the kids after Andy’s demise

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