History Film / TheExorcistIII

** Then-Georgetown head coach John Thompson, Larry King and C. Evert Coop all appear in blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: In the novel, Dr. Temple is an egotistical Jerkass who, among other things, withholds valuable information from the police out of jealous spite. The film's Dr. Temple is a rather strange but generally pleasant man who failed to be more helpful to the police because of his fear of the Gemini Killer.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Dr. Temple is an egotistical Jerkass in the novel who withholds valuable information from the police out of jealous spite. In the movie, he's a rather strange but generally decent guy who failed to be more helpful in the case because of his fear of the Gemini Killer.

* CompositeCharacter: Dr. Temple in the film has traits in common with both the novel's Dr. Temple and with Dr. Amfortas, a character who does't appear in the film.

* TerrifyingPetStoreRat: While the demon manages to conjure up a cobra in Patient X's cell during the exorcism scene, the snakes crawling all over Patient X and Father Morning during the exorcism scene are obviously king snakes and rat snakes - completely harmless and docile species often sold in pet shops.

-->'''[[spoiler:Fr. Karras]]:''' BILL! SHOOT NOW! SHOOT N--!

-->--'''Opening narration'''

* ArcWords: It’s a Wonderful Life.

* DontFearTheReaper: The Angel of Death is seen playing cards with [[spoiler:Father Dyer]] during Kinderman’s DreamSequence.

* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: [[spoiler:Father Dyer.]]

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The film doesn't make it clear if [[spoiler:Father Morning survives his injuries. It's even possible that his recovery during the climax is a divine intervention to mirror the infernal one which allowed Gemini to return.]]

* AscendedExtra: Kinderman is now the main character, [[AuthorExistenceFailure New]] [[TheOtherDarrin actor]] notwithstanding. Kinderman had a much larger role in the original book, as he had a growing friendship with Karras.
* ArcWords: It’s a Wonderfull Life.

-->'''Kinderman:''' India awaits you.

* ForcedToWatch: [[spoiler: Part of the Master's revenge against Father Karras is that he's forced to watch while the Gemini Killer uses his body to murder people]].
--> '''Patient X:''' But the main thing is the torment of your friend, [[spoiler: Father Karras]], as he watches while I ''RIP, AND CUT, AND MUTILATE THE INNOCENT! HIS FRIENDS, AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!'' '''''HE IS INSIDE WITH US! HE WILL NEVER GET AWAY! HIS PAIN WON'T END!'''''

** Model Fabio Lanzoni has an uncredited bit part as an angel in the dream sequence as well, though he was only a prolific male model rather than a household name at the time, making it an overlap of RetroactiveRecognition. ** Creator/SamuelLJackson has a single line as a hospital patient, although curiously, his voice is dubbed over.

* TheCameo: Patrick Ewing appears in the DreamSequence as the Angel of Death. Then-Georgetown head coach John Thompson, Larry King and C. Evert Coop all appear in blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos. Fabio has an uncredited bit part as an angel in the dream sequence as well, though he was only a prolific male model rather than a household name at the time, making it an overlap of RetroactiveRecognition. Creator/SamuelLJackson has a single line as a hospital patient, although curiously, his voice is dubbed over.

** The Gemini Killer complains of how much blood was spilled when he murdered a waitress, and vowed to correct that. Apparently, he did with Dyer.

* TheCameo: Patrick Ewing appears in the DreamSequence as the Angel of Death. Then-Georgetown head coach John Thompson, Larry King and C. Evert Coop all appear in blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos. Fabio has an uncredited bit part as an angel in the dream sequence as well, though he was only a prolific male model rather than a household name at the time, making it an overlap of RetroactiveRecognition.

-->'''The Gemini Killer:''' It's too bad about Father Dyer. I killed him, you know. An interesting problem, but finally... it worked! First, a bit of the ole succinylcholine to permit one to work without, ah, annoying distractions, then... a three foot catheter threaded directly into the inferior vena cava -- or, superior vena cava. It's a matter of taste, I think, don't you? Then the tube moves through the vein, under the crease of the arm, into the vein that leads directly into the heart, and then, you just hold up the legs and you SQUEEZE the blood manually into the tube from the arms and the legs. There's a little shaking and pounding at the end for the dregs -- it isn't perfect, there's a little blood left I'm afraid. BUT, regardless, the overall effect is astonishing! And isn't that REALLY what counts in the end? Yes GOOD SHOW BIZ, Lieutenant, the EFFECT! And then, off comes the head without spilling one single drop of blood. Now I call that SHOWMANSHIP, Lieutenant!

* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:Gemini's Father]] is a Type 2 example. In ''Legion'', the novel this installment was based on, [[spoiler:he dies of natural causes, and his death causes the Gemini to lose all his motivation because he can no longer bring him shame and grief]]; in the movie, [[spoiler:he was the Gemini's first victim; after this, the Gemini kept on murdering so he could figuratively continue to kill his father forever]].

* JumpScare: [[spoiler: Poor Nurse Keating.]]

%%* LittleDeadRidingHood

** The opening credits
** Kinderman's nightmare

* BackFromTheDead: Deconstructed like '''hell''' with [[spoiler:Father Karras]].
* BadassBoast:
-->[[spoiler: '''Pazuzu:''' This time, you're going to ''lose''.]]
* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler: In the novel, Pazuzu accomplishes his revenge.]]
* BerserkButton
-->'''Kinderman:''' The Gemini is dead.\\
'''Patient X:''' NO! I'M NOT! I'M ALIVE! I GO ON! I BREATHE! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!
** Another one for the Gemini: anyone who has an initial starting with a "K".

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Kinderman defeats the Gemini Killer/Pazuzu and exorcizes Karras, but only at the cost of Karras's life, and only after the Gemini has killed many people, including Father Dyer]].

* TheCameo: Fabio makes his first screen appearance in the DreamSequence, along with Patrick Ewing as The Angel Of Death, Creator/SamuelLJackson as the blind man, while other Washington, DC personalities such as then-Georgetown head coach John Thompson walking around. Larry King makes a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the diner.
* CanonDiscontinuity: Despite the "III" in the title, the film completely ignores the much-reviled second entry. However, the shots of the stairs are framed in such a way to avoid showing the nearby house, which was destroyed in the climax of the second film. Reportedly, this was done to avoid confusing the audience.

*** The end of the original film implies the two will become friends, but they otherwise barely interact over the course of the runtime.

* CelebrityParadox: Nicol Williamson (who plays Father Morning) is mentioned in William Peter Blatty's original novel 'Legion' which was adapted for this movie.

* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:Gemini's Father]] is a Type 2 example. In Legion, the novel this installment was based on, [[spoiler:he dies of natural causes, and his death causes the Gemini to lose all his motivation because he can no longer bring him shame and grief]]; in the movie, [[spoiler:he was the Gemini's first victim; after this, the Gemini kept on murdering so he could figuratively continue to kill his father forever]].
* DemonOfHumanOrigin: The [[SerialKiller Gemini Killer]] was a man so evil that he became a demon after striking a deal with the ancient demon Pazuzu (the one who possessed Regan in the first film).

* TheDragon: The Gemini Killer to the evil spirit who is helping him.

* DyingAsYourself: [[spoiler: With Father Morning's help Karras finally manages to break Gemini and Pazuzu's control long enough to give Kinderman the chance to fatally shoot him.]]
* EurekaMoment:
-->'''Allerton:''' Do you treat your ''family'' this way?!
-->''(You can almost see the light bulb appear above Kinderman's head.)''
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: In ''Legion,'' James Venamun loved his brother, visiting him in the hospital many times over the years. And when he was killed at the hands of a reckless nurse, [[DespairEventHorizon it hit]] [[SerialKiller Venamun]] [[FaceHeelTurn hard]].
* EvilSoundsDeep: When played by Creator/BradDourif, the Gemini Killer's voice changes pitch several times in each of his scenes, and often goes unnervingly low; people who have seen Dourif in other movies would likely be very creeped out by how much lower than Dourif's natural range the voice gets. Of course, this is definitely the case when Colleen Dewhurst (sometimes mistaken for Mercedes [=McCambridge=]) takes over vocal duties. For that matter, he also has a deep voice when played by [[spoiler: Jason Miller]], though not quite to the same extent.
* FailedASpotCheck: A frightening example, when a possessed old lady escapes the hospital by crawling across the ceiling, which isn't very high. [[JustifiedTrope It's all but outright stated that supernatural forces are at work to keep people from noticing her]]. Or, from the simple fact she does it behind his back.
* ForcedToWatch: [[spoiler: Part of Pazuzu's revenge against Father Karras is that he's forced to watch while the Gemini Killer uses his body to murder people]].

** The Gemini Killer complains of how much blood was spilt when he murdered a waitress, and vowed to correct that. Apparently, he did with Dyer.

* LargeHam. ''The Exorcist III'' has George C. Scott in his hammiest role, ever.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Gemini is obviously a stand-in for the Zodiac Killer, another serial killer who terrorized San Francisco. The only difference being that the Zodiac's identity remains a mystery to this day. Amusingly, the Zodiac once referred to the first movie as "the best saterical comidy [sic] that I have ever seen".

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: The Gemini Killer is gleefully racist, murdering a 12 year old black boy and replacing his head with a decapitated head from a Christ sculpture that he's painted in {{blackface}}.

* RougeAnglesOfSatin: One of the Gemini Killer's {{Calling Card}}s: he spelled words like wonderful or eventful with two L's (ie. "wonderfull".)
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Father Dyer]].

* ShoutOut: The nurse Lisa in ''VideoGame/SilentHill1'' is based off of a scene with a nurse in a red sweater.
* ShoutOutToShakespeare: The Gemini Killer says of The Bard's plays, he loves ''Theatre/TitusAndronicus'' the best, calling it "sweet". Those familiar with the play will know why.

* TalkingToTheDead: Some of the dementia patients talk to their appliances, having conversations with dead people.
** ISeeDeadPeople: Or they just hear them.
--->'''Dt. Kinderman:''' What's wrong with (the radio)?
--->'''Mrs. Clelia:''' Dead people talking.
** It's a CallBack to the original ''The Exorcist'', as Fr. Karras' mother was reportedly talking to her radio, too.

* DreamSequence. ''The Exorcist III'', for NightmareFuel.

* EvilSoundsDeep: When played by Creator/BradDourif, the Gemini Killer's voice changes pitch several times in each of his scenes, and often goes unnervingly low; people who have seen Dourif in other movies would likely be very creeped out by how much lower than Dourif's natural range the voice gets. Of course, this is definitely the case when Colleen Dewhurst (sometimes mistaken for Mercedes [=McCambridge=]) takes over vocal duties.

* WickedCultured: The Gemini Killer considers his murders to be art, and is a big fan of Shakespeare. He also breaks out into song at one point, his voice unnaturally morphing into that of a child as he belts out an aria.

* GreaterScopeVillain: [[WordOfGod William Peter Blatty]] goes so far to suggest that the evil spirit might not be Pazuzu this time, but might actually be Satan himself, although this raises questions as to why the head of all demons would [[spoiler:be interested in [[TheDevilIsALoser petty revenge as opposed to something more grandoise]].]]

%%* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight

* NothingIsScarier: Most of ''The Exorcist III'' derives its horror from implication and verbal speeches. ''And it works.''
* TheNthDoctor: The Gemini Killer switches actors depending on whether the audience is seeing things from Kinderman's perspetive (in which he's played by [[spoiler:Jason Miller]]) or from the "eyes of faith" perspective (where he's played by Brad Dourif).

** [[spoiler: In the confessional, the Gemini Killer (who is possessing an old woman) complains in the confessional to the priest that his victims cause too much of a mess by bleeding all over the place, and he needs to figure out a way to solve it. See the Hannibal Lecture for how he solves that issue.]]