Exorcist: The Beginning

Other mistake: Both times that Father Merrin ventures into the sacrificial chamber beneath the church, as he is walking down the flight of stairs, the rock wall behind him is well lit as if there were another lamp sitting right in front of it. In the shot immediately after it, the rocks are in total darkness, even though he has not moved much. He is already far from them in the first place, so the light could not have reached the rock wall and illuminated it so brightly.

Continuity mistake: In the original film, several priests discuss who should do the exorcism. Merrin was chosen because he had experience (supposedly this film), and that the exorcism lasted a month and it nearly killed him. In this film, the exorcism appeared to have lasted only a few hours and, although I'm sure he was in very real danger, he didn't seem the worse for wear after it was over.

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Trivia: Stellan Skarsgard, at age 53 when filming this movie, is nearly a decade older than Max von Sydow was at the time of filming the original movie (age 44), but is playing a younger version of the character.

Macalou

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Question: Is there anyone who knows the English translation for the latin that Merrin speaks to Sara right after she dies in the end?

Answer: I do. It's just the Latin form of the Ritual Absolution in the Initial Rites from the Mass, applied to the second singular person (it is said with "us", instead of "you"), though it should not be used there with Sarah. In those situations, the proper absolution is the one that belongs to the Sacrament of Reconciliation or, instead, a simple blessing. The translation is: May Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive your sins and lead you to eternal life.

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