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The Real Exorcist: Devil Hunter
- Posted at 3:46pm
- 05 October 2007
- by RhodriMarsden-RT
- 12 comments
Virgin launched their first TV channel this week. While The Riches, starring Eddie Izzard, is probably the jewel in their schedules, any fledgling channel has a requirement to balance out acclaimed drama with sensationalist claptrap. And look, here's The Real Exorcist: Devil Hunter, in which God-fearing Reverend Bob Larson travels around the USA, supposedly performing exorcisms.
While the show is billed as a documentary, it presupposes that the audience believes in exorcism. So it fails to address any concerns that it might be a load of old hokum, and thus becomes a 60-minute advert for Bob's exorcism empire.
The solemn voiceover faithfully describes the procedures that he goes through when confronted with someone who is suffering from depression – or, as Bob puts it, possessed by an evil spirit – thus lending preposterous credence to the idea that demons might dwell within the fibre of our being.
Bob's weapons against evil aren't particularly hard to get hold of – a silver cross, a tatty Bible, and a booming voice. With these three items he performs between 500 and 1,000 exorcisms a year. But to achieve these kind of numbers he needs an efficient conveyor belt of believers, and the mass exorcism the show opened with provided exactly that. Its aim was fourfold: who are the demons? How did they get there? How can we get them to leave? And how many books about exorcism can we sell in the lobby afterwards?
Bob says that he had no idea, when he started performing exorcisms, that the practice would be so broadly accepted. Well, I'm surprised that he's surprised that people are desperate for a quick fix to their personal problems, which is – after all – what an exorcism promises.
One chap in the show was worried because his marriage was in trouble, and was convinced that this was caused by evil spirits, rather than just issues of incompatibility or a series of horrendous DIY disasters. It's convenient, you see, to blame your troubles on a curse on your soul, because you can immediately absolve yourself of responsibility and hand it over to Bob instead.
What Bob might be able to do, by sheer force of personality, is force people to confront their issues. What he certainly does not do, despite all the drama, the shouting, the pacing up and down and shouting “amen”, is force witchcraft out of someone's stomach by repeatedly hitting them over the head with a Bible. (I'm assuming it's a Bible, maybe it's Delia Smith's Book of Cakes, I've really no idea.)
Most of Wednesday's show focused on a particular couple, Eric and Tracy, who had both drawn a blank with psychiatric treatment and were looking to Bob to wave his magic wand. During an attempted exorcism, however, all Tracy could do was laugh at Bob's sage pronouncements to the devil within her. Bob chose not to interpret this as Tracy finding him a ludicrous character completely lacking in credibility, and instead blamed the devil for preventing her from taking him seriously.
At the show's climax, Bob attempted a sustained exorcism on Tracy, which succeeded in making her either pull a devil-like face when he was addressing the devil, or a little girl's face when he was addressing her seven-year-old self, "Tee-Tee". In the end, he ended up singing along with "Tee-Tee" about Jesus being her friend, and that seemed to do the trick. Yes, she's cured, ladies and gentlemen. Hallelujah!
You can watch The Real Exorcist: Devil Hunter again on Saturday 6 October at 10:00pm on Virgin 1 (Sky 153, Virgin 122, Freeview 20).
Comments
- Posted on 06 November 2009
- at 11:00pm
- by Keith
Larson doesn't know what he is doing. The spirits are real enough, but they are playing games with him to put on a show.
In truth, spirits are small, numerous and have little power.
This makes them look rare, big, and somewhat powerful.
If Bob asked Jesus to do his work, this would be a over in 30 seconds and wouldnt make a TV show. Jesus cast out demons with one word, "go".
- Posted on 05 July 2009
- at 3:18pm
- by TAMPA
If there is a way, I would like to hear from Tracy. I was also part of the show.........
- Posted on 31 December 2008
- at 2:37pm
- by Robert
I am concerned as much by open acceptance as by Rhodri's vehement, borderline aggressive dismissal of Bob Larson. I viewed the programme with a mixture of guarded scepticism and interest. I am a Church going Christian based in the UK and would not consider myself a far right evangelical. I do read and believe the Bible both from an allegorical sense but also from the viewpoint that it is inspired by God. To think anything less would reduce my faith to mere ritual. I do believe the Bible tells us that we war against eveil forces that are as real as God and as unseen as God. Anyone familiar with the Bible (rather than a brief exposure at Christmas) knows Jesus did battle with demons and much of the letters warn of our struggle with unseen forces of evil. It is much more healthy to be aware of the possibilities that mankind does not know everything. Science would not have the audacity to claim knowledge of everything. There is also the ethical aspect that much good is done through the apparent 'exorcisms' of Bob and others in laying to rest some peoples 'demons'. Whether real, imagined or psychological they appear to have an experience of catharsis. The means justifying the end in the minds of the believers is useful if it means some form of recovery takes place. One look at our world and the conflict, starvation, poverty and wickedness of humans towards other humans shows plenty of evidence of evil. If this is merely personification then so be it but in all major religions, particularly those of 'the book', there is the recurrent theme of demons or evil entities. Rhodri needs to make a more thorough exploration of the subject and a deeper discussion with scholars from judaeo-christian and islamic religions about the nature of the devil and God before making such sweeping judgements on the concept.
Robert
- Posted on 04 October 2008
- at 8:15pm
- by Gene
I am challenging Bob Larson to a debate on exoricm and demonology. I have been counseling two women who were traumatized by the exorcism that Larson performed on them for the filming of his television series. To learn more about my challenge, go to Youtube and look up the video, "The Bob Larson Challenge."
- Posted on 01 August 2008
- at 5:22pm
- by
How I wish I could speak with tracie, gabby and lori. I too, was the subject of a show in this series. Most negative comments do not come from anyone who truly understands the spiritual realm. Bob Larson is a kind and compassionate man. I was grateful for the opportunity and have been blessed as a result of it. It is NOT something that was done on a whim or for fun. i am NOT who I was prior to this. The production crew was respectful and understanding through the whole project...especially Michael. Quick fix? No.........the medications tossed out by doctors are quick fixes and ineffective in reaching the core problems.
- Posted on 06 April 2008
- at 11:08pm
- by featheredserpent
the evil on this earth is real we all see it every day,the demons are at there peak,for we are in the last days and they no it,they do not have much time left for there day of judgment is soon,so be strong and know the truth love will return for all for this is the will of god and it will be,so to all you demons ask for forgiveness for what you have done,before you perish
- Posted on 26 March 2008
- at 5:30pm
- by RhodriMarsden-RT
Amazing, isn't it, how reviewing this show brings all these people out of the woodwork - including, would you believe adverts for the TV production company. It would be funny if it weren't so profoundly depressing, verging on dangerous.
- Posted on 13 March 2008
- at 12:24pm
- by gabby24777
- Posted on 04 February 2008
- at 8:26pm
- by lady_lori
I am very familiar with Tracie and Eric! I too was recently exorcised by Rev. Larson. for an upcoming show. I was so very guarded against everything. I made sure I knew him and his technique inside and out. I made myself aware of any mental tricks he could possibly play. I wanted help, but I made it so I didnt really trust him at all.
What happened with me was real! Bob is NOT just what you see on tv or what you read on the internet. I learned so much about him after meeting him in person that I was so suprised. I truly believe God uses him (or at least he did in my case).
Now because I recieved this new found freedom, it does NOT mean Im instantly all better and everything is peaches and cream. It helped me enough so that I can start to make changes. I could easily go back and do the same things over again, but I know I need to make some life changes. I can walk into church again without getting sick. I dont have all the fear that I had before..I get scared for sure, but now I know that I can stand up to that fear. Its up to me now to make the next step to walk in this freedom.
I couldnt be more grateful that I went through with this. I planned on backing out all the way through to the end, but inside I knew I had to go through with it. It was almost like a personal challenge to myself. I knew I had to get help, and I knew i needed to get it this way...im not sure why... I guess I wanted to see if it would give me that quick fix...instant healing. It did leave me feeling so much better and stronger, but I realized that if I want to stay this way and continue to get better then that choice is up to me. Bob doesnt go around driving demons out of everyone. He is very concerned about mental and physical factors. I saw that in him when i met him. He always encourages mental help and treatments. He realizes that not everything is caused by demons as he is often portrayed, but there are so many conditions and things that are demonic in origin and people are not getting the spiritual help they need in order for any other treatments to be able to help them.
thats all I have to say for now. i dont know if I made much sense or not, im not a very good speaker, but I do believe that God has set me free and i choose to walk in that freedom!
- Posted on 27 January 2008
- at 6:29pm
- by tracie1224
- Posted on 25 October 2007
- at 8:52pm
- by Pilgrim
Hi, everyone! Pastor Bob Larson is coming to England this winter to document his exorcisms with "The Real Exorcist" for Virgin.
If you or anyone you know know could benefit from a one-one-one deliverance with Pastor Bob Larson, please email saboud@pilgrimfilms.tv or call our office in California at +1 818-752-5554.
If you'd like to learn more about Bob Larson's ministry, please visit www.boblarson.org
We hope to hear from you soon!
- Posted on 06 October 2007
- at 10:58am
- by melys_cerys
Lots of people would argue that Delia Smith's Book Of Cakes is The Bible.
Cake-eating people mostly.
They probably need exercising rather than exorcising though. Ho ho.
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