On December 20th 1969 the Zodiac Killer mailed a letter to the home of prominent attorney, Melvin Belli, claiming he was being controlled by something within him (an inner force) and used the phrase "please help me" three times. The release of the Exorcist movie on December 26th 1973 seemingly resonated with the Zodiac Killer, who must have seen the parallels of the young 12-year-old girl named Regan MacNeil (Linda Denise Blair), who was also being controlled by an inner force or evil spirit.
Had he watched the movie in recent weeks or days, the Zodiac Killer would probably have noticed that The Exorcist film sweeped four awards at the Golden Globe ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 26th 1974, just three days earlier. The movie won awards for "Best Film", "Best Director", "Best Supporting Actress" and "Best Screenplay", and received heavy newspaper coverage in the following days. The newspapers also reported on the other categories such as "Best Comedy". Which is almost certainly why the Zodiac Killer.began his letter on December 29th 1974 with a snarky rebuttal of the Exorcist film, by writing "I saw + think "The Exorcist" was the best saterical comidy".
Dear Melvin
This is the Zodiac speaking. I wish you a happy Christmass. The one thing I ask of you is this, please help me. I cannot reach out for help because of this thing in me wont let me. I am finding it extreamly difficult to hold it in check. I am afraid I will loose control again and take my nineth & possibly tenth victom. Please help me. I am drownding. At the moment the children are safe from the bomb because it is so massive to dig in & the triger mech requires much work to get it adjusted just right. But if I hold back too long from no nine I will loose all controol of my self & set the bomb up. Please help me I can not remain in control for much longer.
Had he watched the movie in recent weeks or days, the Zodiac Killer would probably have noticed that The Exorcist film sweeped four awards at the Golden Globe ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 26th 1974, just three days earlier. The movie won awards for "Best Film", "Best Director", "Best Supporting Actress" and "Best Screenplay", and received heavy newspaper coverage in the following days. The newspapers also reported on the other categories such as "Best Comedy". Which is almost certainly why the Zodiac Killer.began his letter on December 29th 1974 with a snarky rebuttal of the Exorcist film, by writing "I saw + think "The Exorcist" was the best saterical comidy".
Dear Melvin
This is the Zodiac speaking. I wish you a happy Christmass. The one thing I ask of you is this, please help me. I cannot reach out for help because of this thing in me wont let me. I am finding it extreamly difficult to hold it in check. I am afraid I will loose control again and take my nineth & possibly tenth victom. Please help me. I am drownding. At the moment the children are safe from the bomb because it is so massive to dig in & the triger mech requires much work to get it adjusted just right. But if I hold back too long from no nine I will loose all controol of my self & set the bomb up. Please help me I can not remain in control for much longer.
WIDESPREAD NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE AWARD CEREMONY ON JANUARY 27TH AND 28TH
Regan MacNeil The Zodiac Killer, having witnessed the young girl in the film being possessed by a "thing" inside of her, as he had claimed several years earlier by writing "help me" to Melvin Belli three times, must have been influenced by the writing on Regan's torso in one particular gruesome scene, when the words "help me" appeared on the young girl's skin, as her inner soul pleaded to be free from the force that had invaded her body.
And you wonder why the Zodiac Killer, who mentioned The Exorcist movie in this letter, changed his signature to "Me" at the foot of the communication. He obviously altered his signature for a reason. The immediate correspondence after the Melvin Belli letter, stating "help me" three times, was mailed on April 20th 1970 and has been shown to contain the signature of "Me" by employing a simple right shift of eight.
And you wonder why the Zodiac Killer, who mentioned The Exorcist movie in this letter, changed his signature to "Me" at the foot of the communication. He obviously altered his signature for a reason. The immediate correspondence after the Melvin Belli letter, stating "help me" three times, was mailed on April 20th 1970 and has been shown to contain the signature of "Me" by employing a simple right shift of eight.
Father Damien Karras But after mocking the 1973 movie by writing "I saw + think "The Exorcist" was the best saterical comidy", the Zodiac Killer completely switched to the Japanese themed theatre production of The Mikado by adding a verse from Tit-Willow (and the Japanese style symbolism). Why would the Zodiac Killer introduce this apparent dichotomy into his communication? In one scene from The Exorcist movie, Father Damien "Demis" Karras, one of the main protagonists in the 1973 film, enters the language laboratory with his tape recordings of Regan's "demonic voice" for analysis. Above the door is the word TASUKETE written on a poster. This is a Japanese word meaning "Help Me" or "Save Me". This poster foreshadows the "Help me" message that appears on Regan's body in the next scene of the film.
The Zodiac Killer added this verse from Tit-Willow by introducing it with "yours truley", The signature of "yours truly" simply means "me". The next line of the Tit-Willow verse, which the Zodiac Killer didn't write on the Exorcist letter, contained the phrase "My name is". An introduction that gave us the 13 character code on April 20th 1970, which has been shown to contain the signature of "Me", just like the Exorcist letter, which featured The Exorcist movie and "help me" on the girl's torso, that mimicked the Melvin Belli letter on December 20th 1969.
The Zodiac Killer added this verse from Tit-Willow by introducing it with "yours truley", The signature of "yours truly" simply means "me". The next line of the Tit-Willow verse, which the Zodiac Killer didn't write on the Exorcist letter, contained the phrase "My name is". An introduction that gave us the 13 character code on April 20th 1970, which has been shown to contain the signature of "Me", just like the Exorcist letter, which featured The Exorcist movie and "help me" on the girl's torso, that mimicked the Melvin Belli letter on December 20th 1969.
In The Exorcist (1973), the phrase "me" relates to the demonic entity possessing young, Regan MacNeil, who claims to be the devil ("I am the devil himself!") and often uses "me" in threats, demands, and insults, particularly toward her mother, Chris MacNeil, and the priests during the harrowing exorcism rituals, revealing the entity's powerful, blasphemous identity. It's a core part of the possession, highlighting the internal struggle and the demon's contempt for humanity.
- Identity: The demon (using Regan's voice) asserts its divine status, saying, "I am the devil himself!".
- Blasphemy: It uses "me" in conjunction with obscene acts, like masturbating with a crucifix, shocking the mother and priests.
- Manipulation: It taunts the priests with "Lick me, lick me!" and other vile commands, using "me" to exert control.
- Physical Manifestation: The word "ME" also famously appears scratched onto Regan's stomach, a terrifying visual cue of the demon's presence and power.
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