In the TV series Supernatural, the exorcism scenes are not just atmospheric scenery. Many of them are based on real Catholic rituals, and the spells pronounced are real excerpts from ancient texts and psalms, including Psalm 67 (68) and the official Roman ritual of exorcism.
The creators of the series strove for maximum authenticity from the very beginning, especially in the early seasons. At first, viewers were shown stories based on urban legends about monsters and devils.
For example, in the fourth episode, The Phantom Wanderer, Sam and Dean use a Latin spell for the first time, which is partially adapted from a real ritual. If there had been a real demon on the screen, he would have definitely burned up.
The phrases are not made up — these are prayers that priests once read during real exorcism rites. Later, the heroes almost never used hints — they learned the ritual by heart, as professional hunters of evil spirits would do.
Here are the lines that are repeated in different episodes:
"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus omnis satanica potestas" — the beginning of a real Catholic expulsion, found in official prayer books.
And Psalm 67, which sounds in one of the rituals:
"Regna terrae, cantate deo, psallite Domino qui véhitur per calus, caelos antíquos! Ecce, edit vocem suam, vocem potentem: Akinoscite potentiam dei! Majestas ejus, Et potentia ejus In nubibus."
The difference of the series is that it takes real texts and supplements them with its own mythology. But the basic foundation is authentic. Moreover, in a number of scenes, the actors recited Latin prayers without abbreviations, including passages that the Church has long considered outdated or too "complicated" for a mass audience.
Thus, Supernatural is one of the few series where mysticism is not only stylized, but also partially recreated according to historical canons, with respect for ancient practices of exorcism. Thanks to this, the exorcisms in the show feel especially creepy - because they echo reality.
