Thanks man. Not often that I get to discuss TLADILA in much detail. And totally agree to disagree. 😉 I get your argument and you make a valid point about the alternate ending having a good deal of satisfaction. Try giving Friedkin’s commentary a listen. When he speaks about the film in greater detail it makes the thematic arcs more clear.
If you want to talk awkward and iffy on performance, what do you make of the deleted scene where Vukovich goes to his ex?