The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Based on a True Story
In an extremely rare decision, the Catholic Church officially recognized the demonic possession of a 19-year-old college freshman. Told in terrifying flashbacks, The Exorcism of Emily Rose chronicles the haunting trial of the priest accused of negligence resulting in the death of the young girl believed to be possessed.
Member Reviews
Demons exist... - Quindog
There are a hundred reviews already for this movie and I normally wouldn't pipe up in those circumstances, but I was very amused by the stark split between those loving this movie for the same reason others disliked it. And that is that this movie is both a courtroom drama and a satanic horor flick at the same time. Impossible you say?... well fine then, it's a courtroom drama with flashbacks.
Should you zip it? Not if you are doing so solely to see a horror movie. I think if you were entertained by movies such as A Few Good Men, Runaway Jury or The Client, where the story wasn't all told in the courtroom, you will like this one too. I think maybe the true blue horror fans should stay away from this one.
What I liked (and let me first disclaim that The Exorcist is my all time favorite movie) about this movie was almost everything. It was intelligent, had a great premise, was well written, well acted, and well paced for a longish movie. I also liked that it didn't try to convert or convince you of any particular belief, rather it simply raised some interesting questions.
"Demons exist, whether you believe in them or not." What a great line!Is It Possible? - revsdd
Is it possible that demons exist and could possess a person? Is it possible that God exists? Is it possible that good and evil are not mere abstract human constructions, but rather exist in tangible (albeit spiritual) form? Is any of that possible? This film is based apparently on a real exorcism, which lends a more dramatic air to the whole thing.
The title aside, this movie is not really about an exorcism; it's about the trial of a priest who performs an exorcism on 19 year old Emily and who is then accused of negligence for failing to get her proper medical attention when she died. The exorcism is only shown by way of flashbacks during the trial. The flashbacks are powerful, sometimes creepy and at times quite frightening (more frightening, in my opinion, than the movie "The Exorcist.") The real brilliance of the movie, though, is the way it intertwines two usually very different genres: a courtroom drama with a horror flick. The courtroom drama dominates, but the horror elements complement it nicely.
Tom Wilkinson and Jennifer Carpenter are excellent in their respective roles as Father Moore and Emily but the more interesting characters were Father Moore's lawyer, Erin Brunner and, to a lesser extent - because he was a lesser character - Prosecuting Attorney Ethan Thomas. Brunner is an avowed agnostic who is forced to confront the possibility of demonic forces being real, while Thomas is a devout, church-going Methodist who won't even consider the possibility of supernatural involvement in Emily's death.
As a clergyman (Protestant) I found myself engrossed by some of the spiritual issues brought up in the movie and some of the questions the movie raised were challenging and at times even disturbing. The movie doesn't really answer the questions it raises. Two plausible explanations are given for Emily's condition. It's left to the viewer to decide which to believe.Makes You THINK!! - Quadcats
I can tell you one thing about this film.... If I ever wake up at 3:00 a.m. ever again, I will be completely freaked out!!
I went into this film not sure the format of the movie, and was impressed about it. I thought it was going to be a horror film with only some basis of the "true story" part; but what I saw was a well written court room drama with flashbacks and "creepy" storylines to fascinate the viewers and keep us on the edge of our seats without completely horrifiying. It makes you think and feel and wonder, not necessarily scream and cower. Well written and well acted. Father Moore , Emily Rose and Erin Bruner were all superb. Well done!
Member Reviews
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Demons exist... - Quindog
There are a hundred reviews already for this movie and I normally wouldn't pipe up in those circumstances, but I was very amused by the stark split between those loving this movie for the same reason others disliked it. And that is that this movie is both ...Is It Possible? - revsdd
Is it possible that demons exist and could possess a person? Is it possible that God exists? Is it possible that good and evil are not mere abstract human constructions, but rather exist in tangible (albeit spiritual) form? Is any of that possible? This film ...Makes You THINK!! - Quadcats
I can tell you one thing about this film.... If I ever wake up at 3:00 a.m. ever again, I will be completely freaked out!!
I went into this film not sure the format of the movie, and was impressed about it. I thought it was going to be a horror film ...