The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Cast: Laura Linney (Erin Bruner), Tom Wilkinson (Fr. Moore), Jennifer Carpenter (Emily Rose)

Director: Scott Derrickson

Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Suspense


I was rather skeptical about this film before I saw it. I have to say I was greatly impressed and even surprised about how exorcism and demonic possession were portrayed as being real and not presented as mere ancient superstition. This film is based on a true case of demonic possession that turned tragic. Fr. Moore (Tom Wilkinson), the Catholic priest who performed the ritual of exorcism, was put on trial for negligent homicide for the death of Emily Rose as she died during her exorcism. The film was based during the court room proceedings with flash backs to the exorcism. His lawyer (Laura Linney) -a self-proclaimed agnostic- decides to represent Fr. Moore in his trail even though she is very skeptical of the existence of demons, possession, and God. As a sort of “story within a story”, she soon realizes that indeed demons exist whether she believe in them or not. She also learns that if demons exist, then God exists. This leads to her final apparent realization that it’s necessary to “serve God in fear and trembling.” The truth about exorcism, its reality, and the fact that the Catholic Church is the only institution on earth that can successfully drive out demons from people, were very well brought forth to the audience. This film had an overall message that suffering is a necessity for the sake of good. It demonstrated, as the real case did, that God can and does use evil, including the devil, for a greater good to come about. This movie certainly did not bash God for allowing suffering. The message on Emily’s tomb, shown at the end of the film, was a good conclusion to that truth. A lot of facts about supernatural activity, which take place more often than people realize, were also treated in the movie. Unlike the films counterpart, The Exorcist (1973), this film seemed much more like a documentary of exorcism despite its courtroom setting. The acting was well done and very realistic. I even enjoyed how the Methodist prosecuting attorney was portrayed in a bad light with his constant scoffing and criticizing of the idea that the devil can and does possess souls and that the Catholic Church has the power, instituted by Christ Himself, to cast out demons in His name. I would recommend this film very much but with caution about the intense frightening scenes of the exorcism ritual. The “horror” factor in this film lies mainly in the freakish way the possessed Emily Rose contorted her body in unnatural ways and how the demons manifested themselves. Otherwise, I think it’s safe to call this an informational film.