The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

The film The Exorcism of Emily Rose is one scary, distrurbing flick. The story is based on the real life possession of Anneliese Michel in the 1970s and takes you down the path of a country girl, Emily Rose, who, after attending college, believes she has becomed possessed.

The story unfolds with an interesting twist for a horror film... it takes place in a court room. The main character is Father Moore, played effectively by Tom Wilkinson, who is on trial for neglience in the death of Emily. As the court drama unfolds, testimonies are recalled by flashback, first from a possession perspective, then from a scientific perspective.

This decision is a good one, as you get both potential explanations for the symptoms Emily displays. What is so disturbing is watching someone become possessed who does not want to, who fights it, and ultimately loses. Some of the imagery still stays with me and I don't know how long it will take before they completely leave me.

Exorcism is a great cinematic tool and the filmmakers here do a very good job of making a horror/court drama. You'd think such a combination would not be effective, but they make it work. The talented Laura Linney, portraying the agnostic defense attorney, and Campbell Scott, playing the Methodist prosecutor, are both excellent at offering different viewpoints on the trial.

I remember listening to a priest on the radio who had been involved in exorcisms and he said something that has stuck with me... he said that when we sin it is on the spiritual "public record" and that demons will use these sins against us. They attack priests during exorcisms by openly calling out there most harmful sins, forcing them to face their own frailty. He said that priests who are unsuccessful at an exorcism are rarely "right in the head" again.

He also relayed a story to exemplify Jesus' forgiveness of those same sins. He told the true story of a small child who was having visions Jesus. The child told a priest and the priest, knowing demons can mimic divine images, said to the child "I went to confession last week. The next time you see Jesus, ask him what I confessed." The next week the child returned and the priest asked "did you see Jesus again?" The child said "yes." "Did you ask him what I told you to?" the priest asked? "Yes" the child said, "but he said that he forgave you and could no longer remember what your sins were." "Then you saw Jesus" said the priest.

Anneliese Michel

The Exorcism of Emily Rose puts into sharp perspective the immortal battle for souls and it is a frightening prospect to think of the evil that pursues us. How they trick us by presenting sin to us as something initially beautiful, but that is truly destructive to our souls.

It reminded me of a line from the film Constantine. A friend of Constantine says she doesn't believe in the Devil. He responds... "You should. He sure believes in you."

I don't know how well I'll sleep tonight. I'm sure I won't be able to get a good nights sleep without reciting a few Our Fathers and Hail Marys. And if that doesn't work, I'm wearing my crucifix to bed.

If you like to get scared or if demons creep you out, then The Exorcism of Emily Rose is for you.