Review of The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) by Halimali H — 30 Jun 2014

First time I watched this movie, it gave me a very eerie feeling. And when they in the end texts revealed it was "based on a true story" I honestly could not sleep that night...

But as I made a lot of research on the real case a few years later, I now see the movie from a completely different view. Though I must still say there are a few things I like about it. Some of the creepy scenes that even made me nightmares afterwards (and believe me...I'm used to quite a lot horror movies).

*A young 19-year old college student named Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) from a very religious upbringing has died under mysterious circumstances.

The family priest, Father Moore (Tom Wilkinson), is being prosecuted for having caused her death.

Laura Linney plays the role of Father Moorse's defense attorney, Erin Bruner, who despite the fact that she is an agnostic when it comes to religions is going to find some alternative explanation to her death. Father Moore warns Erin Bruner after having taken the case, that she might experience some unusual things, after the prosecution has began. Bruner however is not taking this warning too serious since she doesn't really believe in demons.

It's through the witness sayings in the court, that narrates the story of the movie, basically. And I think it works. I can even stretch further by saying that the movie would probably have been downright bad, if not.

As Emily Rose starts college she slowly start to experiences terrifying visions and strong convulsions. While sleeping in her bed, every night at exactly 3.00 some thing makes her wakes up and strange things happens so she freaks out. As it progresses she stops school and is admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where she only seems to get worse (eating spiders, ripping off clutches of her hair). The family takes her home then and puts their daughter's life in the family priest's hands. He will perform an exorcism on Emily, since she and her family are both convinced she is possessed by several demons.*.

The truth is that watching real pictures of the real life Emily Rose (or Anneliese Michel, which was her real name) and listening to records of the real exorcism will give you even more nightmares than this movie! Putting things into that perspective, I think I must give this movie 60%...