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The Exorcism of Emily
Rose
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Jennifer Carpenter
Genre:
Horror
Run Time: 119 min.
Release Date:
September 2005
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
THE EXORCISM OF EMILY
ROSE had an excellent start to what could have been a really
outstanding upgrade to exorcism films of old (obviously I'm thinking
about THE EXORCIST). But the ending had so many strikes against
it that I nearly turned the movie off.
The initial premise of the film was wonderful, though, making it appear
as if the audience would decide what really happened to Emily (Jennifer
Carpenter). Showing back-story during the court case in which a priest
is on trial for her death intrigued me. The courtroom drama unfolded
with two aspects being shown: one moment we see the medical
possibilities of what Emily may have gone through ("Was she an epileptic
with a form of psychosis?"), while the next we're introduced to the
possibility of demonic possession ("Can an epileptic be conscious during
a convulsion and speak Aramaic?") I was spellbound by the
medical/religious dueling and I gave a bit of credence to both sides
...for a while.
Tom Wilkinson (DUPLICITY) plays Father Moore, the Rose family's parish priest, who
was assigned the task of performing the exorcism by the local
arch-diocese. But the exorcism goes horribly awry and "the demons"
remain in Emily. She deteriorates and eventually dies ...which is where
the film starts. We watch a medical examiner enter the Rose house and
proclaim that he can't prove Emily's death was by natural causes, so
Father Moore is arrested for negligent homicide for not seeking medical
attention.
The Catholic church has an attorney firm on retainer and asks for their
rising star lawyer, Erin Bruner (Laura Linney,
THE SQUID AND THE
WHALE), to represent Father Moore. But taking on the case may just
be the start for Ms. Bruner. Father Moore tells her that "evil forces
surround this trial," and it is here that the film begins to unravel.
Instead of leaving it to the viewer to decide what might have happened
to Emily, the film becomes a heavy-handed treatise on God, sainthood,
and excessive religious symbolism. This completely deflated any
possibility of a medical diagnosis, thus ending any after-movie
discussion about what the message of the film might be about.
Conveniently, Erin Bruner finds a locket on the ground with her initials
inscribed on it, giving sledgehammer understanding as to why she decides
to continue with the case ("I found that locket, of all people, and I
guess it means maybe I'm on the right path"). Give me a break. Strike
one! Then Father Moore miraculously produces a letter that Emily had
wrote before she died, telling everyone that because Emily was a good
person, and made a tough spiritual decision, she "might be considered
for sainthood in the future." Excuse me? Sainthood for one action? And
what about the wounds to Emily's hands and feet. Stigmata, of course.
Wait. Stigmata? On a possessed person? Strike two! And then we get to
the sentencing of Father Moore and the ridiculous "recommendation" by
the jury. Would a judge really, honestly, legally, consider that? Maybe.
But was it believable? Absolutely not. Strike three! You're out! Had the
film retained its "is it medical or spiritual" uncertainty throughout
its length, I felt this would've been a fantastic success. But as it
sits now, it's just a pile of rubbish. What a shame.
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Image from The Exorcism of
Emily Rose
DVD cost: $22.20
Purchase:
Tower.com (Blu-Ray)
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Based on the true story of
Anneliese Michel, a young German woman who suffered the same fate as the
fictional Emily Rose in the 1970s.
Movie Quote: "Emily
had epilepsy. Father Moore's beliefs are based on superstition."
Other Actors/Actresses
from The Exorcism of Emily Rose
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