Highlight: The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Did you ever have the feeling of expecting something that will amaze you in a movie but just ending up watching another cliché film? I had. Most Hollywood horror films are predictable I would say. But not for this one that I will be sharing with you on The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Put yourself in the shoes of being one of Emily’s friends or even a family member. How far would you go to discover the truths of the underworld? The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a film based on a true story of Anneliesse Michel. In this film, it combines a decent hybrid of courtroom drama and a taste of horror. Director Scoot Derrickson says he wanted to tell a good story that would make people reflect deeply on the religious and philosophical questions it engendered. So, he intended to make this film in such.

How it all started? Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) grows up as an ordinary girl just like no other teenager who goes to school and have fun with friends. One day, she was offered to study in a college under full scholarship. This is when Emily’s life started to change. While attending college, Emily believed she was possessed by demons. The alternative was to turn to medical treatments. After medical care ceases to work, she turned to her faith. While under the care of her priest, Father Richard Moore (Tom Wilkinson), she dies two days after exorcism was carried out. The priest goes on trial for her death allegedly accused by the state of negligent homicide. In order to avoid this controversial issue, the Archdiocese hired a lawyer, Erin Christine Bruner (Laura Linney). She is a person who does not believe in God. Thus is the story of Emily Rose, told by those in the trial and the priest who watched her through her possession.

Do you think possession is science or faith? According to science, it is believed that a patient may be suffering from hallucinations, epilepsy or seizure. Emily is possibly suffering from Epileptic Psychosis which means a result from rapid uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. Or maybe was she really should have depended on her medication. So was Emily Rose possessed by demonic forces or was she a very sick girl who walked away from medical treatment that could have saved her? In the end it is still up to you to decide the existence of demonic forces.