SCENE | SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 | Send features tips

Movie Review
Beyond Beliefs
Emily Rose thrills over other exorcism films

— Courtesy art

By Mark Roberts
The Shorthorn staff

Movies about religion and/or possession can easily become too dramatic or over-the-top. Luckily, The Exorcism of Emily Rose doesn’t take that route.

This is a story-driven film without unnecessary distractions like bright colors, dramatic music, computer graphics or bad dialogue. Now don’t get me wrong, I love dramatic music, computer-generated imagery and one-liners, but this isn’t that type of film.

The story, in addition to a good focus from director Scott Derrickson, is enough to make this a solid thriller worth seeing.

The main plot takes place in a courtroom as Derrickson focuses on the trial of Emily’s priest, Father Moore (Tom Wilkinson) and his defense attorney Erin Bruner (Laura Linney). Moore is charged with negligent homicide after a failed exorcism and alleged lack of care for Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter).

Focusing on the trial is a nice change from the typical thriller movie made simply to get a few scares and screams. The terror moves to the back seat while the drama gets to ride shotgun. Though this film has the ability to put you on the edge of your seat, its purpose is to make you contemplate possibilities, which allows someone to see it again.

The film begins just after Emily’s death and tells her story in flashbacks throughout the trial. Flashbacks can be difficult for film editing, but this film has a nice pace to it. The movie is nearly two hours long, which is becoming a rarity for any film, but never lags or loses its audience.

Another good quality about the film is that Derrickson doesn’t give too much too soon. He knows that sometimes what you don’t see can be more eerie or thrilling than what you do see. This allows tension to build without sacrificing story development.

The movie compares favorably to other possession and exorcism films. The focused intensity makes it better than Stigmata, and the acting makes it better than End of Days. I never really got into Rosemary’s Baby, and most people, over the age of 25, will agree The Exorcist is scarier.

My complaints about the film are few and far between. The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a solid and intense thriller. The argument between science and religion without trying to sway the viewer to either side makes this a film for those with or without religious beliefs.

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