The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Rating: ****
Cast: Tom Wilkinson (the Catholic Priest), Laura Linney (Erin Bruner, the priest defense lawyer), Jennifer Carpenter (Emily Rose)
Genre: Suspense/Horror & Thriller

It's based on a true story. That was the reason why I finally decided to give this movie a chance. And there was no regret. I watched the movie at Tiong Bahru Plaza with Mark, Ivy and KC.

The story depicts an ordinary girl-next-door who just received a university scholarship. She moved into the dorm and that's when things started to turn cranky. The movie alternated between courtroom scenes and flashbacks of what happened to Emily that caused her life.

There is the scientific and the religious argument. 2 issues that can never coexist together. The doctors believed that Emily's death could have been prevented with hospitalization and medication. Emily family's priest on the other hand believed that her 'epileptic phenomena' is caused by more than just mere medical conditions.

His lawyer, Erin Bruner, was determined to fight for his freedom. It was no
child's play. She herself started to experience the dark forces, seemingly
trying to prevent her from revealing the truth or saving the Priest for that
matter.


Emily soon experience countless hallucinations and seizures. Her body is often found locked in grotesque positions. It's heart wrenching to see how this young lady is suffering and destroying herself. "Why her?" you will keep asking yourselves. She is hungry but she can't eat. She is tired but she can't rest.

There was one particular heart-stopping scene in the movie. The setting was at her university classroom. She started hearing voices calling her name and seeing shadows by the windows. She looked around the room nervously and was looking at a seemingly nerdy plummish boy. His innocent face suddenly transformed to a horrendous one with his eyes melting like leaking ink. KC and I literally screamed and jumped off our seat.

You can follow this link where you can witness it for yourself at emily rose's website

Click "Enter the site"
Click "Faith/Science"
Under Science, click "Hallucinations"

I told KC I suddenly had this phobia that in the dark and cold cinema, there will be a cold hand grabbing our feet from below!!! We kept our feet as high as possible for the rest of the show. Ivy was hardly unnerved though.

Emily began to speak in angry unfamiliar voices, often in languages that she had never learned. She scratched the walls with her fingernails and often screamed uncontrollably. Her family was totally devastated. She was even found eating insects in the corner of her bedroom.

She confessed to her priest that her medication doesn't seem to help her conditions. She was getting worse by the day and decided to stop her medication altogether and to turn to religion for salvation.

The priest finally suggested exorcism in the attempt to drive out the evil forces dwelling inside Emily. With consent from Emily and her family, the ritual is carried out. There were actually 6 devils inside her malnutritioned dying body! The forces were very strong and terrifying. The exorcism did not succeed and Emily has given up too. She declined a second session.

Carpenter (playing the role of Emily Rose) earns a place as a 21st century scream queen with her hair-raising, fearless performance

The endless argument in the courtroom went on. Believing in the Priest, lawyer Erin Bruner proceeded to let the Priest testify at the expanse of her job. Her boss was against her letting the Priest testify. She, agreeing with the Priest, felt that the story of Emily has to be told.

Verdict by the Jury: The Priest is guilty but he is free to go.

In real life, the Priest unable to live his normal life anymore, decided to go into seclusion.

And my verdict? A very mentally disturbing movie. Emily is such a devout Catholic. She loves God. Why her?

Be careful when the clock strikes at 3.00am…

... the one who is quite disturbed by the movie