The Exorcism Of
Emily Rose
Starring:
Laura
Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Campbell Scott.
Running
time: 119 minutes
Year:
2005
Directed
By: Scott
Derrickson
Written
By: Paul
Harris Boardman & Scott Derrickson.
Most people would avoid watching this film, mainly
for the fact that the word exorcism is in the title. That word holds many
connotations towards the devil but if anything most will think of the banned
film The Exorcist. I can assure you
now The Exorcist this is not.
The
Exorcism Of Emily Rose is the story about, well the
exorcism of Emily Rose. At the beginning of the film we are made aware that she
has died during an exorcism performed by Father Moore (Wilkinson). The Doctor
on duty that night has then told the police that the death was not caused by
natural causes, so Father Moore is arrested on suspicion of murder and later
charged for negligent manslaughter. The story un folds with Father Moore on
trial for the manslaughter, defended by a non-believing lawyer Erin Bruner
(Linney). Moore is told to take a plea and get off with a shorter sentence but
he announces that he is not in it to reinstate his reputation, he just wants to
tell Emily's story.
As the trial unwinds, Emily's story is told through
flashbacks. The prosecution are adamant that Emily suffered from epilepsy, the
cause of her seizures, or psychotic behaviour, the reasons for her aggressive
out bursts. On the other hand the defence are trying to persuade the jury that
in fact it was all the work of the devil and that Father Moore was attempting
to save Emily as opposed to killing her. The entire story is played out via the
courtroom with the flashbacks taking us away from it and other minimal scenes
from the present. This is one of the major problems with the film.
As I said at the top, people will consider this to
be like The Exorcist. Ever since that
film, the word alone is enough to send shiver and intrigue down someone's
spine. This film however will send nothing down your spine what so ever. The
film has as much scares within it as the titles of The Exorcist did. Not once was I frightened and not once was I
cowering away like I was when watching Linda Blair's head spin around. I know I
shouldn't be judging this based on a film made decades before, but the film
will bring these connotations because of that one word alone, and using that
one word in your title means you have a lot to live up to.
Some courtroom drama films can be brilliant. Many
are tense due to the acting and camera work, and others tell an intriguing
story. This courtroom drama fails to do either. Not once were the scenes tense,
and the direction seemed to be lacking. The acting was below par, especially
for the talent on show, Wilkinson especially seemed uninterested and like he
was only reading the words off the page and the two lawyers (Linney &
Scott) were unbelievable as characters with so much power. The whole part in
the courtroom, which was most of the movie, just didn't feel like a real trial.
The Judge looked and acted like she was half asleep, and every single bout of
questioning ended with an 'objection' cry, followed by 'no further questions'.
Every single time! The camera work within the courtroom was also as if it was
made for a cheap television channel and not a feature length film starring
crowd pleasing actors.
Rambling on about the courtroom is boring now, and
with a film titled how it is you would not expect to be bored by courtroom
drama, but I'm afraid in this film you will. It just plods along with nothing
really happening, and every now and again we will get a flashback to Emily
seeing people's faces turn to demons. This was not really showing you the
exorcist but the aftermath and, unless I'm missing the point, it did not work.
The exorcism scenes were alright but they were too
and far between, and I was surprised at the end to see the family so involved
with the exorcism but voiceless in the rest of the film. Would they not have something
to say about the whole thing? The film just rolls over several key issues and
eventually stumbles onto a poor, cheesy, unconvincing climax. By the end I was
uninterested.
The film failed to keep me entertained, and in fact
at times failed to keep my concentration. It is not a film to watch if you want
thrills and it isn't one to watch if you want tense courtroom drama. It seems
to be the wrong story to be told via courtroom. It is based on a true story and
perhaps that is the selling point, but after watching it I have realised that I
don't really care, and whatever you say I will not believe demons exist.
1
/ 5
Tolli
Next film to review: SPHERE
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