The Exorcism Of Emily Rose (DVD)

I THINK THIS FILM WAS GOOD I THINK IT HAD TOO MUCH COURT ROOM ACTION INSTEAD OF ACTUAL POSSESION SHOTS WHICH I WOULD HAVE PREFERED MORE OF
SAYING THAT THE ACTUAL POSSESION SHOTS WERE GREAT AND THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE GREAT
THE FILM DIDNT SCARE ME BUT A GOOD WATCH

Based on a frightening true story, this is a spooky chiller and a powerful courtroom drama about a priest accused of causing the death of a girl who thinks herself possessed by demons. Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson star in a thought-provoking movie.

Based on a true story, this film is both a riveting courtroom drama and a first class chiller. A Catholic Priest (Tom Wilkinson) is on trial for homicidal negligence after performing a failed exorcism on Emily Rose, devout college girl (Jennifer Carpenter) now dead from assorted wounds and malnutrition. Laura Linney plays Erin Bruner, the priest's defense lawyer, and Campbell Scott plays the chief prosecutor, who argues persuasively that Emily was likely suffering from psychotic epilepsy and could have been saved with hospitalisation and medicine. The demonic possession unfolds in a series of spine-tingling flashbacks and as it does so, the initially doubtful Erin is visited by evil forces and her own soul seems to be at stake. More than a criminal negligence case, the trial becomes about the importance of recognising the limits of rationality and the possibility of a world beyond the visible. In portraying the extent to which wildly different belief systems have splintered modern society this film couldn't be more relevant or timely. Linney and Campbell are first rate, as is to be expected, creating great depth for their characters even though the script grants them almost no personal lives; it's a very 'stick to the facts' sort of tale. Each character lives a life of apparent near-isolation, which adds to the cumulative effect of unease. The house where Emily grows up is spookily oppressive, the scenes of possession are truly scary and a dark sense of foreboding may follow viewers long after the credits have rolled. Carpenter earns a place as a 21st century scream queen with her hair-raising, fearless performance; Mary Beth Hurt plays the judge.

I watched this the other night out of pure interest. The film was quite enjoyable, had a few 'jumpy' bits, and is based around a true story.
The story is based upon a girl who, in her mid teenage years, begins developing psychological problems. The problems then continue and worsen over the next few years, forcing her parents to bring her home from the college she studies at. Eventually the parents, along with a local priest, decide that the medical advice and tablets she had been given for her condition were unaffective as she was in fact possessed by demons. They therefore arrange a series of exorcisms on the girl in ana attempt to rid these demons, however, during this time the girl becomes malnourished and weak due to starvation and the excess physical pressure that the exorcisms bring upon her. She eventually dies.
Much of the film is set in a courtroom, with the preist being accused of manslaughter, due to Emily and her parents taking his advice and going against that of the doctors.
Whikst this is an interesting watch, it is only loosely based on truth, as the real life events differed in many ways. For instance, the film is set in America, whereas in reality it was in Germany. In the film, there is one priest, and he is being accused of wrong doings, whereas in reality, there were two priests, along with the girl's parents who were accused.

Overall the film is more a drama than horror film, and is worthy of watching to get a basic idea of real life events

I wasn't really into horror films to be honest but a colleague from work keep raving on about them and suggested I watch Stigmata, An American Haunting and this! All three made me jump in places! but this was the best. I would recommend late night, dark room, and some company!!! happy watching.

This is an excellnt movie with a great cast. It will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Remember that this is based on a true story which gives it more impact in it's story. I consider this well worth watching and adding to your dvd collection.

I watched this film in the cinema and loved every minuite of it so i just had to get it when it came out. It is by far one of the best films and true story's i have ever watched. The way they tell it is excellent!

I decided to buy this film because I have an interest in the paranormal I think the film is superb and would recommend it to anybody ,although perhaps not for those with a faint heart.

I'VE NOW SEEN THIS FILM THREE TIMES. I LOVE HORROR MOVIES AND AM CONSTANTLY SEARCHING FOR ONE THAT WILL TRUELY SCARE ME (UNFORTUNATLY THERE ARE NOT MANY). I WAS INTERESTED IN THIS MOVIE BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE DEVIL I FIND TRUELY FRIGHTENING AND I LOVED THE EXORCIST. THIS IS NOT LIKE THE EXORCIST, ITS BETTER BECAUSE ITS FAR MORE BELIEVABLE. ITS NOT SCARY ALL THE WAY THROUGH, BUT WHEN THE SCARES COME BOY DO THEY COME! THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE AMAZING AND JENNIFER CARPENTER IS OUTSTANDING. WHATS SPECIAL ABOUT IT IS IT DOESNT RELY ON CHEAP SCARES AND THE 'TOKEN BLONDE'. THIS FILM LEAVES YOU THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHATS AROUND YOU - BOTH WHAT YOU CAN SEE, AND WHAT YOU CANT....A FANTASTIC FILM!

I started to watch this on TV and missed the ending so it was a great chance for me to own it myself, great condition for used many thanks

good movie, more a courtroom drama than a horror.............................................................................................................................................................................................................

A fantastic true story about a modern day possession. The acting was top rate and the story was told with respect to the characters.

I have watched many many films now and have to say that I think this one is great. It is based on a true story which i like any way and it grips you in the first 10 minutes. To see someone trying to prosecute a priest for unlaw ful killing is unusal, Then to see what happenens next is quiet dissturbing, Watch and see for your self!!

It is a good film with good story line quite scary,Ilike the fact that there was not too much special effects(using your imagination is better).
I don't have any negative points about this film,its a good movie.

What a film! One you wont forget in a hurry! Fantastic film, very watchable, very creepy and frightening!! This really is a fantastic film, and if your into this kind of film, i really recommend it. I was sceptical it wasn't going to be as good as what they were making it out to be...but i was wrong. I was jumpy for hours after watching this!!!!!! GREAT!!!!!

my family like films like this and because we had seen clips decided to buy it
we also found it educational as to what can happen to some one who is possessed

I SAW THIS FILM BY ACCIDENT ONE NIGHT,AND WHILE ITS MAIN ATTRACTION IS THE HORROR STORY LINE IT DOES HAVE A VERY GOOD STORY ALONG WITH IT.LIKE IVE SAID I SAW IT BY ACCIDENT WHILS VISITING MY BROTHERS HOUSE.
THE FOCAL POINT OF THE FILM CONCENTRATES ON A YOUNG LADY WHO APPEARS TO BE POSSESED BY THE DEVIL,OUT OF DESPERATION A VICAR IS ASKED TO PERFORM AN EXORCISM,WHAT ENSUED AFTER IN THE COURTROOM KEPT ME ENTHRALLED AND GLUED TO THE TV SET.
I HEAR YOU SAY NOT ANOTHER HORROR FILM,YES IT IS BUT THIS FILM IS WAY ABOVE HORROR FOR HORRORS SAKE. IVE DELIBERATELY NOT GONE INTO THE FILM IN DEPTH AS I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS FILM TO EVERYBODY.A GREAT FILM WHICH HAS BEEN WELL ACTED BY ALL THE CAST.
I JUST WISH ALL FILMS WERE AS GOOD AS THIS

I'm a real fan of anything horror & supernatural (though with my over-active imagination i shouldn't be!)

The story is based on real, well documented events, something that always gives an extra edge for me... it's easy to brush off fiction but there's something more unsettling about a film that you can't just brush off completely. It really scared me in places & left me feeling quite unsettled for a while afterwards.

Essentially the film tells the story of Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) who leaves the shelter of her devout Catholic family & rural home to go to university. It's there that she becomes 'ill', is diagnosed with 'Psychotic Epilepsy' & prescribed medication. When she doesn't improve she returns home, where her condition worsens. Emily & her family believe her condition is spiritual rather than physical - they believe she is demonically possessed - & entrust her care over to their priest (Tom Wilkinson). He advises that she discontinue her medication & attempts to perform an exorcism which has to be abandoned. Emily refuses another exorcism & shortly after dies. With her body malnourished & covered with injuries the family doctor can't certify death by natural causes and the priest is arrested & charged with Negligent Homicide. The Prosecutor (Campbell Scott) argues that Emily could have been saved had proper medical care been sought, whilst the Public Defender (Laura Linney) attempts to create Reasonable Doubt by arguing the possibility of possession.

The film shows Emily's story as a series of flashbacks - with the 'real time' of the film being played in the courtroom. Both aspects work well - the flashbacks break up what could otherwise become quite tedious court scenes & the courtroom reminds us that this isn't just another possession movie.

Some of the possession scenes are hair raising but they never tip over into the absurd. Some people have said this film is inferior to The Exorcist - well, The Exorcist is definately more horrifying graphically but it also contains some scenes which - even taking demonic possession into account - are way too over cooked to be believable. This film is more subtle - less scary - but more believable. Better? No... but definately deserves to be watched without the unfair comparison.

The acting is great... how another reviewer found it wooden i don't know? Jennifer Carpenter really puts her guts into Emily - sympathetic when she needs to be & scary when she has to be.

The SFX were kept simple & effective, again keeping in line with the film being more subtle & unnerving than wet your pants terrifying.

I even learned something that i had actually wondered about before... have you ever wondered what the significance of 3am in horror films is? Well, i did & now i know!

I would definately recommend watching this film. It scores a 4 - losing one for not covering Emily's last days & i would have liked a few more possession scenes.

I really enjoyed this film. Not so much for its terror effects or the courtroom drama, but mainly for the rendering of how people cope when something out of the ordinary happens in their lives. This film is as much about the family and friends of Emily Rose, although the film makers decided to highlight only a few of the characters. But in the sense of making a coherent film that is perhaps understandable to a widest possible audience.
I would love to find out about the real happenings though. It leads on to lots of questions.
Definitely dont begrudge the money I spent on this film and I am sure I will watch this one a few more times in the future!!!

Hope this is helpful to someone.

My daughter was recomended to watch this to help with her GCSE in Rs. I decided to see if there was a second hand one as to buy it new was expensive and she probably would not watch it again.

A VERY GOOD FILM BUT SOMETIMES LOST IT WAY BUT OVERALL A FILM THAT CAN BE WATCHED AND WATCHED. AM GLAD I BOUGHT THIS FILM NOW AND IT IS A VALUABLE ADDITION TO MY COLLECTION

Greatest and most gripping film i have seen in years.
Not at all horror in my opinion and is very gripping.
The start is a bit slow but just keep watching and you just cant switch off until the end.
Wish it went on longer.
Highly recommended courtroom drama with flashbacks to the events that happened.
BUY IT ASAP.

This was a very good suspense movie. I wouldn't really call it horror but the fact that the events are supposedly based on a true story does give it an edge. The acting in the film is great, not over the top in any way and the film also has just the right atmosphere. The mix between courtroom drama and flashbacks to the story and events of Emily Rose's life is spot on too. I'd highly recommend this although if you ever wake up at 3am on the dot, be scared!

I love the special efects and the actress played the part realy well as this is based on a true story