The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Name: The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: September 9, 2005
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 46
Cast: Laura Linney, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Tom Wilkinson

2005

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 165 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 165 Ratings

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The Exorcism Of Emily Rose

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Movie Details & Credits

Screen Gems | Release Date: September 9, 2005 | Unrated

Starring: Laura Linney, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Tom Wilkinson

Summary: In an extremely rare decision, the Catholic Church officially recognized the demonic possession of a 19 year-old college freshman. The Exorcism of Emily Rose chronicles the haunting trial of the priest accused of negligence resulting in the death of the young girl believed to be possessed. Inspired by true events, the film stars LauraIn an extremely rare decision, the Catholic Church officially recognized the demonic possession of a 19 year-old college freshman. The Exorcism of Emily Rose chronicles the haunting trial of the priest accused of negligence resulting in the death of the young girl believed to be possessed. Inspired by true events, the film stars Laura Linney as the lawyer who takes on the task of defending the priest (Wiklinson) who performed the controversial exorcism. (Sony)… Expand

Director: Scott Derrickson

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 119 min

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Critic Reviews

Derek Elley

Some genuine shocks punctuate The Exorcism of Emily Rose, an unusually intelligent genre item that manages to mix full-bore horror with courtroom drama. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Emily Rose is the thinking person's demon possession movie, which presents a chilling case history that's hard to explain away. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Fashioning a hybrid of a courtroom drama and a horror film that is suspenseful and scary requires a clear vision and directorial finesse. Rose lacks both. But the performances are topnotch. Read full review

David Gilmour

Positively hops with jolts and frights but they're the cheap kind. Read full review

Kevin Crust

Muddled tale of faith and reason. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Simultaneously sober and silly horror picture. Read full review

Peter Travers

Oh, how good actors can trap themselves in drivel. Read full review

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User Reviews

Mad_Hatter91

Jun 15, 2012

This is (for now) the only film about an exorcism that I found very disturbing and original after The Exorcist. Based on a true story the film manages to keep tension in the spectator filled with moments of suspense, good actors and a very good director. To see.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

EduardoA.

Sep 10, 2005

Instant classic horror.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DonP.

Sep 12, 2005

This film was far better than the reviews made it out to be - I agree with the Chronicle's review "a thinking man's horror film". I'm a huge Laura Linney fan and thought she was fabulous. I was sucked in, and much more scared and shook up than I am by stupid grotesque slasher This film was far better than the reviews made it out to be - I agree with the Chronicle's review "a thinking man's horror film". I'm a huge Laura Linney fan and thought she was fabulous. I was sucked in, and much more scared and shook up than I am by stupid grotesque slasher movies. This film avoids cheap exploitations to try to convey what actually happened, and I find that to be more unsettling. Go see it. It's interesting that the users' ratings are so much higher than the critics'.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Jilli

Sep 13, 2005

I went to this movie expecting a horror movie with the jump-in-your-seat scares I both loved and loved to hate. Instead, I saw the Exorcist gone Law and Order. Sound ridiculous? It does, but this movie pulls it off. Great acting, great directing, great almost everything. I know it sounds I went to this movie expecting a horror movie with the jump-in-your-seat scares I both loved and loved to hate. Instead, I saw the Exorcist gone Law and Order. Sound ridiculous? It does, but this movie pulls it off. Great acting, great directing, great almost everything. I know it sounds perfect, but it's not. The part with Emily's beaded pencil case wiggling made me laugh really hard...and some of the other "spooks" caused my friends and I to attract glares with our laughter. But the movie itself is good.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

FilipeNeto

Mar 18, 2018

This film, loosely based on a real case occurred in Germany, tells the story of a Catholic priest, tried and charged with negligent homicide after an exorcism gone wrong. Directed by Scott Derrickson, which also provides the screenplay with Paul Harris Boardman, the film stars Laura Linney.This film, loosely based on a real case occurred in Germany, tells the story of a Catholic priest, tried and charged with negligent homicide after an exorcism gone wrong. Directed by Scott Derrickson, which also provides the screenplay with Paul Harris Boardman, the film stars Laura Linney.

This is a film made in an original way: based on the traditional formula of exorcisms movies, it innovates basing on the consequences of the exorcism. Its not for all audiences, contains some shocking scenes for sensitive people, but is much lighter (visually) than other similar films. Terror is more psychological than visual, although Jennifer Carpenter, who plays Emily, be excellent in the production of frightening scowls and grimaces. The film manages a very open attitude towards the exorcism, as the court exposing arguments for and against what happened. The film doesn't assume that the devil exists, although its understood throughout the film.

The interpretation of Jennifer Carpenter is regular, only highlights in the horror scenes, contrasting with the good interpretation of Laura Linney (who plays Erin, a skeptical defense lawyer confronted with something beyond her understanding) and Tom Wilkinson, who gave life to a priest visibly guided by faith rather than reason. Unfortunately, almost all the other characters are mere props, never deserve more development. Another major flaw of this film are the special and visual effects. In certain scenes, they result very well and can scare enough but, at other times, they are so weird, so poorly made that seem ridiculous, especially when we see it a second time. The soundtrack sought to accompany the film, but its not different from what we hear in hundreds of other horror movies.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ChristopherW.

Jan 16, 2007

As much as I had hoped this story would captivate me, I simply never found the film adequately engaging. Most of the plot is conveyed through flashbacks that are distressingly deviant in tone and purpose from the present day scenes set in a courtroom. If the audience is meant to question As much as I had hoped this story would captivate me, I simply never found the film adequately engaging. Most of the plot is conveyed through flashbacks that are distressingly deviant in tone and purpose from the present day scenes set in a courtroom. If the audience is meant to question the forces of evil that may exist in the world or is asked to feel sympathy and compassion for Emily's fate, we are never given a real sense of why any of this really matters. I fully dismiss all supernatural explanations, but I am still intrigued by the notion that there are people who don't. Emily Rose ultimately fails to meaningfully connect to its audience because the screenplay is never quite sure what it wants to do. Is it fright film? Is it allegory? Is it a tale of mental illness? Is it a tale of demonic possession? Is it a courtroom battle between reason and faith? Maybe the film is all of these things. Unfortunately all of these ambiguous angles eventually steal each other's thunder. The film is too cluttered with ideas, but the performances are no less than adequate. In any case, Emily Rose is a mixed bag. Proceed with caution!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Dec 13, 2005

This movie stinks on just about every way shape and form. slow stupid full of nonsense. dont waste your time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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50	#50 Most Discussed Movie of 2005
28	#28 Most Shared Movie of 2005