Exorcism of Emily Rose

I had the opportunity yesterday to see the movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose. It is a surprisingly good film and I think in many ways was a positive and realistic view of Catholicism and the Catholic Church. I was also pleased to see that the story, although certainly a thriller and scary, didn’t go in for cheap tricks and the gimmicky stuff that so many films of this genre go in for. Perhaps it was scarier because what happens to Emily seems more realistic.

The main plot revolves around the criminal trial of Father Moore, a local parish priest who is charged with criminal neglect that eventually led to the death of Emily Rose. The district attorney charges that Father Moore’s persuasion of Emily to forgo standard medical care in favor of religious treatment caused her untimely death. Father Moore is being defended by an agnostic attorney hired by the archdiocese, Erin Bruner. We see Emily’s story through the eyes of Father Moore and others during discovery and testimony at the trial.

Emily Rose was a 19-year-old Catholic college student, away from home and her family for the first time in her life to attend university. She seems liked a typical undergrad, pretty, smart and testing the waters of her independence a bit, but a serious student. Her torment starts when she is alone in her dorm room at 3:00 a.m. She smells burning and then senses something on top of her pressing down and strangling her. After this initial attack, she seeks medical attention. After hearing her description, her physician believes she has suffered an epileptic seizure and gives her medication for epilepsy. It is while on this medication that Emily feels she can no longer fend off the forces attacking her, and her possession begins.

Throughout the trial, we are presented with the classic juxtaposition of science against religion which leaves the audience often times with the jurors in listening to both sides of the case.

As a Catholic and an amateur theologian, I found a lot of theological meat in the movie. When Father Moore is confronted with the devil he immediately starts reciting the Prayer to St. Michael for protection. Erin Bruner, Father Moore and Emily were all tormented at 3:00 a.m., which Father Moore explains is their way of mocking the trinity and the hour of mercy, the time Christ died, 3:00 p.m. The demons speak to Father Moore in Latin, Greek, Aramaic as well as English. The scene where the demons possessing Emily finally name themselves could lend itself to an entire study on demonology through history and scripture.

This movie came out in 2005 after the recent priest sex scandal, so it was refreshing to see Father Moore portrayed as a man of deep faith and integrity.

In the end, it is a visit from The Blessed Virgin to Emily that gives Emily the ultimate power and indeed a victory over her internal captors.

This obviously isn’t a family film, but my recently confirmed son found a lot to think about and discuss and I think it could be a good film for a mature youth group or bible study with good moderation.

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