Movies - The Exorcism of Emily Rose

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	Movies - The Exorcism of Emily Rose

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 film directed by Scott Derrickson. The film is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a young German Christian woman who died in 1976 after unsuccessful attempts to cure her from the alleged state of demonic possession with the means of psychotropic drugs. Also, church-approved exorcism was performed on her, according to her wish. According to the court, her death was caused by medical neglect at the wishes of the priest watching over her. The story of her short life, strong faith and exhausting struggle with what seemed to be supernatural powers served as the basis for this horror movie. The screenplay was written by Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman.

A courtroom drama that was marketed as a horror film, it was largely dismissed by critics who were expecting a more terrifying experience.

Plot

In an extremely rare decision, the Catholic Church officially recognized the demonic possession of the 19 year-old college freshman. Told in flashbacks, 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 and the lawyer who takes on the task of defending him.

Lawyer Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) takes on the church and the state when she fights for the life of a priest, Father Richard Moore (Tom Wilkinson) who performed a deadly exorcism on a young woman, Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter). Linney must battle the cocky state lawyer as well as her own loneliness, as she realizes that her career so far has not fulfilled her, nor is she happy in her job on a day to day basis. She only takes the case because she believes it will elevate her to senior partner at her law firm. The priest agrees to let her defend him only if he is allowed to completely tell Emily's story.

The trial begins with the calling of several medical experts by the prosecutor, Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott) who testify that Emily was suffering from both epilepsy and psychosis. The defense contests she may have actually been possessed. Several flashbacks show how this began. Alone in her dorm room one night, at 3:00 AM, she smells a strange burning smell, hears noises, sees a jar filled with pens and pencils move by itself, her covers roll themselves down, and a great weight seems to press down on her. Is this really happening or is it just a hallucination she is experiencing? She suffers more "visions", is hospitalized and diagnosed as mentally ill. She is given anti-psychotic medication which she claims does not work. Her visions continue, as well as having severe bodily contortions.

She leaves school and returns to live with her parents. She and her parents become convinced she is not mentally ill but is possessed by demons. They ask for their local parish priest to be called in to perform an exorcism, and the Church agrees. The prosecution counters that all this could be explained by a combination of epilepsy (the contortions) and psychosis (the visions).

Meanwhile, during the trial, Erin begins to experience strange happenings at 3:00 AM, including strange smells and sounds. Father Moore warns her that she herself may be targeted by demons. Later in the film Father Moore explains that 3:00 AM is the witching hour, in that evil spirits use it to mock the Holy Trinity and that it is the opposite of 3:00 PM, the hour at which Jesus died.

Seeing that the prosecution is putting up a seemingly solid medical case, she decides to try to show that she may have actually been possessed. She calls in an anthropologist, Dr. Sidur Adani, to testify about various culture's beliefs about spiritual possession.

A psychiatrist who was present during the exorcism comes forward to reveal an audio tape made during the rite. The priest is then called to the stand to testify. The tape is played and the movie then flashes back to the exorcism. It is performed on Halloween because Father Moore believes it might be easier to draw out the demons on that night. The priest, Emily's boyfriend, and her father are in the room. Emily is tied to the bed. The priest uses holy water and various words from the Bible. She speaks in tongues, including Latin, German, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Several cats run into the room, jumping on the priest and knocking him down. Emily breaks her ties and jumps out the window, running into the barn. They follow her. She says she is possessed by the six demons who also possessed Nero, Judas, and Cain. The names of the demons are not mentioned. After those, she exclaims that "they are Legion", the demon Belial, and... "I am Lucifer, the Devil in the flesh."

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