The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

A lawyer takes on a negligent homicide case involving a priest who performed an exorcism on a young girl.

Director:

Scott Derrickson

Writers:

Paul Harris Boardman, Scott Derrickson

Stars:

Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Shohreh Aghdashloo

4 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laura Linney	...	Erin Bruner
Tom Wilkinson	...	Father Moore
Campbell Scott	...	Ethan Thomas
Jennifer Carpenter	...	Emily Rose
Colm Feore	...	Karl Gunderson
Joshua Close	...	Jason
Kenneth Welsh	...	Dr. Mueller
Duncan Fraser	...	Dr. Cartwright
JR Bourne	...	Ray
Mary Beth Hurt	...	Judge Brewster
Henry Czerny	...	Dr. Briggs
Shohreh Aghdashloo	...	Dr. Adani
Steve Archer	...	Guy in Bar
Arlene Belcastro	...	Praying Woman #2
David Berner	...	Karl's Crony #1

Storyline

When a younger girl called Emily Rose dies, everyone puts blame on the exorcism which was performed on her by Father Moore prior to her death. The priest is arrested on suspicion of murder. The trial begins with lawyer Erin Bruner representing Moore, but it is not going to be easy, as no one wants to believe what Father Moore says is true.

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Plot Keywords:

demonic possession | based on true story | supernatural horror | priest | lawyer | 

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Taglines:

What happened to Emily?

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, including intense/frightening sequences and disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English Syriac German Greek Hebrew Latin Aramaic

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel

Filming Locations:

D Block, Buchanan Building, University of British Columbia, Robson Square Campus - 800 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,054,300, 11 September 2005, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$75,072,454, 6 November 2005

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$144,216,468

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Gems, Lakeshore Entertainment, Firm Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min 122 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mary Beth Hurt's husband, Paul Schrader, directed Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005).

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Goofs

When Erin Bruner meets with Father Moore in jail, the whole cell block is dark and barely lit. And being a lawyer, Erin meets with Father Moore in his jail cell without the presence of guards or police. This is not done for the explicit safety of both the prisoners and those that visit them.

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Quotes

Father Moore: [before the exorcism] Do not ask it any questions or pay any attention to what it says.
Jason: It?
Father Moore: We won't be dealing with Emily tonight.

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Crazy Credits

Opening statement: This film is based on a true story.

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Alternate Versions

Theatrical version 119 min. and the unrated version 122 min.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 PG-13 Horror Movies That Are ACTUALLY Scary (2018)

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Soundtracks

Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 in C Sharp Minor
(1887)
Written by Sergei Rachmaninoff

User Reviews

Wonderful ... What's Not to Like?

I just saw this movie today and thought it was wonderful.

The acting was excellent, from one end to the other. The scenes, the flashbacks, the drama, the horror, the faith vs doubt theme ... all were entwined in a back-and-forth web that maintained constant focus on the strongest feature of all: the Story itself.

And what a Story! I won't give it away except to say that the plots and subplots and intrigue and characterizations were all woven together to spin a simply riveting, terrifying, provocative, endearing, challenging Story.

I really liked the multiple depictions of What Happens and How the Characters React. You see Something Happen; and then feel Fear; and then watch the Face of the Character on hand experience Fear; and then perhaps the order is slightly changed: you see the Face of the Character experience Fear as the Character gazes in terror over the viewer's shoulder. Then you see What the Character is looking at. And experience Fear.

I also really liked the legal conflict ... and the way the Story honored both sides. There's no doubt, ever, where our sympathies lie: with the Laura Linney character. Yet, the prosecutor is not at all a "straw man." He is give a great opening, and is effective and believable throughout. This enhanced greatly the Doubt vs Faith conflict that reinforced the Story throughout.

And through all this, the Priest's insistence that the Story should be told, is what really drove the action above all. This gave a feeling of authenticity to the Story that both made it appealing, and frightening.

A wonderful, wonderful, movie ... !