When a supposedly possessed young woman dies after a priest, Father Moore. (Tom Wilkinson - Batman Begins) performs an exorcism, he is charged with negligent homicide. A rising young lawyer named Erin Bruner (Laura Linney - Kinsey) is hired by the Catholic Church to defend him, a process that will test her agnostic resolve.
Loosely based on a true story, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is problematic attempt to intellectualise the debate over the reality of exorcisms by placing that debate in the courtroom. The story is driven by the trial of Father Moore, but it is primarily Bruner's journey.
The often conflicting testimony of various witnesses in the trial is brought to life through flashbacks that invariably contradict one another with the apparent goal of showing both sides of the argument. The central assertion by the prosecution is that everything happening to Emily Rose could be explained by a form of epilepsy.
While the choice of whether or not to believe what is being shown is ostensibly in the hands of the audience, this objectivity is undermined by other blatantly supernatural moments set outside the courtroom. The filmmakers clearly want us to believe, which if nothing else, at least makes for some nice creepy Omen-esque moments.
These scary scenes are shot with skill, if not a lot of originality, but there are several genuine jumps.
Initially, the dry nature of the courtroom scenes enhance the creepy scenes simply due to the tonal contrast, but the film does go on a little too long and could've done with some trimming in the last 45 minutes, where your patience will most likely be tested.
An aspect greatly enhancing the unsettling moments of the film is the remarkable central performance by Jennifer Carpenter as the title character. With her elongated face and guileless demeanour, her work here brings to mind that of Sissy Spacek in Carrie.
The rest of the well-above average cast all do well, but at times the script seems a little bit beneath them. Linney is always captivating, and the underappreciated Campbell Scott (Roger Dodger) as the prosecutor gives her a good sparring partner. Linney's grounded presence helps pull some of less believable moments down to Earth.
While an undeniably interesting movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is paradoxical in its conflicting desire to raise questions while also creeping the audience out.
Fully formed as neither a straight horror film nor a theological discussion, it touches on elements of both while falling short of succeeding in either area.
Still, you could probably do worse for a night out at the movies.
Moderately recommended.
Dominic Corry
The Exorcism of Emily Rose is in cinemas now.
