Journal of Religion & Film

Volume 10 Article 5
Issue 1 April 2006

April 2006

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

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Recommended Citation
Yarri, Donna (2006) "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," Journal of Religion & Film: Vol. 10 : Iss. 1 , Article 5.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol10/iss1/5

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Abstract
This is a review of The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005).

This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol10/iss1/5

This film is based on the purportedly true story of a religiously devout

college-age Catholic girl whom she and her family believe is possessed by a demon.

The focus of the story is the trial of Fr. Richard Moore (Tom Wilkinson), who has

been charged with criminally negligent homicide for the death of Emily Rose

(Jennifer Carpenter), which occurred as a result of her exorcism under his care. As

the trial proceeds, Emily's story is told, from her early affliction by demons; to the

physical, emotional and spiritual suffering she experienced; to her eventual

hospitalization; and then to the ultimate exorcism, which results in her death. Fr.

Moore's principal concern while on trial is not escaping jail as much as being

granted the opportunity to "tell Emily's story,” which we discover near the end of

the film in Fr. Moore's reading of the letter Emily wrote on the day after the

exorcism. Emily reports her experience of having spoken with the Virgin Mary,

who apparently gave her the choice of leaving behind her suffering, or staying on

earth and showing others the way to the spiritual realm. Emily receives the stigmata

as a result of this encounter, which Fr. Moore claims to have seen. The basic issue

the film raises is whether or not Emily was indeed possessed by demons, or whether

she was simply mentally ill.

This film inevitably invites comparison with the very popular and well-

known film on demon possession made in 1973, The Exorcist. In viewing and

comparing these two films, one wonders why the latter was even deemed necessary,

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considering how similar the stories are. Both had young seemingly innocent and

sweet girls who exhibit bizarre, inexplicable behavior, including bodily contortions

and speaking different languages. Both result in the performance of an exorcism,

remarkably similar in content, and both deeply affect the priests involved. And yet

in spite of the fact that The Exorcism of Emily Rose is based on a true story, the film

does not engender any real feelings of sympathy either towards Emily or Fr. Moore.

Rather, it has more the feel of a horror film, with a boring and uneventful trial, and

a priest who seems rather odd. If one were interested in watching a film on demon

possession, The Exorcism would be a far better choice, and watching it is still an

excellent cinematic experience, even 30 years later.

In spite of its many weaknesses as a film, however, The Exorcism of Emily

Rose still raises a number of significant questions for religion, especially

Christianity. Most obvious is whether or not demons exist. Many conservative

Christians and Catholics as well believe in the reality of demons and subsequently

demon possession, taking the Bible quite literally on this point. Most moderate and

liberal Christians have accepted the demythologizing approach to the Bible of

theologians such as Rudolf Bultmann, and have rejected demons as part of an

outdated cosmology and worldview. In either case, the deeper question may be the

relationship between mind and spirit. What does it mean to have a religious

experience? Are all unusual and seemingly bizarre "religious” experiences simply

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 Yarri: The Exorcism of Emily Rose

the result of mental illness? How do we truly "discern the spirit/s?” Certainly in at

least the Roman Catholic tradition, visions and the stigmata are believed to be the

province of the truly spiritual. Although we cannot prove that these experiences are

legitimate religious ones, we cannot disprove them either. Ultimately, faith is a

principal factor in answering these questions. The film also raises the issue of

redemptive suffering. Are there certain humans chosen by God to suffer in unique

ways in order to somehow instruct others in the spiritual life? While pain and

suffering are certainly not experiences to be sought after for their own sake, perhaps

they can and do have a religious significance beyond the merely physical and

mental.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose ends with a shot of her epitaph, which quotes

Philippians 2:12: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” This

passage also suggests the conclusions reached by the filmmaker of the reality of

Emily's story and experience of demon possession. However, it also raises the

question anew for each of us of what is meant by salvation, how it is attained, and

what is the role of evil in this quest. Whether demons exist in reality or in our minds,

this film reminds the religious among us that there is certainly more to spirituality

than meets the mind.

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