Dir. Scott Derrickson, US, 2005, 119 mins
Cast:
Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Campbell Scott, Jennifer Carpenter
The premise of this film, which is 'based on true events', that the Catholic Church would officially sanction the exorcism of a young student thought to be possessed is an interesting one. It's not difficult to see why such impressive acting talent as Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson and Campbell Scott became involved. However, one suspects they signed up to do the project before the script was fully developed.
A very different film than Friedkin's The Exorcist, this movie concentrates on the nature of evil and why a young girl would find herself its victim. The story is well told, but has a few too many cheesy horror moments - some silly poltergeist scenes in Linney's character's apartment and an altogether unnecessary violent death of one of the characters - which take away from the true shock value of the film, that a girl is driven to madness and death by what seems to be demonic possession.
The story unfolds during the court case against Wilkinson's Father Richard Moore, which sees him accused of the negligence that led to Emily Rose's death. In an understated performance Linney plays atheist Erin Bruner, the lawyer defending him. Was she truly possessed or victim of a rare form of epilepsy which, left untreated, caused her death? Though both look as if it difficult to completely suspend their disbelief.
It would have been enough to tell the story straight without eerie shadows and things going bump in the night, not least because of the performance of the actress playing Emily Rose herself, Jennifer Carpenter. Her contortions and facial expressions convey the full horror of this literally hellish affliction. It is reported that Linney specifically asked for the young actress after acting opposite her in 'The Crucible' on Broadway.
It's a magnificent turn by Carpenter, just hyperbolic enough to scare the hell out of the audience, but not so over-the-top that you lose sympathy for the girl's plight. We watch as this once pretty girl deteriorates into a seething mass of sores and injuries and actually begin to hope that this archaic ritual of exorcism will deliver her from her suffering.
The film may open up a discussion on whether the devil's force is more powerful in recent times due to what the church says is 'widespread acceptance of lies and deceit, the idolatry of money and sex' and even 'the popularity of satanic cults'. A rich seam for debate indeed. However, Emily Rose has already made her mark historically with devout followers making pilgrimages to her grave believing her to be one of God's chosen children and that was why she attracted the attention of Satan.
One can only hope that the poor young girl has now found the peace that so dreadfully eluded her in life.
Joyce Dundas
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