The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

I watched this one on the weekend and I have to say that it scared the hell out of me. It is an interesting mix of horror and courtroom drama that works quite well. It’s also based on a true story which makes this film even creepier.

Jennifer Carpenter’s performance as Emily Rose and a great Dolby Digital sound mix will rattle your nerves and get your full attention as you watch this story unfold. The director tells the story of this failed exorcism from two perspectives—from the view of a Catholic believer and from the view of a medical professional.

The production value for this film is quite high. The cast is excellent—Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson and Campbell Scott. The colour palette is used consistently to enhance different moods and perspectives. There are also some interesting camera moves. In one scene the camera glides down a corridor and through the bars of a prison cell to show a close up of Tom Wilkinson’s face. David Fincher used this effect quite a bit in Panic Room a few years back.

If you haven’t seen this film then I would recommend it as a DVD rental. It’s one of the better films out there right now.

Posted in DVD Reviews at 5:13 PM