DVD Review: Oh my God...

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Starring:
Laura Linney as Erin Bruner (2000 Best Actress Nominee in You Can Count on Me)
Tom Wilkinson as Father Richard Moore (2001 Best Actor Nominee in In the Bedroom)
Jennifer Carpenter as Emily Rose

Directed by:
Scott Derrickson

To start off, I have to say that this movie has one of the best trailers I have ever seen. I commend all the effort behind this trailer because it definitely did its job: It enticed the market to watch the movie. The formula of putting a realistic element into yet another horror-thriller is totally ingenious and makes you wonder what really happened, most especially in a case of an actual possession/ exorcism story.

The movie begins shrouding its story with mystery, fear and intensity all at the same time through the "deadness" of the setting and troubled faces of its actors. It then flash backs to the shocking story behind Emily Rose's tragic death through tight courtroom scenes, dark portrayals of Emily's experiences with the demons, and a very fascinating effect on the real people who went through her hardships.

But throughout these revelations, the director consistently maintains the darkness of this tragic story. In other words, there are no dull moments, just dark ones.

The progression of the story was palpatating scene after scene and climaxes to one point (no spoilers here) which decided the fact that I wasn't gonna be sleeping well that night.

The movie also ends teaching a valuable lesson which acts as an eye-opener to a good number of people, I'm sure. But I wouldn't put this movie in the same crowd with its predecessor icons.

Unlike other immortal thrillers like Exorcist or The Sixth Sense, the fear is easy to put aside by repeating to one's self while lying in bed alone in the dark, "It's only a movie... It's only a movie..." With this movie, that method will come with a reply, "No it's not... No it's not..." due to the fact that it simply happened giving the fearful a new challenge.

You think, that's hard? Wait until your bedroom clock hits 3 am...

RATING: 7 out of 10

"3 am is the mockery of a significant event in Christian history: 3 pm, the death of Christ. It is when this time when the demons will attack." -Father Richard Moore, The Exorcism of Emily Rose