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There isn't very much that hasn't already been done in the horror genre these days. While this has led most studios to shovel out remakes and sequels by the boatload, there remain a few brave souls that are looking for something fresh. The folks behind The Exorcism of Emily Rose are some of these very people, but find only mixed success in their attempt to avoid comparisons to that other exorcism movie.
Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) is a nineteen year old college freshman who becomes possessed by no less than six demons. After several months of spasms that contort her body in unnatural ways, Emily puts herself into the care of her priest, Father Moore (Tom Wilkinson). After an attempted exorcism fails, Emily's condition worsens until her later death. Immediately thereafter, Father Moore finds himself on trial for negligent homicide, locked in a courtroom battle that will take all of his attorney's (Laura Linney) considerable skill to win.
If that sounds more like a Court TV special than a horror flick, that's because it is. Writer/director Scott Derrickson and co-writer Paul Harris Boardman have crafted a courtroom drama with horror served as a side dish in very short flashbacks. As the trial plays out, Emily's story (the most important topic at hand, according to recurring reminders from Father Moore) is filled in piece by piece. Even in its scariest moments, this is not a horror film as you know one.
Taken as the drama that it is, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a tightly wrought film that really only suffers two major flaws: underdeveloped characters and tedious pacing. Father Moore is righteous for an underwhelming reason revealed far too late, and his attorney, Erin Bruner, seems lost in her own swan song. Fortunately, Wilkinson and Linney turn in better performances than their characters require or deserve, giving them at least a hint of solidity.
However, it would take more than strong performances to overcome the film's horrible pacing. Early on, the story effortlessly slides into first gear, but never again touches the shifter. The all-too-linear plotline putters along, making a two hour running time feel more like three. By the time Emily's exorcism is shown, you're more likely to be asleep than perched on the edge of your seat. A great setup, to be sure, but it suffers from terrible execution.
If you're willing to ride it out, The Exorcism of Emily Rose will prove entertaining in the end. Beyond the horror and drama, it serves as a primer on possession and exorcisms that will intrigue the interested but uninitiated. Derrickson's film will be noted by horror fans for its attempt at crossing genres, but likely forgotten when another film manages to pull it off in better form.
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