The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 American supernatural horror legal drama film directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written by Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 American supernatural horror legal drama film directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written by Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman. The film stars Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, and Jennifer Carpenter, and follows a lawyer who defends a priest accused of negligent homicide after he performs an exorcism on a young woman. It is loosely inspired by the real-life case of Anneliese Michel.
Plot
The film blends courtroom drama with flashbacks to the events surrounding Emily Rose’s illness, exorcism, and death. The trial becomes a dispute over whether the death was caused by supernatural possession or by medical and psychological conditions.
Cast
The main cast includes Laura Linney as Erin Bruner, Tom Wilkinson as Father Richard Moore, Jennifer Carpenter as Emily Rose, and Campbell Scott as prosecutor Ethan Thomas. Other actors include Colm Feore and Shohreh Aghdashloo.
Production and release
Scott Derrickson directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Harris Boardman. It was released theatrically in the United States by Screen Gems on September 9, 2005. In Canada, the film was released as part of its North American theatrical rollout and is commonly listed in Canadian home-entertainment and streaming catalogues.
Reception
The film received mixed reviews from critics, though Jennifer Carpenter’s performance was singled out positively. It was commercially successful, grossing $145.2 million worldwide against a reported budget of $19 million. It won the award for Best Horror Film at the 32nd Saturn Awards.
Historical basis
The story is loosely based on Anneliese Michel, a German woman whose exorcism and death became widely discussed in relation to the film. Sources describe the film as drawing on that case rather than reproducing it exactly.
Key facts
- The film was released theatrically in the United States by Screen Gems in 2005.
- It centres on a priest charged with negligent homicide after an exorcism and the lawyer who defends him.
- Jennifer Carpenter’s performance received praise from critics.
- The film is loosely inspired by the real-life case of Anneliese Michel.
- It grossed $145.2 million against a reported budget of $19 million and won Best Horror Film at the 32nd Saturn Awards.
The film was released in Canada as part of its North American theatrical rollout and is commonly listed in Canadian home-entertainment and streaming catalogues.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Exorcism of Emily Rose based on a true story?
Who directed The Exorcism of Emily Rose?
Who stars in the film?
When was the film released?
What is the film about?
How successful was the film financially?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exorcism_of_Emily_RoseSupports: Basic film facts: title, year, director, writers, cast, plot premise, release date, budget, box office, reception, and Saturn Award.
- IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404032/Supports: Plot synopsis and the film’s basis on the Anneliese Michel case.
- Turner Classic Movies — https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/608038/the-exorcism-of-emily-roseSupports: Film overview and historical basis details.
- Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/exorcism_of_emily_roseSupports: Genre, synopsis, release date, and critical framing.
- Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-exorcism-of-emily-rose/umc.cmc.2eah566r6qn2lhdxircc08pn4Supports: Runtime, cast, and short description.