Friday, September 09, 2005

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

"Well that was stupid" - the comment of a young lady as we filed out of a preview showing of The Exorcism of Emily Rose. I wondered if we had seen the same movie, it was anything but stupid. To be honest, going in I expected to have the same reaction. I was expecting a dreary movie about how evil can get to anyone and there's nothing much anyone can do.

Instead The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a thoughtful and carefully crafted movie using elements of horror to tell it's story. While there are moments that will make you jump, most of the story is told with a very understated, almost documentary style, making the horror elements much more effective than blood or gore ever could. It was very much like watching a mystery, it's not clear till the end what point the movie is trying to make or how this drama will end. Just when I thought I had it figured out there was another angle to consider.

I find that I can't buy into the movies explanation of why Emily is afflicted, and I don't want to give to much away by explaining it. However I did enjoy that there is more than one spiritual battle going on here and they're not all big obvious forms of evil, but some mundane and systematic forms as well. This layered approach gives the movie an authenticity and depth often lacking from movies about the 'devil'.

I should tell you I have given two free tickets to see the preview. Steve went with me and enjoyed it as well. I'm taking my daughter Sarah to see it this weekend, it's well worth seeing.

- Peace


2 comments:

kris said...

From what I hear it sounds like being possessed worked out very well for Emily.

From what you and others have said it sounds like an interesting movie but I still think I'd have to keep all the lights on in the house for about a week if I end up watching it.

~m said...

kris said, "From what I hear it sounds like being possessed worked out very well for Emily."

best. comment. ever.