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Directed by Scott Derrickson
Written by Paul Harris Boardman & Scott Derrickson

Starring
Laura Linney
Tom Wilkinson
Campbell Scott
Jennifer Carpenter

While attending college, Emily believed she became possessed. When doctors aren’t able to help her, her family goes to their church for help. Their priest, Father Moore (Tom Wilkinson) goes to care for Emily Rose and is with her when she dies. Because of this, Father Moore is blamed for her death and he goes on trial.

Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) is assigned to defend Father Moore. She is an interesting choice because she is an agnostic and doesn’t believe in God or the supernatural. But as the trail goes on, Erin Bruner is put to the test as a lawyer and is challenged by not only the prosecuting lawyer Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott) but also her core beliefs and convictions.

The reason why this film is so effective is the superb acting, subtle direction and focus on the human elements within this supernatural setting. It’s all done with a sensitive touch and grasp for the more subdued meanings. It’s not a film that you will shake easily and you’ll think about it long after you’ve viewed the DVD.

I’ll be honest, when I first saw Laura Linney in a movie, I didn’t care much for her. But over the past few years, she’s won me over. It may have been her brilliant understated performance in THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES that changed my thoughts on her. Nevertheless, she is excellent in this film. Totally grounded, Linney is a huge reason that this film works and seems believable.

Tom Wilkinson has to be one of the most unheralded actors in the business. Every time I’ve seen him in a film he’s made a strong impression. He captures a touching emotional performance of a priest who bravely faces a dark force that will not stop until it takes the life of the young Emily Rose.

Jennifer Carpenter’s performance is mesmerizing. The film certainly would not have its power without her acting chops and physical ability. Carpenter is put into almost mind-bending physical situations and pulls off every scene. She won’t get the notice of the reserved actors in the film but she plays just as crucial of a role.

I really enjoyed the Audio Commentary track provided by Director Scott Derrickson. Derrickson says that he did not take the credit "A Film By Scott Derrickson" because he feels that Paul Boardman was just as much the film’s author. Derrickson states that when they were designing the courtroom set, he watched every courtroom film he could get and felt that most of the courtrooms in other films didn’t seem to look real. He had Production Designer David Brisbin go for something less showy but pointed out that Brisbin ended up designing a room with numerous converging sight lines. Derrickson makes it clear that he was more concerned with telling this story rather than trying to emulate or top "The Exorcist."

There are three featurettes that cover the making of the film. In Genesis of the Story, Scott Derrickson and Paul Boardman were in New York working on a Jerry Bruckheimer production when they met someone who told them the story of Anneliese Michel, a young woman who was supposedly possessed, stopped eating and eventually died when her body shut down. Derrickson and Boardman knew that the story was ripe to be put on the big screen. In Casting the Film, we learn that Laura Linney was working with Jennifer Carpenter on Broadway and Linney suggested casting Carpenter as Emily Rose. Scott Derrickson discusses his vision in Visual Design. Derrickson states that lighting color schemes were influenced by Dario Argento’s work.

THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE is the best horror film released theatrically in 2005 and a fantastic DVD.

www.SonyPictures.com