Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

The Exorcism of Emily Rose Blu-ray Movie Review

Don't exorcise this disc from your wish list.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 3, 2008

What I care about is telling Emily Rose's story.

Watch The Exorcism of Emily Rose for even a few minutes and get a sense of what real horror entails. Nowhere to be found in this movie are maniac masked killers with machetes preying on the less-than-innocent youth of America; teens with grudges; ugly, grotesque creatures; slobbering giant insects; or copious amounts of blood and guts. There are no perfectly dressed and impeccably clean and groomed heroes and heroines straight out of "GQ" or "Seventeen." This movie offers terror at its most basic levels and real characters with real issues, motivations, tactics, and beliefs. They often say that the best horror movies leave the most gruesome of details to the imagination. In The Exorcism of Emily Rose, there is no visible enemy to root against and no graphic violence. The enemy is evil itself, hidden deep inside a God-fearing girl like the cowardly beast it is, afraid to manifest itself in anything but the most unsuspecting, beautiful, and innocent of vessels. Still, the face of true horror is evident from the opening moments of the movie, and the movie need not sink to clichéd, tired, pseudo-scares to almost literally place the fear of God Himself inside viewers. An unexpectedly remarkable film, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is as harrowing as it is touching and as dramatic as it is beautiful to behold. Simple, elegant, and infinitely more frightening than many other horror films, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is critical viewing for viewers looking for something refreshing and powerful in lieu of the barrage of generic, predictable, and oftentimes laughable material that anymore passes for horror.

The trial of Emily Rose takes on a somber tone.

Young Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter, TV's "Dexter"), recently deceased, is the subject of interest in the highly publicized trial of Father Moore (Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton), a man facing a prison term for the negligent homicide of the young girl Emily, said to be possessed by Satan. His Archdiocese places his defense in the hands of Erin Bruner (Laura Linney, Man of the Year), an agnostic lawyer who admits to Moore that her interest in the case is professional -- she hopes to be made a senior partner at her firm should she win the case. Representing the prosecution is the cold, calculated Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott, Music and Lyrics) who argues that proper scientific medical treatment was not adequately, and in a timely manner, administered to Emily Rose, and that the reliance on religious doctrine rather than science caused the death of this college-aged woman. Told in a series of flashbacks intermingled with the present-time courtroom drama, The Exorcism of Emily Rose tells a tale of harrowing distress, horror, and unfathomable evil as a girl descends into a madness only Satan could engender, and focuses on a trial that pits spirituality versus scientific knowledge.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a genuine horror movie that seeps inside of you and settles into your gut, leaving you nervous, tense, afraid, but intrigued and unable to resurface from the experience of being drowned in the intensity of the film. A film best suited to watch late at night and in the dark, the film effortlessly blends courtroom drama and intrigue with spiritual horror, leaving the audience frightened, satisfied, and perhaps even reexamining their outlook on life. Simply told with minimal special effects, zero glitz, glitter, and glamour, this is a sour, dreary film that lets its story speak for itself with little to no external help from anything but the most basic of sets and the most incredible of acting. Tom Wilkinson is incredibly powerful yet decidedly reserved in his portrayal of Father Moore. Indeed, he is a man with a deep, unshakeable spiritual foundation, one that does not crumble even in the presence of Lucifer himself. His performance is a memorable one, and he leaves his audience convinced he's a man of God, looking out for the good of his fellow man and promoting what he (and Emily) believe to be the Lord's work with no concern for his own well-being.

Likewise, Laura Linney is remarkable in her performance as her character undergoes a subdued, internal spiritual awakening throughout the movie. It never prominently rises to the surface, but her character development is palpable and understandable as the case, the evidence, the testimony, and the life of Emily Rose comes to life before her eyes. Jennifer Carpenter, in limited screen time and acting under both make-up and the pressure of portraying a possessed individual, something no amount of preparation could truly prepare one for, leaves audiences breathless with her representation of the film's title character. These examples of fine acting, accomplished under the expert direction of Scott Derrickson (2008's The Day the Earth Stood Still), make this an extraordinary film. Tense, dramatic, frightening, and with a troubling realism that few films match, The Exorcism of Emily Rose marks a high point in horror movie history.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Exorcism of Emily Rose presents viewers with a less-than-eye-popping but true-to-the-feel of the film 1080p, 2.40:1 high definition transfer. As the movie opens, the look viewers see is one that is drab, cold, and lifeless. A stiff breeze blows across a field and regular snow flurries fall to the ground, and while the shots of the exterior of the Rose family home lack definition, the soft, undefined picture fits the unforgiving conditions perfectly and does an excellent job of foreshadowing what's to come. Unfortunately, there appears to be a bit of minor edge enhancement on the image, with lines outlining faces and other objects throughout the movie. The image is incredibly soft and lacks any kind of vibrancy, but as was the case with the opening shots of the film, it appears to be the intended look of the movie. Fine detail is hard to come by thanks to this look, but what we see is all that can be expected from a film shot in a manner such as this. We can make out the chipping of the paint on the exterior of the Rose home, the bricks and mortar behind the witness stand, the grain in the wood on tables and the judge's bench, and more. Black levels are excellent, as evidenced by the sequence in the barn in chapter 11. There are some very minor fluctuations in contrast but the issue is never distracting. Audiences expecting the next Saawariya will be disappointed, but this transfer is a solid one that, despite a few problems, suits both the film and Blu-ray high definition well.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Exorcism of Emily Rose terrifies audiences with a wonderful Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This sound mix is the star of the show, technically. Even before the movie starts, over the studio logos, a sense of dread is created through a wonderful score that features just the right lows, tight highs, a great surround presence, and a chilling scream, and from there on out, the experience only improves. Dialogue is the driving force behind the telling of the story, and it sounds natural and clear. Ambience is minimal in such scenes where we would expect more, such as during a few bar scenes where we hear a bit of chatter and the clanking of glasses in the background, but it is all focused in the front with nothing coming from the rear channels. In the first major flashback scene in chapter three, where Emily experiences the first signs of the possession, sound engulfs the room; it is a disturbing, harsh, frightening blend that permeates the senses and adds a horrific tension to an already excruciatingly frightening scene. Chapter ten also features a pumped up, heavy, terribly frightening audio assault. Deep lows, a generally wonderful surround presence, and a high quality, theatrical experience add to the already chilling atmosphere of the movie and improve it quite a bit. This is a fantastic audio presentation, exciting and frightening when called upon, and reserved and perfectly dailogue-centric when need be. It handles both the bombastic and the mundane perfectly, and as such it's one of the finer soundtracks out there.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Exorcism of Emily Rose arrives on Blu-ray with a fairly standard supplemental package in both quality and quantity. The extras are led by a feature-length commentary track with director Scott Derrickson. Derrickson begins with a discussion of the real-life story behind the film and the origins of the movie. He also delves into on-set ideas that made the film better, saying that "your best ideas come from being forced into a corner where you have to throw your mind at a problem and not just money." That's one of the reasons why this movie works so well. It's intelligent and does not rely on superfluous and trite special effects or cheap thrills to scare audiences. The remainder of the track is a bit dull but offers solid information. It's worth watching, particularly if you're bored and looking for something to do that's less boring. Three featurettes are next. Genesis of the Story (480p, 19:48) prominently features director Scott Derrickson discussing the themes and origins of the story, sounding an awful lot like the commentary track at times. The cast also chimes in with their thoughts on both the script as a whole and their characters in particular. This is a solid feature but, like the commentary, only worth digesting for audiences with plenty of time on their hands. Casting the Movie (480p, 12:23), as the title implies, examines the process of finding the perfect actors for the roles. Derrickson admits he wrote the screenplay with no particular actors in mind. The studio green-lit the movie before a cast was assembled, and the cast was chosen based not on who you would find in a conventional horror film, but that you might find in a more intellectually stimulating drama. Finally, Visual Design (480p, 18:58) looks at the more practical effects and sets seen in the film. Concluding the supplements are a deleted scene (480p, 2:41) with optional director commentary and 1080p trailers for 21, Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, and Sony Blu-ray promotional montage conclude the supplemental features.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a wonderfully tense courtroom drama that derives its story from the deepest depths of true horror, and the result is a film headed for classic status among horror aficionados who seek reprieve from the various inane horror offerings Hollywood gives us year in and year out. A thinking man's horror film through and through, more terrifying than any maniac with a knife, and showcasing the ultimate in evil, The Exorcism of Emily Rose wows audiences not only with its refreshing brand of horror, but with its genuine drama and first-rate acting. Sony brings this important film to Blu-ray in a splendid package. With a solid but slightly flawed video presentation, top-notch lossless audio, and a fairly standard supplemental package, this is a film worth adding to any serious Blu-ray and horror collection. Recommended.