THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE (2005)

With special guest David Grimm

Intro, Math Club, and Debate Society (spoiler-free) 0:00-15:20
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy) 15:21-41:47
Superlatives (so. many. spoilers.) 41:48-1:01:58

Director Scott Derrickson
Screenplay Paul Harris Boardman & Scott Derrickson
Featuring Shohreh Agdashloo, J.R. Bourne, Jennifer Carpenter, Joshua Close, Henry Czerny, Colm Feore, Duncan Fraser, Mary Beth Hurt, Laura Linney, Campbell Scott, Kenneth Welsh, Tom Wilkinson

Opened: September 9, 2005
Budget $19 million
Box office: $75 million US/Canada, $145 million worldwide

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

Based on a true story, The Exorcism of Emily Rose opens on a desolate landscape, a weathered farmhouse the only dwelling in sight. One thing we learn right away: Emily Rose, a girl of 19, is dead, and her condition shakes the medical examiner who comes to visit. Emily, we discover, has died as the result of demonic possession… or six demonic possessions… or maybe none.  Erin Bruner, a top-notch defense attorney, is assigned to defend the priest who exorcised Emily, Father Richard Moore, who stands accused of having cut off the girl from medical treatments she was undergoing.  Father Moore is offered a plea deal, but rejects it, as he feels Emily’s story must be told.  Hoping to make partner at her law firm, Erin is determined to follow her instincts, but between Father Moore’s compelling testimony and some very strange happenings in her own life, Erin starts to wonder if perhaps, against all odds, possession is real, and can be proven in a court of law.

SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO

David Grimm is a Brooklyn-based award-winning playwright and screenwriter. His plays include Ibsen in Chicago (Seattle Rep.); a new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac (Perseverance Theatre); Tales From Red Vienna (Manhattan Theatre Club); Measure for Pleasure (Public Theater; Bug ’n Bub Award; GLAAD Media Award nominee, Outstanding New York Theater, Broadway and Off-Broadway); The Miracle at Naples (Huntington; Best New Play IRNE Award); Steve & Idi (Rattlestick); Chick (Hartford Stage); The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue (Hartford Stage); Kit Marlowe (Public Theater; GLAAD Media Award nominee, Outstanding New York Theater, Broadway and Off-Broadway); Sheridan, Or Schooled In Scandal (La Jolla); Enough Rope (Williamstown Theatre Festival, starring Elaine Stritch), and Susanna Centlivre's The Gaming Table (for which he wrote additional material; Folger Library Theatre). Grimm’s film work includes the dialogue for Matthew Barney’s River of Fundament. His work for television includes “The Exorcist” (FOX Television, Seasons 1 and 2) and “NOS4A2” (AMC, Season 2). David is the recipient of an NEA/TCG Residency Grant and has received commissions from The Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, Seattle Rep., Huntington Theatre Company, Hartford Stage, and Pittsburgh’s City Theatre Company. He has developed work at the Sundance Theatre Lab, Old Vic New Voices, and New York Stage & Film. David holds an MFA from NYU, a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, and has lectured in Playwriting and Screenwriting at the Yale School of Drama, Brown University, Columbia University, and NYU.

EPISODE NOTE

Music from “The Exorcism Of Emily Rose” by Christopher Young.

To hear the alleged tape of the exorcism of Anneliese Michel, click here. (Warning: disturbing sounds and language)

To hear our discussion of another Scott Derrickson film, Sinister, click here.

Why did Professor Louryk choose this film? Find out in our Blog.

TRAILER

SUPERLATIVES

The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene
David: Abstaining
Eric: Dorm room scene in which Emily is contorted into a pretzel
Bradford: Ethan orders water in the bar!

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live (But Doesn’t)
David: Dr. Cartwright
Eric: Dr. Cartwright
Bradford: Van Hopper’s victim

The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die (and Does)
David: Emily Rose
Eric: Ethan/Campbell Scott’s mustache
Bradford: Emily Rose

The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
David: Appearance of the Virgin Mary
Eric: Emily chows down on some bugs
Bradford: Emily has stigmata on hands and feet

The Brad Dourif Award for Character Who Could Have Been Played by Brad Dourif
David: Father Moore
Eric: Emily Rose
Bradford: Emily Rose

FINAL LETTER GRADE

David: C+
Bradford: B
Eric: C