The film is based on the true story of German student Anneliese Michel (1952-1976). Compared to reality, some changes are made in the story, but this does not detract from the quality of this best made film with the theme of exorcism.

Emily is a pious girl who has been accepted to university. From a certain point on, strange things start happening in her life. At certain moments she smells a burning smell, things move around her spontaneously and later she loses control over her body as well.

Emily’s family enlists the help of the priest Moore. He contacts psychiatrist Dr. Cartwright to get an expert’s opinion on the case. Father Moore, in agreement with Emily, begins the ritual of casting out the devil. He is, however, unsuccessful.
Father Moore is taken into custody due to the circumstances of the exorcism. The whole trial that follows is interesting because of the way the parties argue. The whole case remains very obscure, mysterious and full of question marks despite the attempt at scientific rationality.

Father Moore reads a letter from Emily before the trial. It states that after a certain attempted exorcism, a voice calling her name woke her after a few hours of deep sleep. It was the Mother of God telling her that Heaven was not blind to her suffering. Our Lady offered her that she could go with her in peace, freed from her body, or she could choose to continue – she would suffer greatly, but through her many would see that the spiritual world was real. The choice was Emily’s.

Parents Guide: Several scenes where Emily is possessed by the devil containing menacing screaming, self-harm and other aggressive actions.

Cast: Laura Linney, Campbell Scott, Tom Wilkinson, Jennifer Carpenter, Joshua Close, Colm Feore, Kenneth Welsh, JR Bourne, Mary Beth Hurt, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Henry Czerny, Aaron Douglas, Chelah Horsdal

Crew: Scott Derrickson

USA, 2005

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