The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Horror film The Exorcism of Emily Rose is loosely based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a mentally disturbed woman who engaged in a Catholic Church-inspired exorcism, designed to rid her of demons.

The film is told in flashbacks, during the trial of a priest who is being accused of negligence in Emily Rose's death. In the original Michel case, the church declared it a case of mental illness and the accused were found guilty of manslaughter.

Fast Facts

1. Directed by: Scott Derrickson
2. Written by: Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman
3. Released: September 9, 2005
4. Running Time: 122 minutes
5. Rating: PG-13
6. Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1
7. Starring: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Campbell Scott, Jennifer Carpenter
8. Saturn Award winner for "Best Horror Film"
9. Carpenter won an MTV Movie Award for "Best Frightened Performance"

Public and Critical Reception

The Exorcism of Emily Rose earned mixed reviews, with a score of 46 on Metacritic and a 45% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Schwarzbaum thinks the movie had promise, but dumbed down the theological discussion with cheap scares.

Despite the mediocre reviews, the film performed well at the U.S. box office, earning $75 million in its domestic theatrical run. With decent foreign ticket sales, and a modest $19 million budget, The Exorcism of Emily Rose was a financial success for Sony Pictures and Screen Gems.

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