I liked this movie, and that says something. I am known to my friends as a "horror-movie buff" and I thought this one was truly intelligent. I love that it was based on a true story. It wasn't the kind of movie with 'what's hiding in the closet' or slasher film, it was more like Stephen King books-made movies (i.e. Misery) and is now one of my favorite movies.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
A priest is on trial following a deadly exorcism.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14–15
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Exorcism of Emily Rose was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Parents need to know that the movie, despite its PG-13 rating, includes gruesome imagery, sound effects, and especially explicit references to demonic possession, animalistic behavior, self-inflicted violence, and of course, questions concerning religious faith and skepticism. The material is somewhat complex, in other words, and may be troubling and even harrowing for younger viewers. The film opens with screams on a black screen, indicating her death, then cuts to her family's reactions, inside their farmhouse; it goes on to show still shots of the dead girl (emaciated, bruised, and wounded), scary scenes of her possession (body contorted, guttural sounds and screaming, fast cuts and dark rain/shadows), and standard horror movie scenes of characters walking down dark hallways, running in the rain, hearing sounds and seeing shadows, and seeing their clocks all show 3am (a witching hour explained in the film). A character is violently struck and killed by a car, characters drink, smoke, and use occasional, mild, harsh language.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the film's opposition of faith and science in the question of Emily's death. How does each approach fall short of explaining what has happened to her while also providing reassuring structure/resolution for those espousing these views? What is the effect of representing the case as a courtroom drama? How do Emily's visions or dreams become code for what's "real" and also for possible hallucination? How does the film combine subjective and so-called objective accounts of the events? How is Emily's family portrayed, as subordinate characters to the lawyers?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Exorcism of Emily Rose
What’s the Story?
Reportedly based on the actual case that inspired The Exorcist, THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE begins with the death of a possessed college student, Emily (a very convincing Jennifer Carpenter) and the trial of the priest who attempted an exorcism, Father Richard Moore (Tom Wilkinson). Charged with negligent homicide, he's defended by non-believer lawyer Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) and prosecuted by devout Christian (though not Catholic) Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott in a stuffy-looking mustache). The film proceeds by flashbacks to show Emily's idyllic rural home life, her move to a college campus that always looks dark and rainy, and her sudden first encounter with the devil one night.
Is It Any Good?
Despite its title and pile-up of such spectacular images, Exorcism is actually less about the exorcism than about how to interpret what happens to Emily. While the movie plainly shows her possessed, doubts arise in legal, social, and "scientific" explanations (is she anorexic, psychotic, in need of medication?). Cutting among the courtroom scenes (the wondrous Shohreh Aghdashloo makes a brief appearance as a scientist who defends the exorcism), Erin's own lonely encounters with demons (or sinister shadows and noises at her home, at least), and Emily's rapidly escalating symptoms (including speaking in multiple voices, eating bugs, starving, and abusing herself and others physically), the film makes Father Moore's case, that even if you don't believe (like Erin), demons exist. And they'll plague you just to make that point.
Demonstrating their existence appears to be Father Moore's focus as well. He insists, against Erin's advice, that he testify. "What matters most is that I tell Emily's story," he says, having heard her version of a vision whereby she learns her suffering and example are God's will. While the Archdiocese and scientific and legal communities are trying to explain the event, Emily's "story" is that the explanation is a function of faith. She's chosen. The most compelling question arising from Scott (Hellraiser: Inferno) Derrickson's revisitation of the story has to do with audience and timing. Why now? What's at stake for current audiences, not only in Emily's ordeal, but in the arguments around it? And what sort of refitting makes it suitable for a PG-13 rating, aside from the omission of Linda Blair's green-pea soup vomit and Mercedes McCambridge's obscenities in the William Friedkin version?
Movie Details
Studio: Sony Pictures, Director: Scott Derrickson
Run time: 113 minutes
Theatrical release: 9/9/2005, DVD release: 12/20/2005
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material, including intense/frightening sequences and disturbing images
Run time: 113 minutes
Theatrical release: 9/9/2005, DVD release: 12/20/2005
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material, including intense/frightening sequences and disturbing images
Our Members Say
See all 15 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
-
I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
Dont let eleven year old watch film!
I saw this movie and my kids cryed so hard and my eleven year old daughter had nightmares for a month and my sixteen year old daughter cryed and my husband covered his eyes! I almost cryed too! Some rating they gave it PG-13 was the wrong rating for that It should have been R!
-
I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
Very good, a terrifying, complex film!
This movie is NOT for ANYONE under the age of 17! It is a very intricate web of demonic posession and courtroom drama, and while that may be enough to go over some of the younger viewer's heads, it is the horror scenes that will really get them. Jennifer Carpenter does a fabulous job in this film...she really sells it! It is very, very scary and there are lots of screams and body contortions. There are some cheesy horror movie gags, but they work here! I strongly recommend watching with the director's commentary on as you will get so much more out of this film! The story is mesmerizing, and it is actually quite sad at the end. Overall, it is a great movie but not for anyone faint of heart and not for children!
-
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think this movie is for 13 and up becaus it is soo not a issue.
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
A good Horror/Drama but not for ages 13 and under, it might be too scary for the ones who get scared easy.
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
More Drama then Horror
This movie has more of a courtroom case then an exorcism people are going to see. It is mostly courtroom. There are some scary sceans. It was kind of funny too.
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Great movie.
Loved every minute of it. Not bad at all, I even brought my little brother and some of his friends. I had a good time getting freaked out!
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
A movie with a Spiritual Message...
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Not scary, just terrifying in a shocking way!
Wow. This is an EXTREMELY intense movie. If I had a different type of movie rating which was age minimum and then plus, I would have to say 16+. This movie is EXTREMELY strong in language (about 100 uses of the word hell) unless you are looking at it from a religious view, which is the way you are supposed to. The violence ins't bloody, but it involves slapping, possession, hair pulling, etc. There is constant reference to a drug that may have killed someone and there is some strong drinking. So 16+.
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Freakishly terrifying...far scarier than The Exorcist, 1973.
This movie is EXTREMELY scary, and compared to The Exorcist, 1973, this movie blows that off the charts. The Exorcist was just about the girl and her head spinning. This one is the traumatization of what happens to the girl, and her experiences before her death. The story is extremely thick, and the horror happens every few minutes. Some parts drago on, but the flashbacks are freaking scary, disturbing!, and nightmarish. (If there was a PG-15, this gets it! Rated that for VERY strong language, INTENSE frightening scenes, STRONG religious matter, MILD sexual content ((spirits raising a shirt)), NOT RECOMMENDE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN)
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Intense...
This movie is VERY intense. Some people are able to handle it, but others can't. I don't get scared easily, so I wasn't scared, but it did make me jump. This is one of those movies that stays in your head. It's an amazing movie, and a must-see for fans of non-gore horror movies.
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
It was horrific!
It was the dumbest, goriest, most idiotic movie ever!!! no one should see this it was stupid! it shouldve been at least R rated for the amount of violence and gore! And who ever made this is a sick twisted horrible person!
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
pretty scary...
this is a very powerful movie and parents should be cautioned. I was able to handle it, but some kids my age may not ba able to, so please think about it befor eyou allow your youngster to watch this! but teens ok!
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 50% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 50% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 50% | of parents say it's too violent |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
