Parents' Guide to

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

A priest is on trial following a deadly exorcism.

Movie PG-13 2005 113 minutes
The Exorcism of Emily Rose Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 5 parent reviews

WoofWoofWoofWoof
WoofWoofWoofWoof Adult
December 27, 2015
age 7+

Awesome!

Not much blood, I watched it when I was 7 and I'm 10 now. But it will always stay as one of my favorites! To me, It's 5 stars.

This title has:

Great role models
wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
February 1, 2013
age 14+

Chilling and intense! Poor Emily!

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a very good movie dealing with a young woman in college who gets exorcized by several demons without any explanation. When she's discovered and helped by Father Richard Moore, he's suddenly accused of her death and is on trial. He's backed up and defended by a lawyer named Erin who's skeptical about his spiritual beliefs at first (that demons do exist) but after strange paranormal activity starts happening to her, she begins to understand his position and helps him to win the case. Knowing that this was true makes the movie so much more frightening! It's dark, eerie, depressing and very sad! Jennifer Carpenter's acting as Emily Rose is amazing! Violence is pretty strong mainly when Emily is possessed, she often goes crazy. There is scary demon-like voices coming out of her. Emily also gets stuck in weird violent looking body positions after being possessed. A violent car crash that kills a man. Some gore including a bloody photo of Emily's corps used in the court room. Language is not bad. No sexual content. Some mild bar scenes. Not for people who get easily scared, the title of the movie alone is a warning. Safe for 15+ teens.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 5 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (22):

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?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate