No Docile Piglet: The Exorcism of Emily Rose Review

I would be lying if I didn’t say I kept comparing and contrasting this film with the film adaptation of The Exorcist. However, with due thought, this film stood out on its own, and given the fact it was a retelling of a documented case of a failed exorcism, adds a layer more of depth and introspection into the secular world and the religious world.

           

 I didn’t know what to think of this film during the first 30 minutes of it. Initially, I found the overall film to be riddled with cliché’s and imagery that would scare the hell out of any other viewer. However, deep down, there was heart to this tale. I found myself sympathizing with Erin Bruner and her plight. She wasn’t a strong believer, I would even say she lied about her spiritual leanings (which she got called out for). Bruner struggle with her career and the supernatural did cause her to slip into her cups at several points, which is understandable when she realized she was being awoken at 3AM regularly. Father Moore’s character was certainly frustrating at times, namely when he insisted he testify. I found that he had some subtle intensity about him. He understood the ramifications and possibilities of the trial, but he was prepared to accept the reality. However, he does have his preachy moments.

         

   If I could gripe about one thing it was how the supernatural was presented in this film. The image of the bleeding stained glass didn’t do it for me. Sure, there was scary moments, but they were overshadowed by cliché. It felt cheap seeing those sacred images desecrated by unseen forces. I could have done without the Shakespeare reference to storms. I found the actual exorcism scene to be bland. The set up was there, the execution was something to be desired. True the supernatural was not the focus, I would have liked to understand more about it with an agnostic perspective. And perhaps that’s where the fear factor of this movie comes into play. The supernatural is in the background and perhaps even breaks down the walls between the material and spiritual realms in certain spots. Bruner’s and Cartwright’s initial reluctance to acknowledge that aspect of life adds to that fear factor.

             

There were of course several positive aspects. The plot didn’t feel like it was two hours and I didn’t feel cheated with my time. The major positive aspect of this film was the emotional impact of it. Each character was given their fair share of time and credit. Fr. Moore was particularly easy to read but powerful in his simplicity. His character was handled very well. This film stands apart from in predecessor and yet pays homage to it, with the use of old tongues. One way this stood out was its setting: taking place after the death of Emily Rose, the modern mentality set in and was changed. Being set some 40 years after its predecessor, this film differentiates itself by putting forth a philosophical aspect, which is a major drawing point to the film. This film went a bit beyond good versus evil, it touched upon differing beliefs and what we do with the gift of life.

             

The Exorcism of Emily Rose hit on several points without turning into a documentary or some other film. There was a balance and realism to this film I can’t seem to ignore. How would I react if someone I knew showed the signs of possession?  I don’t know. I will likely have mixed feelings about this film for quite some time. Perhaps another screening of it will solidify my opinion.

The Exorcist Review

I cannot stress enough how much I loved this book. Blatty has a way with words. The opening paragraph does a beautiful job of setting up the rest of the book. This had the right balance of character and horror elements of most of the readings this semester. Blatty’s verse has this literary quality to it, which lends it a quality which lends the story an unearthly tone and carries the mood throughout the novel.

I found Chris to be stronger character than I think most people will give her credit for. In some ways, she reminds me of my own: if there was a problem, why not tackle it head-on? And if it doesn’t give, take a few more whacks at it. Reagan, yes, she is a child, but she does show an acute sense of self up until her possession. Father Karras is a deal more complex. However, Blatty doesn’t ignore any supporting characters, like Dennings the drunk.

What is truly frightening about this novel was certainly the demon, but the fear is multilayered. In one sense, the plight of the characters pulls the reader in and drags them through their own personal Hell. Father Karras, has the plight of his faith, his profession, and his ailing mother. Karras was an Everyman in this sense. Chris, too. Her attempts to balance her career, raising a daughter on her own. This is what gives this novel its power. When confronted with the evil that has taken her daughter, she was literally and figuratively, watching her daughter die.

During Reagan’s possession, we see the true evil, and the true terror of this novel. Not only does the demon take a child, but it speaks vulgarities against the divine aspect of creation, but it is aware of events. Such as Damien Karras’s loss of his mother. It is moments like this that made me wonder if evil will win. Another frightening aspect of the demon is surely its disdain for human life, calling Reagan a piglet on several occasions. With Blatty’s writing, we see a weakness I the demon. When Karras questioned whether or not it was in fact the devil (Satan), the demon became irate. Surely, if this was Lucifer himself, the possession would not be as violet. I would even go so far as to say this was a lower demon.

If Dante’s Divine Comedy is any parallel, Lucifer is stationary in the center of the ninth circle of Hell with the lower demons acting as emissaries to give him souls. God is the center of Paradise, and usually acts through His angels. With this in mind, it seems that the demon was lying to itself, but it couldn’t fool Karras.

If there’s anything to be said about Blatty’s writing, I would have to say he is a bit long-winded at times, but he makes up for this with his high-tension scenes. I’ve noticed he has his calm periods, but the tension is still there and it builds in such a way where I spent entire afternoons turning pages. One of the most chilling aspects of Blatty’s writing style is the combination of simple and yet literary style: you know what’s going on around you, but you’re utterly helpless to stop it.

Paranormal Activity Review

The first time I watched this some years ago, I found it to be a solid scare. However, after some thought, I found it to have an incredible flexibility in its limiting yet unblinking perspective: the camera. Then again, that took away from something. I compare it to the Blair Witch Project. The limited yet unblinking perspective captured the fear that only a handheld camera can.

The couple, Micah and Katie move into their new home and Micah must record everything (because that’s what nerds do). Honestly, this seemed homemade sex tape but with an unseen demon thrown in for some extra spice in the bedroom. Everything seems fine and well-to-do, until things start to move around. In some ways, the home became a Chess board from Hell: action and reaction.

Katie seemed to be more aware of more than what she let on. In fact, she let her fears take the reins for much of the film, though she did have her few-and-far-in-between moments. She was more of an archetype that wasn’t fully fleshed out. Another limitation from the camera-only perspective is that it caught everything, but it didn’t go deep enough. The character development relied on typical responses to the paranormal.

Micah was much the same. But then again, this is where the appeal comes into play. They were designed to be a normal as possible. Sure, they moved into a haunted house, in no small part to Micah screwing around with a Ouija Board. Perhaps Micah’s strongest trait was his curiosity, which turned into fear near the end.

One place Katie shined was when she called for specialized help, whichever could be found. Even that was little help, typical of this kind of tale.

What I found to be a solid scare was eventually I sympathized with the couple. Sure, I had my gripes and groans, but they wiggled their way into my cold, dead heart. Sure, they had their annoying traits, but that added dimension.

What I found to be oddly true in many demonic haunting tales is if you fear it, whatever it is, that fear becomes its strength. Katie was the easiest target for whatever was in the house. The psychic help did say that it follows them around, mainly her. Now, this may be my inner feminist coming out, but that signals her as the weaker or the duo. On the flip side of this, the most useful tactic is to target the strongest first my using their inherent weaknesses. Or making one by simple mind games.

In hindsight of this, Paranormal Activity stands as an entertaining take on the haunted house, or better yet, the haunted person subgenre of Horror. Given the limits, there were several moments that stood out to me: one being the scene where the three-digit feet appear on the floor, denoting this thing isn’t quite human in form. This reminded me heavily of Lovecraft: if you could see the thing, surely, you’d go mad. I would have the say my favorite scene is when Katie was pulled from her bed and down the hallway.