The legality of evil

Horror is one genre battered, exploited and abused since ages. When everything else fails, the “in thing” is to sift through some Japanese video libraries, and viola! you have a remake of a Japanese horror movie “Hollywoodized” with chilling sound effects and cutting edge SFX. Sadly, the essence of the film is lost somewhere in the plastic blonde screams and overtly long thrill sequences. One exception to this long list of remakes and refakes is 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' by Scott Derrickson.

Apparently based on a true story this might sound as a contradiction to my remake theory as the first thought coming to one’s mind is the cult hit 'The Exorcist' made in 1973 by William Friedkin. Yes, the concept of exorcism is the driving force of the movie, but one unique angle is the legal perspective to exorcism. What is the scientific stand on exorcism, is there a logical explanation to possession by an evil spirit? On what basis can a legal court case be fought when a priest fails to perform a successful exorcism? Can you regard him as guilty of medical negligence? Where do you draw a line between science and religion? In this unending conflict, lives are lost and legal battles are fought blaming one another. These are some of the questions raised in this sensitive film.

And just another thing, just because there is a serious legal angle to the film do not forget that this is essentially a horror film and it justifies being one….

The Exorcism of Emily Rose -Official website