Tonight, after reconsidering numerous times, Jess and I headed to the movies and saw, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (PG-13). I will say first that we are both glad that we saw this film.
As a youth pastor, the “common talk” is that this movie – being advertised as a horror/thriller-type movie – is being watched my numerous teens that I converse with weekly. I have been reading as many Christian-background interviews and articles I can about this movie and for those reasons, Jess and I went to see it.
The movie was DEFINITELY mis-advertised. It is NOT a horror-flick. More like a courtroom-drama than horror/thriller. CAUTION: there ARE in fact numerous “you will jump” scenes in this film and some VERY graphic demon-possession scenes throughout the story-telling. I am NOT recommending that everyone jump up and go and see this film!
I am merely posting this review because I think it’s important to dialogue about such movies – movies that literally MILLIONS are going to see weekly. This movie, like many others, will cause people to have questions about spiritual things. The movie brings into light what many of us are much more comfortable leaving in the dark shadows of, “I hope I don’t have to talk about such things” or “I hope I won’t have to DEAL with such things.”
The Bible, however, is VERY clear that we are living in a world with a Spiritual Battle going on all around us – “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
As a Christ-follower, I want to be ready and willing to confront any questions anyone that I interact with has after being immersed in a situation that brings such “tabboo” subjects to the frontline.
Some interesting links:
Jonathan McKee’s (Youth Pastor/Speaker) interview with writer/director Scott Derrickson.
Focus on the Family’s PluggedIn review of the film.
Finally, the movie is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a young German woman who suffered the same fate as the fictional Emily Rose in the 1970s. I am currently looking for the book on Anneliese Michel, but currently it’s $40 on eBay! If anyone has any access to this book, I’d be glad to know about it.
