The path of a Saint

Based on a true story, this film is both a riveting courtroom drama and a first class chiller. A Catholic Priest (Tom Wilkinson) is on trial for homicidal negligence after performing a failed exorcism on Emily Rose, devout college girl (Jennifer Carpenter) now dead from assorted wounds and malnutrition.

Laura Linney plays Erin Bruner, the priest’s defense lawyer, and Campbell Scott plays the chief prosecutor, who argues persuasively that Emily was likely suffering from psychotic epilepsy and could have been saved with hospitalization and medicine. The demonic possession unfolds in a series of spine-tingling flashbacks and as it does so, the initially doubtful Erin is visited by evil forces and her own soul seems to be at stake. More than a criminal negligence case, the trial becomes about the importance of recognizing the limits of rationality and the possibility of a world beyond the visible.

In portraying the extent to which wildly different belief systems have splintered modern society this film couldn’t be more relevant or timely. Linney and Campbell are first rate, as is to be expected, creating great depth for their characters even though the script grants them almost no personal lives; it’s a very "stick to the facts" sort of tale. Each character lives a life of apparent near-isolation, which adds to the cumulative effect of unease. The house where Emily grows up is spookily oppressive, the scenes of possession are truly scary and a dark sense of foreboding may follow viewers long after the credits have rolled. Carpenter earns a place as a 21st century scream queen with her hair-raising, fearless performance; Mary Beth Hurt plays the judge.

~*~*~

Watched this with Kev n Irean last nite.

The movie got me reciting The Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary (silently) together while they're exorcising her...

*shiver*

It made me think. Hard. That this could happen to anyone. Me, You, Whoever. And I choose to believe that they are there, even if u dun see them.

I've seen fellow church go-ers 'touched' by Holy Spirits (or so they said). Freaked the hell out of me. Speaking in tongues, laughing, crying, etc. Is it coz i'm not spiritual enough to experience these? I'm not glad that i'm not 'holy' enough, but i'm (secretly) glad that i've not experienced those, although they've said that it will increase ur faith. *shrugs*

I think I should start saying my prayers on daily basis.

*shiver*