Exorcism of Emily Rose

Mythical And Paranormal Realm | Myths | Horror Stories | Scary Tales

Whether its an unsolved mystery, a popular misconception, or sometimes just a big hoax urban legends are an inevitable part of any culture. But, plenty of these classic myths are actually true — and the truth is often more ghastly and macabre than the fiction. Even more interesting is how some of these fables originated. Myths have to start somewhere, and oftentimes it’s a dark chapter in history or a strange effect of our own minds. Sometimes, the boogeyman is real. And, that face you saw in the bathroom mirror? You weren’t imagining it. Here are one of the most popular urban legends still being told:-

Emily Rose, a 19-year old American teenager, dies of self-inflicted wounds and malnutrition following an attempted exorcism. Father Richard Moore, the Catholic priest who attempted the exorcism is arrested and sent to court. While the archdiocese want Moore to plead guilty to minimise the crime’s public attention, Moore instead plans to plead not-guilty. Erin Bruner, an ambitious lawyer hoping to use the trial to become a senior partner in her law firm, takes on the case. Moore agrees to let her defend him if he can tell the truth behind Emily’s story.

During the trial, Emily’s past is told through flashbacks and the evidence provided by witnesses. The trial’s prosecutor is Ethan Thomas, with Judge Brewster presiding. The prosecution claims Emily suffered from epilepsy and psychosis to explain her behaviour. Emily got a scholarship to study for a bachelor’s degree, but shortly displayed sights of demonic possession after she began attending classes, experiencing visions and physical contortions. Diagnosed with epilepsy, Emily receives anti-seizure medication but the treatment fails to cure her. Emily’s friend Jason took her home, where she continued displaying traits of possession until Moore was summoned to attempt an exorcism.

Bruner begins experiencing supernatural phenomena at home, waking up at 3am every night. Moore warns her she may be a target for the demons, revealing he too has experienced similar phenomena. With the prosecution building a strong case, Bruner steps up her own by trying to legitimise Emily’s possession. She summons anthropologist, Sandira Adani, to testify about the beliefs about spiritual possession from various cultures, but Thomas dismisses her claims as nonsense. Graham Cartwright, a medical doctor who attended the exorcism, gives Bruner a cassette tape which the exorcist was recorded on.

Moore is called to the stand where he plays the tape, as seen through a flashback of the exorcism. Moore, Emily’s father, Jason, and Dr. Cartwright participate in the exorcism, but Emily escapes her restrains, leaps out a window, and flees to the family barn. The others give chase, Moore continuing the exorcism and demands to know the demon’s name. It responds by revealing there are six demons – those who possessed Cain, Nero, and Judas Iscariot, a member of Legion, Belial, and Lucifer himself. The exorcism abruptly ends with Emily fainting, and runaway horses injuring those present. Thomas reasons that Emily’s behaviour can be explained by learning ancient languages at school and her epilepsy.

Moore then reads a letter left by Emily the day before she died. A flashback reveals Emily went outside and sees the Virgin Mary. Offered a choice between ascending to Heaven or remaining to become a martyr but prove the existence of God and demons, Emily chooses the latter. Moore explains she then received stigmata on her arms, but Thomas claims she gained the markings from grabbing a barbed wire fence. The jury ultimately reach a verdict of guilty, but ask Brewster to give a sentence of time served, to which she agrees. Bruner is offered the position she wanted, but declines and resigns. Bruner and Father Moore visit Emily’s gravestone, where Moore believes in time, Emily will be regarded as a saint.