Night of the Lepus (1972)

Three years before JAWS attacked audiences world-wide, another diabolical beast was unleashed from the bowels of hell... Man's selfish attempt to control the rabbit population in Arizona turns deadly when an experimental hormone causes the animals to grow into giant-sized killers in NIGHT OF THE LEPUS! A film so baffling and benign that the distributors were forced to remove any indication of the furry critters from the marketing materials in order to dupe audiences into seeing it. The first question, of course, is "How can you possibly make giant rabbits frightening?", the obvious answer being that you can't. NIGHT OF THE LEPUS is ridiculous in its attempts to scare, generating nothing but laughs from start to finish. The rabbits are filmed up close in slow-motion and dripping with blood as they maul the locals, but they are only as cute as they are harmless. What makes things even more absurd is just how serious the film takes itself. Horribly mutilated bodies are left in the wake of the rabbits destruction after they hippity-hop their way through town. Most unbelievable of all is how professional the special effects and miniatures are handled for a film about giant killer bunny rabbits. Janet Leigh, Stuart Whitman, and Rory Calhoun deserve Oscar nominations just for withholding their laughter during filming. When it comes to unintentional humor, B-Movie fans can do no better than NIGHT OF THE LEPUS.

Rating: 5/10.

Movies like NIGHT OF THE LEPUS:
FOOD OF THE GODS, DAY OF THE ANIMALS, FROGS, ATTACK OF THE KILLER SHREWS, ZAAT, ROBOT MONSTER.

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Predators (2010)

A group of warriors and weapons experts from all across the world are transported to an alien planet to face off against an elite band of otherworldly hunters in PREDATORS, the long-awaited third entry in the action-packed series. While director Nimrod Antal strikes many successful chords in the look, sound, and feel of the film, he somehow misses the mark in the overall production. There is no subtlety to be found in the bold references to the original. Instead, PREDATORS shows more imitation than appreciation for John McTiernan's film. The poorly chosen characters are awkwardly assembled, making it difficult to accept that they would work together as a team when there is no sense of camaraderie between any of them. It is also impossible to take Laurence Fishburne and Adrian Brody seriously in their ridiculously over-the-top roles. What is worse, the contrived dialog has Brody's roughneck leader spell out the Predators' plans every step of the way. Despite its many flaws, the lush jungle setting and steady action beats help to drive the film forward. KNB EFX Group comes out the winner with their excellent redesigns on the all-new aliens, referencing the classic appearance that they had helped to create alongside Special FX wizard Stan Winston in the late 80's while revamping them with all-new weapons and modifications. PREDATORS may be pretty to look at with its big explosions and loud noises, but its lack of originality and weak storytelling make it a bland sequel overall.

Rating: 7/10.

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Anchor Bay Brings About the Apocalypse in 'The Collapsed'

“Genuinely Shocking.”
–Fangoria

“Extremely Effective.”
–Ain’t It Cool News

Witness
THE COLLAPSED
from Anchor Bay Entertainment

Making U.S. DVD Debut June 5th

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - March 18, 2012 - Already generating buzz from screenings at the Fangoria Film Festival, the Fright Night Film Festival, Rue Morgue’s Festival of Fear, as well as winning awards at the 2011 Metropolitan Film Festival of New York and the Crypticon Film Festival, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents the U.S. DVD debut of the apocalyptic thriller The Collapsed on June 5th. A chilling glimpse into one family’s battle to stay alive while traversing a hellish landscape of barbarism and cannibalism, The Collapsed carries a gaunt SRP of $22.98. Pre-book is May 9th.


“I'm very excited to have Anchor Bay as a distribution partner,” noted the film’s writer/director Justin McConnell. “It feels like the perfect home for The Collapsed. They're a company I've proudly collected titles from while growing up, and I'm proud to have a film on their roster."

In wake of an unknown event that has catapulted civilization into a fatal downward spiral, the Weaver family – father Scott (John Fantasia), young adult son Aaron (Steve Vieira), mother Emily (Lisa Moule) and teenage daughter Rebecca (Anna Ross) – desperately tries to survive.

Fleeing the city, their only hope of sanctuary is a rural hometown from their past, Dover’s Bend. With the constant threat of violent death forcing them to stay as far away from civilization as possible, they take to the forest. However, they soon discover that the danger posed by other survivors may be the least of their worries. Someone -- or something -- seems to have followed them into the wilderness...

Go behind-the-scenes behind the end of the world with the bonus features on The Collapsed DVD, including:

· Feature length behind-the-scenes documentary "Apocalypse On A Budget: The Making of The Collapse;"

· Two audio commentaries: director/writer/producer Justin McConnell & co-story/co-producer Kevin Hutchinson; lead actor John Fantasia;

· Music Video: Rob Kleiner's "Devil In Disguise;"

· Trailers, photo gallery, original score jukebox & MP3 album download, original screenplay, easter eggs and more!

In addition, The Collapsed DVD will have a special QR code, giving fans even greater inside access into the making of the film!

Kevin Kasha and Josh Thomashow of Anchor Bay Films negotiated the deal on behalf of Anchor Bay and Managing Partners Michael Paszt and James Fler of Raven Banner Entertainment negotiated on behalf of Producer/Director, Justin McConnell.


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Predator 2 (1990)

A war is waging in the streets of Los Angeles between two rival gangs. Lieutenant Mike Harrigan of the LAPD is caught right in the middle, but he and his team are about to receive help from the most unlikely of allies: an alien Predator that has chosen LA as his new hunting ground! Conceptually, PREDATOR 2 is the perfect sequel. It does not attempt to recreate the first film, but rather moves the setting to the next logical location: The concrete jungles of LA. The Thomas Brothers turn in another action-packed script that attempts to outdo the original at every turn. There is more blood, more violence, and more gadgets as this sleek new urban Predator sets out to collect his human trophies using metal shurikens, razorwire nets, and spears. The redesigned costume and differing attack patterns show us that the Predator race is as varied and diverse as our own, which leads up to a shocking finale aboard the Predator spacecraft. Danny Glover offers a welcomed change of pace from Arnold and the gang, playing a breakneck cop with no regard for authority. For all of the awesome action sequences and gory murders, however, the story itself is often contrived, and conveniently places the Predator in all the right places at all the right times. PREDATOR 2 comes as close as any sequel could to reproducing the thrills and non-stop action of the original, while giving us something new entirely.

Rating: 7/10.

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Bad Channels (1992)

A back country radio station is about to become the base of operations for a sinister alien being, who plans on using the airwaves to lure voluptuous young women into his evil clutches! How, exactly, does the alien go about collecting these women, you may ask? He transmits radio signals that make them envision themselves in a bad music video before they are shrunk down and teleported into tiny glass vials. Seems simple enough, right? Full Moon brings us another spaced out comedy in BAD CHANNELS, a silly spoof of the invasion movies of the 50s with 1980s sensibilities. Paul Hipp plays our wacky shock jock hero Dangerous Dan with plenty of enthusiasm, bringing life to what could have been an otherwise dull experience. The cleverness of the plot begins and ends with Dangerous Dan's Wellesian attempt to warn the public of their impending doom, then it is right back to rubber monsters and Grade-A cheese. SUBSPECIES director Ted Nicolaou sets the mood for a perfect B-Movie, but, in a fatal flaw, allows the awful music videos to take up more screen time than the alien action. Full Moon fans are sure to relish the droll humor in this goofy comedy, however.

Rating: 6/10.

Movies like BAD CHANNELS:
STRANGE INVADERS, AIRHEADS, PONTYPOOL, THE FOG, TERRORVISION.

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Predator (1987)

Arnold is back in one of the biggest and baddest Action/Sci-Fi adventures of all time: PREDATOR! A team of special operatives are sent on a rescue mission to save a group of American hostages, when they quickly discover that they are the ones being hunted by an unseen foe deep within the jungles of South Ameria. By combining the wall-to-wall action of RAMBO with the otherworldly terror of Ridley Scott's ALIEN, PREDATOR has become a universal classic that brings together fans of Science Fiction, Action, and Horror. The plot is simple yet effective, and leaves plenty of room for the bloody set pieces to follow. The key casting creates a powerhouse of memorable characters, led, of course, by fan favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger, but backed by equally enjoyable performances from mean man Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham, and Carl Weathers. PREDATOR plays out like your average shoot 'em up, until we hear the unnerving clicking of the alien creature as the screen shifts into infrared, warning us that our heroes are not alone. Armed to the teeth with futuristic weaponry and light-bending armor, the Predator is the perfect hunter. It is smart, resourceful, and equally deadly. With reptilian skin, sharp mandibles, and a defining set of dreadlocks that reach down from beneath its battle helmet, the Predator is one of the most unique and interesting creature designs ever caught on film, adding to Stan Winston's impressive collection. Alan Silvestri's primal score also adds excitement and intrigue to the fast-paced action and violence. At the time of this writing, PREDATOR has produced two sequels and countless spin-offs in all forms of media spanning over the course of the last two decades, which proves the lasting impact of John McTiernan's classic film in pop culture.

Rating: 9/10.

Movies like PREDATOR:
WITHOUT WARNING, ALIEN, RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD 2, NEMESIS, UNIVERSAL SOLDIER.

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The Horror of Frankenstein (1970)

THE HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN tells the tale of a pompous young Victor Frankenstein, who returns home from university to resume his studies of the human anatomy at his family estate. Weird happenings begin to shroud the Castle Frankenstein as Victor embarks on his most diabolical experiment yet: The creation of a living being that has been assembled from the bodies of the dead! Hammer Films turns back the clock in this veritable remake of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, which follows a much younger version of the Baron. Peter Cushing takes a forced sabbatical as Ralph Bates steps into the role of Victor Frankenstein, bringing his own contemptuous vices to the character along with a wry, cynical sense of humor. THE HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN then becomes a dark satire of Mary Shelley's classic tale, and one that plays off of a very subtle wit. David Prowse portrays Frankenstein's unholy creation as a rather lifeless brute, while Dennis Price puts in a rousing performance as the kooky graverobber. Writer Jimmy Sangster does an excellent job recreating the Gothic allure of the earlier Hammer pictures in his directorial debut, making THE HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN a welcome sidestep from the original series.

Rating: 7/10.

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The Terror Experiment (2010)

Several of America's federal buildings have fallen under attack by embittered war veterans, who unleash a deadly toxin that turns normal people into psychotic killers. THE TERROR EXPERIMENT is a muddles mess of a film that can never decide if it wants to be a disaster movie or a zombie shocker. It throws out references to everything from Area 51 to the attacks on 9/11 to the military's experimental drug use in Vietnam in a vain attempt at social significance that is undermined by the overall unintelligence of the script. The extra money that was used to sign Jason London and C. Thomas Howell would have been better spent coming up with a more inventive plot, but instead we are left with a typically bland revision of George Romero's THE CRAZIES as set in a federal office building. The real test becomes trying to make it to the end of this dreadful experiment.

Rating: 5/10.

Movies like THE TERROR EXPERIMENT:
QUARANTINE 2, RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR, THE CRAZIES, CARRIERS.

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Creepozoids (1987)

CREEPOZOIDS crawls out of the same acrid pit that brought us other abysmal ALIEN clones like CREATURE, INSEMINOID, and FORBIDDEN WORLD. It is the year 1998, and the world has been destroyed by nuclear war. Those unlucky enough to survive struggle to find food and supplies by scavenging the ruined cities. One such group happens upon a deserted laboratory, which they soon discover is home to a number of horrifying genetic experiments that are still living within its walls! With no further plot to speak of, the audience is left waiting for a monstrous payoff that never arrives. At least the F-Grade cast can rely on the special effects crew to distract from their acting with the shoddy creature designs. The three mutant monsters share no similarities whatsoever, so it often feels as if the script was written around whatever rejected creations the studio had lying around at the time. But what can you really say? It's a DeCoteau. CREEPOZOIDS is currently being held in strict reserves for B-Movie fans only.

Rating: 3/10.

Movies like CREEPOZOIDS:
INSEMINOID, CREATURE, FORBIDDEN WORLD, GALAXY OF TERROR, SHADOWZONE.

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The Hitcher 2 (2003)

It has been 15 years, but Officer Jim Halsey hasn't forgotten the horrible events that he experienced as a teen out on that desolate stretch of highway in Texas. He decides to return with his wife to face down his own personal demons, only to find that the hitcher from his nightmares has been waiting for another ride... C. Thomas Howell returns as the paranoid Jim Halsey in this late sequel to the high-octane thriller THE HITCHER, although it is Kari Wuhrer who ultimately faces off with the demented killer. Jake Busey fills in for Rutger Hauer this round, who is a suitable choice for the villain (if not completely over-the-top). While the throwaway lines and dialog are all deeply embedded in genre cliches, the unexpected action sequences are fresh and unpredictable. They still have a very small feel to them as opposed to the explosive action of the first film, though director Louis Morneau does leave off with a dogfight between a crop duster and a tanker truck. As unnecessary and repetitive as THE HITCHER 2 may be, it still provides mild entertainment for the jaded viewer.

Rating: 6/10.

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Repo Men (2010)

In the future, corporations can reclaim much more than just your house or your car... Fall behind on your organ payments, and they will repossess your lungs! Repo Man Remy heads out on his last assignment, when a freak accident lands him in the hospital. He awakens to find himself indebted to his employer, The Union, for the artificial heart that is keeping him alive. It is only a matter of time before he is unable to pay, and The Union is forced to send its best men out after one of their own. Similarities to REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA aside, REPO MEN takes an ingenious premise and just doesn't know where to go with it. It is a patchwork of many more successful films, with pieces of PULP FICTION, OPEN YOUR EYES, and FIGHT CLUB hastily strewn together. Jude Law and Forest Whitaker present a likable pair of working class heroes, who aren't without their fair share of humor as they scan the cities looking for customers who have skipped out on their responsibilities. The real problem is that REPO MEN attaches no deeper meaning to the concept of organ repossession, and simply uses it as a facet towards violence rather than establishing a true moral dilemma between any of the characters. With some biting cynicism and a few big action set pieces, however, REPO MEN is generic enough to appeal to the masses.

Rating: 7/10.

Movies like REPO MEN:
REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, DAYBREAKERS, IN TIME, OPEN YOUR EYES, FIGHT CLUB, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, MINORITY REPORT.

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2012 Tribeca Film Cinemania Line-Up Announced

2012 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FILM SELECTIONS FOR
CINEMANIA

NEW YORK, NY – March 10, 2012 – The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Cinemania section. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.

The crowd-pleasing Cinemania section returns to the Tribeca Film Festival, tempting audiences to experience the most exciting genre films from all corners of the globe. Typified by tense thrillers of all types, this year’s program takes viewers from the simmering home invasion drama Replicas to a twisty underworld kidnapping plot in Graceland; from the intense action of France’s Sleepless Night to online gaming run amok in Rat King. The Cinemania films this year also embrace a darkly comic edge, including the darkly satirical Eddie – The Sleepwalking Cannibal, the over-the-top comedic violence of Revenge for Jolly!, and Jackpot’s heist-comedy-gone-wrong. This gripping lineup, alternately suspenseful and hilarious, serves up just the right number of twists and laughs for late-night filmgoers.

-Eddie – The Sleepwalking Cannibal, directed and written by Boris Rodriguez. (Canada, Denmark) – North American Premiere, Narrative. Onetime art star Lars Olafssen is all washed up. Unable to paint without inspiration, he accepts a teaching stint at a small-time art school in podunk Koda Lake, Canada, and along with it the guardianship of the offbeat town’s neighborhood weirdo, Eddie. As their unlikely friendship evolves, Lars uncovers a dark and violent secret about Eddie’s nocturnal impulses, and finds himself torn between his duty to his friend and his duty to his art.

-Graceland, directed and written by Ron Morales. (Philippines, USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Family man Marlon Villar is the longtime chauffeur of prominent politician Manuel Chango. While he and his daughter accompany his boss’ preteen daughter home, Marlon is ambushed and the wrong girl is kidnapped. Suddenly the unassuming driver is propelled into a horrifying downward spiral and, as events in his life unravel, Marlon, Chango, and their families become entangled in a game of deceit and betrayal that will leave no one innocent. In Tagalog with subtitles.

-Jackpot (Arme Riddere), directed by Magnus Martens, written by Jo Nesbø. (Norway) – International Premiere, Narrative. Terrified, bloodied, and gripping a shotgun, Oscar Svendsen wakes up in what used to be a respectable strip joint, surrounded by eight corpses and with a gun pointed at him by a detective with the National Criminal Investigation Service. Naturally, Oscar is taken into custody, and during his interrogation a bloody and darkly comic story of betrayal, murder, and lottery winnings emerges—but is this the whole story? In Norwegian with subtitles.

-Rat King, directed and written by Petri Kotwica. (Finland) – International Premiere, Narrative. Eighteen-year-old Juri spends his days absorbed in his computer gaming world, to the exclusion of school, friends, and ultimately his exasperated girlfriend. When his internet ally Niki turns up at his door fearing for his life because of a mysterious new online game, Juri eagerly follows him down the rabbit hole. In this taut, violent thriller, the lines between reality and the game blur as Juri and Niki are drawn into its increasingly morbid world. In Finnish with subtitles.

-Replicas, directed by Jeremy Regimbal, written by Josh Close. (Canada) – World Premiere, Narrative. Following the tragic death of their young daughter, the Hughes family decide to escape to their upscale vacation home in the woods. But their attempt to get some quality time together is violently interrupted when a neighboring family with a hidden agenda drops by for dinner. First-time director Jeremy Regimbal builds tension to a calculated and ultimately brutal crescendo in this home-invasion thriller. Starring Selma Blair, Joshua Close, James D’Arcy, and Rachel Miner.

-Revenge for Jolly!, directed by Chadd Harbold, written by Brian Petsos. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Harry (Brian Petsos) will stop at nothing to avenge the death of his beloved dog, Jolly. He and his demented cousin Cecil (Oscar Isaac) follow a series of clues in a frenzied attempt to track down the dog’s murderer, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Elijah Wood, Kristen Wiig, Adam Brody, Ryan Phillippe, Gillian Jacobs, Bobby Moynihan, Kevin Corrigan, David Rasche, Amy Siemetz, and Garret Dillahunt all stand between Harry and revenge for Jolly.

-Sleepless Night (Nuit Blanche), directed by Frederic Jardin, written by Frederic Jardin and Nicolas Saada. (France, Belgium, Luxembourg) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Vincent is a dedicated police officer, or so it seems. After he steals a massive bag of cocaine, his young son winds up being held for ransom by the mob boss it belongs to. When Vincent travels to the outskirts of Paris to trade the drugs for his son, he gets caught in an intense cat-and-mouse game that quickly spirals out of control. This night might not only be the longest of his life—it could be the last. A Tribeca Film release.


Starting March 12, the Film Guide will be live on www.tribecafilm.com and detail all feature films announced to date; additional programs will be added upon announcement. The screening schedule will be live on Monday, March 19, 2011.

To keep up with Tribeca, visit the Tribeca Film Festival website at www.tribecafilm.com, and log in at http://www.tribecafilm.com/register/, where you can also subscribe to the Tribeca Newsletter.

Like the Tribeca Film Festival Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TribecaFilm. Follow us on Twitter @TribecaFilmFest and join the conversation by using the hashtag #TFF.

Tickets for 2012 Festival:

Tickets for the Festival will be $16.00 for evening and weekend screenings, and $8.00 for all late night and weekday matinee screenings.

Advance selection ticket packages and passes are now on sale for American Express Cardmembers, and go on sale Monday, March 12 for the general public. All advance selection packages and passes can be purchased online at www.tribecafilm.com/festival, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin Tuesday, April 10 for American Express Cardmembers, Sunday, April 15 for downtown residents, and Monday, April 16 for the general public. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Tribeca Cinemas at 54 Varick Street, Clearview Cinemas Chelsea at 260 W. 23rd Street, and AMC Loews Village VII at 66 3rd Avenue. The 2012 Festival will continue offering ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only. Discounted ticket packages can only be purchased online and by phone. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com.

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Battle Royale 2 (2003)

After narrowly surviving the last Battle Royale, Shuya Nanahara raises an army of teens to wage war against the Japanese government and their deadly student lottery. Japan decides to reform the Battle Royale Act in response, enlisting a new class of students to fight the terrorists for them on a remote island. This continuation story offers little more than an excessive amount of violence and a glaring anti-American sentiment. Character and plot have been stripped away as director Kenta Fukasaku spends more time focusing on the fire fights that rage on throughout the majority of the picture, lending far less impact to the deaths of the students who are killed in an endless barrage of bullets. The class size is cut in half before any of the kids even reach the shore in a scene that is clearly meant to resemble the opening in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. As we struggle to find an identifiable hero, we are force-fed political oppositions towards American foreign policy. BATTLE ROYALE 2 attempts to link the terrorist acts of 9/11 to America's own ruthless regulation of world events with the threat of the bomb, but the script is far too immature to handle the material in a meaningful way. What we are left with is an exhausting 155 minutes of petty violence and political posturing that is as unlikely to entertain as it is to elicit any form of response in the viewer.

Rating: 6/10.

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Immortals (2011)

Long ago, a battle raged in the heavens. The victors took the name of the gods, and cast the defeated titans down into an earthly prison for all eternity. Now, the vengeful King Hyperion looks to find the weapon of the gods in order to free the titans and wage war against all humanity! Our only hope lies in a young warrior, who must rise up to lead the Hellenes against the armies of Hyperion. Tarsem Singh delivers another stunning visual experience that owes as much to Zack Snyder's 300 as it does to the Neoclassical paintings of Jacques-Louis David, contrasting its vibrant colors and surreal landscapes against the bloody violence. For all of the incredible style seen in IMMORTALS, however, it is mostly devoid of character and emotion, streamlining the plot in a rush to reach the over-budgeted action sequences. As truly awesome as these scenes may be, they are spread far too thin, and the final battle lacks the epic scale promised by the opening act. Henry Cavill plays a competent hero alongside another wildly over-the-top performance by Mickey Rourke as the sinister Hyperion. IMMORTALS packs enough mind-blowing imagery and memorable movie moments to win over fans of 300.

Rating: 7/10.

Movies like IMMORTALS:
300, THE 13TH WARRIOR, PATHFINDER, GLADIATOR, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, CLASH OF THE TITANS.

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The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Many films about demonic possession have come and gone in the days since THE EXORCIST first astonished audiences in 1973. While there have been several moments of shock and exploitation along the way, very few films have actually served to terrify us in quite the same way. That is, until the release of THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, a film that challenges the institutions of faith and science, while demonstrating the power of fear. Father Moore is placed on trial for negligent homicide after the death of a college student, Emily Rose, who he believed to be possessed by demons. By telling Emily's story, Father Moore hopes to enlighten the world to the reality of God and the devil, and to finally put her soul at ease. As we will see, director Scott Derrickson signs his own death warrant in his decision to frame this story around Father Moore's courtroom case, but not for the obvious reasons.

THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE has two distinct personas: that of the Horror film, but also of a dramatized re-enactment of true events. When taken individually, Derrickson displays a keen control over these two differing genres, save for a few deadly exceptions where he attempts to blend them both together. The most apparent flaw is in the director's decision to involve supernatural elements in and around the court case. He is asking too much of his audience to believe that Father Moore's defender would be overcome by demons as well, mixing fact with fiction. By intercutting between the courtroom and the retelling of Emily's tale, Derrickson not only destroys the forward momentum of the picture, but dispels the suspense as expert testimonies explain away Emily's 'condition' as being rooted in medical science, thereby completely contradicting the horror of her situation. On the reverse, if he were trying to convince us that Emily's story were rooted in fact, he would refrain from exaggerating Emily's visions using computerization, which rules out any open interpretations of her 'condition.'

The film's greatest asset becomes its greatest weakness, as well. Jennifer Carpenter administers a downright terrifying performance as Emily, losing herself in the character and punishing her body in order to truly become 'possessed' right before our very eyes. Her inhuman contortions and venomous line deliveries seem inspired by the devil, himself. We are then left to wonder why she is underused to such a questionable degree. Emily hardly appears in the picture, and becomes a secondary character behind the drama unfolding in the courtroom. It is difficult to sympathize with her situation when we are never given enough time to understand her before she becomes possessed. This leaves an emotional disconnect at all times in the picture.

How, then, can we consider this to be a successful Horror film with so much working against it? THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE challenges our beliefs, and presents an intellectual discussion of the supernatural that pits science and reason against faith. Derrickson assembles an excellent cast, including Tom Wilkinson as Father Moore and Laura Linney as attorney Erin Bruner. The story, itself, is one of the most compelling tales of possession and exorcism in recorded history, and had it been arranged differently by having the prosecution argue their theories in closing, the film, itself, could have had a much greater impact. The courtroom drama simply undermines the horror in its present state, which is a shame when EMILY ROSE comes so close to achieving cult status within the genre.

Rating: 7/10.

Movies like THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE:
THE LAST EXORCISM, THE ENTITY, THE EXORCIST, REQUIEM.



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