Even though I'm short on faith these days, I do believer that there is some sort of Heaven and Hell. It's just not what we perceive it to be in modern day. I believe that there is evil out there, that I know for sure. And even though I'm not a Catholic as I once was, I do believe in loving one another and keeping the good in me. I still believe religion is a great thing to have and still would send my kids to a Catholic school. I just don't believe there's one almighty God and that he'll save us all, we, ourselves have to do the saving. We have to bring the good out of us and spread it around.
I believe that the Emily Rose(Anneliese Michel) story to be true and I do think exorcisms are real. The story goes that a young woman in Bavaria, Germany who was thought to be possessed by evil spirits, went through a grueling exorcism that ended up costing her life.
Anneliese was brought up in a faithful Catholic family, she was a typical girl who moved to a big city after receiving a scholarship to college. Not long afterwards she started to show bizarre behavior in college, behavior that is typical to those who were thought to be possessed. Not long after, her parents and a local priest knew Anneliese needed a exorcism performed on her.
During the several months of the procedure, Anneliese's body went through hell, along with other family members and Priests. Anneliese would do strange things such as eating insects, engaging in self-mutilation, attacking family members, and destroying religious symbols. This all takes it's toll and Anneliese dies a tragic death in 1976, embarrassing the church and outraging others.
Forensic evidence concludes that Anneliese starved to death and subsequent investigations into her untimely death leads to arguments as to whether she was really possessed by evil spirits or had epilepsy.
Father Arnold Renz, Pastor Ernst Alt, and Anneliese Michel's parents. All four were found guilty of negligent homicide and sentenced to six months in prison, suspended with three years' probation.
After watching the film, I definitely felt a little disturbed. It made me think a little more about God, religion and many other things. The one part where her boyfriend wakes up and Emily is staring at him with black eyes was bone chilling. After seeing that part I told myself I'd never watch that film again. I just hope that no girl or boy or person in general has to go through the grueling experience Anneliese Michel went through, God rest her soul.