12 Underrated Horror Movie Gems From The 2000s

This demonic drama was inspired by the chilling real life story of Anneliese Michel. Michel sadly died at 24 of malnourishment and dehydration during an attempted exorcism. Her parents and the 2 Catholic priests involved were charged with negligent homicide.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose follows an agnostic defence attorney representing a parish priest accused of negligent homicide in the wake of performing an exorcism. During the trial, the exorcism and its preceding events are revealed through flashback.

Actress Jennifer Carpenter does an exceptional job of capturing the deteriorating state of the titular character. Physically demanding and hectic, Carpenter captures the pain, torment and contortions (predominantly done without the aid of many special effects) of what we’ve come to expect from the demonically possessed in cinema brilliantly.

Blending dramatic courtroom drama with high intensity, old school scares, The Exorcism of Emily Rose functions admirably as both a meditation on faith and as a piece of horror. Director Scott Derrickson does an excellent job balancing the many themes and styles the script demands. In just his second full length feature (his first, Hellraiser V: Inferno has the unfortunate distinction of being the first Hellraiser film to go straight to video), Derrickson proved himself a capable auteur with a masterful grasp of cinematic suspense. With little reliance on gore, the film’s more ferocious moments still manage to shock.