As a prelude to Thursday's advance screening of THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE we are pleased to present an A&E documentary called THE REAL EXORCISMS Wednesday September 7th at 3pm and 5pm ( 44 minutes in length). The documentary was produced by Jonathon Baker of Sony Tri-Star pictures after working on SONY's new theatrical release THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE. From Europe, to Africa, to the Americas, the practice of exorcism is on the rise, and in the eyes of many, a very real battle is being waged even today against the forces of evil. THE REAL EXORCISTS travels the globe to follow today’s exorcists. From the Vatican’s chief exorcist, to an Anglican exorcist in Britain, to an Evangelical minister who journeys across the United States casting out demons, THE REAL EXORCISTS profiles these "soldiers of God" and shows them at work in actual exorcisms, giving an intimate glimpse of the awesome power of this age-old ritual.
Some highlights:
Father Gabriele Amorth is the Vatican’s chief exorcist and recognized the world over as the authority on the subject. As he and other Vatican exorcists demonstrate the ancient exorcism ritual, they also describe the symptoms of demon possession, and explain how to tell if someone is in need of an exorcism.
The film travels to the Ukraine to witness the powerful struggles of a Russian Orthodox exorcist. The possessed struggle during the exorcism, growling and yelling at the exorcist as they are restrained; afterwards, we hear from both the exorcist—and the possessed—about the experience.
The film documents exorcisms in Mexico and Minnesota, as a Jesuit priest and a Lutheran minister practice different techniques to evict Satan from the afflicted.It also elaborates on how demons can possess objects as well as people, and watch an Anglican exorcist at work.
The film spends an evening casting out demons with exorcist Bob Larson. His Spiritual Freedom Church has nearly 100 exorcism “teams” based around the country to help the afflicted. It also interviews the side of science. Dr. Tonino Cantelmi is the head of the Italian Association of Psychiatrists, and collaborates closely with the Vatican in determining whether someone is truly possessed—or simply has medical or psychological issues. He’ll give us insights into how he makes the distinction.
And Professor Barry Beyerstein, in the psychology department at Simon Fraser
University in Vancouver, British Colombia, has studied accounts of possession extensively, and believes that the whole concept is a myth. He explains the symptoms of possession and the phenomenon of exorcism with answers gleaned from contemporary neuroscience and psychology.
Interwoven throughout THE REAL EXORCISTS is footage from the feature film The Exorcism Of Emily Rose, which is based on a true story which we will discuss and cross examine on Thursday September 8th at 7pm at Trolley Regency. Following the film we will have a disussion with Kent Morgan, Sandy based State prosecutor who handled the Elizabeth Smart case, and Dr. Lance Allen a local physician and gnostic priest who has both studied and performed exorcisms.
