Hollywood rarely refuses the glitz and glam they can add to a “real story,” but that may not be the case for once. The buzz over “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” is due in part to being based on a true story. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have an excellent cast, which includes Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson, and doesn’t have a thrilling trailer that has promoted the movie to the point of perfection.

The plot of the movie is based on the real-life exorcism of Anneleise Michel. “The Exorcism” originally titled “The Exorcism of Anneleise Michel,” was only changed a short time before it was promoted. The name was changed out of respect for the late Michel, whose grave has been visited by many who believe she was possessed.

Michel lived a normal life until the age of 16, when she reportedly first became possessed. When she was 22, Pastor Ernst Alt requested permission to exorcize Michel and after two years and multiple requests, he was finally allowed to exorcize her with Father Arnold Renz. The exorcisms were done for eight months, until she finally died in 1976 (notably only two years after the making of the original “The Exorcist”).

Believers would say that she gave up her spirit in the battle with the demons that possessed her, thought to be Lucifer, Satan and Judas Iscariot. A trial ensued over what was considered her parent’s and the priest’s mistreatment of Michel.

Author Felicitas Goodman has written many books on religion, including “The Exorcism of Anneleise Michel” in 1981. The story chronicles the possessed life of Michel.

In no sheer coincidence, “The Exorcism” is based on a girl who lived a normal existence only to be possessed by powerful demons in her college years. The full story is told in retrospect of the happenings and revolves around the trial over her death. The priest and parents are faced with the task of proving that the death was not due to any mistreatment, a debate that invokes a battle between faith and science.

The movie trailers are reminiscent of “The Exorcist” and the storyline is no less interesting without knowing it is based on a real story. For those thrill seekers who want a movie worthy of critical horror acclaim, this is a definite venue for screams. Movies on exorcisms will always draw crowds and the thought of such a movie being based on a real event will only add to the intrigue.