AUDREY ROSE

Audrey Rose was poorly received when it was first released. It came at a time when films like The Exorcist, The Omen and Carrie were dominating theatre screens. It was considered a poor clone back then but now time has served it well and 35 years later the film sets itself apart from the others. It's a much gentler film than the other ones but it maintains a creepy aura that offers a few decent chills. The story is about an 11 year old girl who suffers severe night terrors. Meanwhile a strange man (Anthony Hopkins) seems to be following the girl. He eventually comes forward claiming that the girl is in fact his own daughter reincarnated. The film explores a split personality as a tortured soul of a 5 year old girl overcomes an 11 year old through a series of violent night terrors. It seems that the little girl's moment of death is relived during sleep. The imagery is creepy and some scenes foreshadow that Japanese style made famous in Ringu and Grudge. A good portion of the film also takes place in a court room and I couldn't help but think this served as some kind of inspiration for The Exorcism Of Emily Rose. Hopkins is great and Susan Swift is affective as the tormented daughter. I'm glad I revisited Audrey Rose... when distanced from those other "possession" movies of the 70s, it's an engaging psychological thriller that stands up well with age.

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