There are more movies about exorcisms that any one person could ever possibly see; I know, because I’ve watched a lot of them during the years I worked on my upcoming novel Dandelion (pre-order here). This is a modern genre, too; it started in 1973, with the release of the grandaddy of them all, The Exorcist, so there are no vintage black-and-white true exorcism films from Universal or Hammer. In fact, most exorcism films are trashy low-budget affairs. Everything that makes The Exorcist a classic—great performances, realistic special effects, a pace that gives time for subtlety and meaning, unforgettable music—is ignored in favor of blood, guts, cliches and paper-thin characters.

But in that wilderness of manure, I did stumble across some daisies. Keep in mind, these are all my opinions; your mileage may vary. But if you’re intrigued by exorcisms, I think you’ll find these five films pretty interesting.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

This is basically a courtroom drama dressed up as a horror film. It’s inspired by the case of Anneliese Michel, who died as a result of her exorcism in 1976. In this film, Emily Rose dies at the beginning, and through the trial of the priest accused in her death, we learn that every supposed sign of “possession” can be explained by some non-supernatural clause. My favorite exchange comes when the prosecutor, played by Campbell Scott, objects to the testimony of Dr. Adani, a defense expert in primitive religions who claims possession is real:

Prosecutor: Objection.
Judge: On what grounds?
Prosecutor: How about silliness, Your Honor?

This might be the most balanced horror film you’ll ever see, and at the end you’re left to make up your own mind if Emily Rose was really possessed.

Exorcismus (2010)

Good British horror films are known for their subtlety. Watch the classics like Night (aka Curse) of the Demon, Burn, Witch, Burn! (aka Night of the Eagle), or The Wicker Man and you’ll see what I mean. Exorcismus applies that restraint to the possession genre. All of the tropes are here, but they’re restrained and understated: for example, the possessed girl does levitate, but only about a foot off the floor. The emotional toll of possession on the bystanders is given room here as well, something that’s often overlooked.

Requiem (2006)

This isn’t really an exorcism film, because the girl’s not really possessed. But it’s included here because it’s a dramatization of the death of Anneliese Michel, the same case that inspired The Exorcism of Emily Rose, only Requiem attempts to depict what might have actually happened. It’s a sad film because the protagonist is a victim of religion and ignorance, not the devil, and since it’s based on a famous case, the ending isn’t a surprise. But it’s very well made, and makes a nice contrast to the more garish films on this list.

Ava’s Possessions (2015)

There are about three too many ideas in this low-budget gem, but it’s rare to see a movie with too much on its mind. It comes at the traditional possession narrative from a singular perspective: what happens after the exorcism? In this case, support groups, awkward family dinners, and people whose motives can’t be trusted. Played mostly for laughs, its reach exceeds its grasp, but there’s still a lot of great stuff.

Abby (1974)

The inevitable “Black Exorcist” film, made at the height of Blaxploitation, stars Blacula himself, William Marshall, as the exorcist. But this is no mere Jess Franco-style ripoff. Because she’s the demure wife of a minister, Abby’s possession takes an unabashedly sexual turn, and the change from supportive spouse to taunting emasculator is fascinating. As an added bonus, it takes place during the super-funky Seventies, with all the accompanying fashion, decor, and music. This one is super-hard to find, since Warner Brothers successfully had it pulled for alleged copyright infringement of The Exorcist. Hopefully someone will wrangle the rights and give us a decent restoration. (You might find it on Youtube, but I’m only linking to the trailer.)

And if you have any favorites, please tell me about them in the comments!