The film is a fictionalized depiction of the real-life events of the exorcism of Anneliese Michel (21 September 1952 – 1 July 1976), a German woman who was believed to have been possessed by six or more demons. These events also served as the basis of Scott Derrickson's 2005 movie The Exorcism of Emily Rose. thumb|388px|left The film steers clear of special effects or dramatic music and instead presents documentary style filmmaking, which focuses on Michaela’s struggle to lead a normal life, trapped in a limbo which could either represent demonic possession or mental illness, focusing on the latter.