Movie Info
Movie Info
- Director
- Julius Avery
- Run Time
- 1 hour and 43 minutes
- Rating
- R
VP Content Ratings
- Violence
- 5/10
- Language
- 5/10
- Sex & Nudity
- 1/10
- Star Rating
Relevant Quotes
That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and cured all who were sick…
The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
Rated R. Running time: 1 hour, 43 min.
Our Content ratings (1-10): Violence 5; Language 5; Sex/Nudity 1.
That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and cured all who were sick…
The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
Matthew 8:16 & 31
Julius Avery’s film is based on the writings of real life Father Gabriele Amorth, the Catholic priest who served for 30 years as the head exorcist of the Diocese of Rome. Despite this, it stretches to the breaking point our acceptance of the title card ”Based on true events” at the beginning of the film.
Somehow in 1987 an American widow named Julia has inherited an abandoned abbey in Spain’s Castille. Despite its run-down state, she has moved in with her two children. Amy (Laurel Marsden) is petulant and would live anywhere but where they are. Sensitive Henry (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney) for a year has not spoken a word since he witnessed his father’s death. Then he starts shrieking and contorting his body and facial features, with no relief from the doctors called in. The traumatized youngster demands in a deep adult male voice Bring me the priest!” the demon within Henry bellow. His mom (Alex Essoe) hastens off to summon the young Father Matthew (Daniel Zovatto). “Wrong f—ing priest!” is the demon’s disdainful response.
The priest the demon wants to confront is in Rome, serving as the Pope’s (Franco Nero) personal exorcist. Father Gabriel Amorth, played with all his sincerity by Russell Crowe, is not on to see a demon behind every tree seeking to ravish one of the faithful. A man of the 20th Century, he says that 98% of the cases he investigates he refers to psychiatrists and mental health clinics. Clearly, Henry is one of the 2%, so at the Pope’s behest, has packed his bag and flown to Spain.
There follows the usual back and forth tussle, Father Amorth’s goal at first to learn the name of the demon. There are the usual spit-ups and vomitings, loud curses, and even bodies lifted and hurled across the room. These are standard elements of the exorcist genre. What is added is a wild claim that the medieval Spanish Inquisition was the result of a high ranking cardinal who was demon possessed. Nice way to get the Church off the moral hook.
Like all films of the exorcist genre, the power of demons is exaggerated far beyond any of the possession stories in the New Testament. The same in comparison to Martin Luther’s legendary reaction to a demon, which he banished by throwing his inkwell at it. Nor did the Reformer hold demons in awe in his great hymn: remember the 3rd verse?
“And though this world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell
him.”
Of course, moviemakers must set aside Luther. Otherwise they would have no story. And then, of course, there is that 2% that occupied Father Gabriel Amorth for the 30 years that he served the Vatican
This review will be in the Sept. issue of VP along with a set of questions for reflection and/or discussion. If you have found reviews on this site helpful, please consider purchasing a subscription or individual issue in The Store.
