If you know such classics as The Exorcist or The Omen , The Exorcist of the Pope will not knock you off your feet. Nevertheless, it is still an engaging cleric's battle with demons, loosely based on the biography of the Vatican's chief exorcist.
Who is our hero?
It’s hard to call this a biopic, but it’s still inspired by Gabriele Amorth’s father figure. The role of the exorcist was played by Russell Crowe, who once again presented his great acting skills. The script itself was based on texts by Amorth, including the book Confessions of an Exorcist , in which the friar shared his “professional experiences”. The priest’s biography is extremely rich. Amorth, among others belonged to Christian Democracy, where he collaborated with its leader, Giulio Andreotti. He also knew St. Padre Pio. His career as an exorcist was filled with numerous confrontations with the paranormal.
Child possession theme again
At the beginning of the film, the main character performs a short ritual on a supposedly possessed man, transferring the evil spirit to a pig. It is a demonstration of the exorcist’s unconventional methods of work and his intriguing, cheerful character. However, the lion’s share of the plot is the case of a boy named Henry set in an old Spanish convent. This is where we will spend the most time and observe how Amorth, accompanied by Esquibel’s father, investigates the demons harassing the child. The clergy duo discover that the reasons behind the possession are much more complex and have to do with a conspiracy hidden by the church for centuries.
Still from the trailer of the movie “The Pope’s Exorcist”
One actor play
As I mentioned at the beginning, Russell Crowe did a good job in his portrayal of the specific exorcist. In the film, he surprises with a sense of humor and a sharp retort, portraying a character who has experienced a lot. Unfortunately, in the splendor of his acting show, the other characters die, bringing practically nothing from themselves. While Esquibel is still noticeable as Amorth’s sidekick , the rest of the cast is just a background for the exorcist’s almost superheroic exploits. Gabriele’s father enlists Esquibel’s help and in return trains the young priest on how to deal with demonic forces – they are like Batman and Robin.
Action and terror. What is stronger?
At first glance, the Pope’s exorcist seems to be a jumble of all clichés and clichés taken straight from classic horror stories about possession. We have two priests in the “master-apprentice” hierarchy, a possessed child scratched to the point of blood, objects levitating in the air, etc. This is true, but, for example, The Exorcist from the 1970s took the subject very seriously and still inspires fear among viewers. Here, I rarely experienced moments that would raise the blood pressure. However, it was dynamic, sometimes kitschy, and there were explosions and effects worthy of a fantasy film on the screen, especially in the final phase of the screening. The action quickly becomes so chaotic that the viewer can actually forget about fear.
Still from the trailer of the movie “The Exorcist of the Pope”
The location and effects defend themselves
An old, dilapidated monastery in Spain really creates a disturbing atmosphere and definitely fits the events that take place there. Iberian landscapes intertwine with shots of the destroyed rooms of the monastery and its underground. The whole thing fits well and makes you think that evil can really be lurking everywhere. Seeing the inside of the building, we feel that it is demon territory and nothing good awaits us there. A good action movie would not be ashamed of the previously mentioned effects. The only question is whether the horror that was supposed to be a tribute to the classics of paranormal cinema needed it.
It’s not that it’s good or bad
To answer the question whether the Pope’s Exorcist is worth recommending, you need to know what we really expect. In my opinion, it’s not worth overly suggesting the genre designation as horror, because an avid fan of scary movies about demons can be very disappointed. Scary elements rarely appear. Amorth is more of a steadfast hero than flesh and blood. In turn, the final clash with the devil resembles Gandalf’s fight with the Balrog rather than a realistic exorcism. If you’ve never seen the classic The Exorcist, the film will probably fulfill its scaring function, but otherwise I suggest approaching it as modern fantasy based on the mythology of the Catholic Church. The film can really be enjoyed, but only if we significantly lower our expectations in the context of good horror elements.
We would like to thank the Cinema City cinema chain for the opportunity to watch The Exorcist of the Pope !
