Russell Crowe, with a decent Italian accent, plays the Chief Vatican Exorcist, Father Armoth. Crowe's performance is pretty good. He becomes assigned the case of a boy in Spain whose family had just relocated to their 'ancestral' abbey (from the US??). The priest discovers the Abbey hides secrets which will test his faith.
The annoying thing about this film is its potential. It doesn't really offer much that isn't predictable or filled with the standard horror cliches. So, once again, the boy is possessed and in danger ... once again the priests have flaws which the demon exploits, their faith is tested and the priests must conquer themselves. It is the familiar ground.
However, this film has an interesting conspiratorial element which gradually unfurls. It builds on a sense of unease in navigating the Church's history; but it doesn't seem to go very far. The scenes in the catacombs with the books and the encaged skeleton were really interesting and creepy. But it's all very quick and to little effect.
Despite the idea that the legacy of the Spanish Inquisition being imputed on demonic possession is a bit silly (would it make sense for future generations to blame child sexual abuse on possession too?), it didn't seem to be explored much. The Spanish Inquisition could have been an interesting angle with some depth - but it doesn't do much more than a background for mounting jolts.
Towards the third act, the Pope's Exorcist veers towards the horror parody. For me, I don't feel very comfortable in a movie that shifts between the dramatic and the comedic. It's not a movie that's taking itself seriously. Not to mention the exploding bodies, ridiculous amount of blood, stretched faces, rough use of CGI effects etc.
This film isn't terrible, it's fun – but could have been more.
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