Movie Review: ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’

Is ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ a real story?

While the film itself is stuffed with outrageous demonic invention, the titular central priest was certainly a really actual man who labored for the Vatican for many years.

Father Gabriele Amorth, who died (no, not in the midst of a titanic exorcism) in 2016, was an Italian Catholic priest and exorcist of the Diocese of Rome who claimed to have carried out tens of 1000’s of exorcisms all through his life. Amorth, together with 5 different monks, based the International Association of Exorcists. And earlier than he ever joined the priesthood, he was a lawyer, a journalist and a partisan fighter in opposition to fascism within the Second World War.

The film’s story follows Amorth (Russell Crowe) as he investigates a younger boy’s terrifying possession and finally ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to maintain hidden.

An American household transfer right into a spooky former abbey (which might certainly be an enormous pink flag to a household searching for lodging). Julia (Alex Essoe) is seeking to consolation her youngsters, Henry (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney) and Amy (Laurel Marsden) after the demise of their father.

But grief and trauma has opened a darkish doorway for a demon, and Henry is quickly going full Regan-from-‘The-Exorcist’, sallow and scarred, spouting Latin insults and digging up secrets and techniques from the previous he couldn’t probably know.

Nervous younger priest Father Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto), who doesn’t even know the exorcism rites, not to mention what to do with a creature from hell possessing a baby, summons Amorth, who rapidly figures out that Henry isn’t mentally sick, neither is he making all of it up.

(L to R) Daniel Zovatto and Russell Crowe in Sony Pictures ‘The Pope’s Exorcist.’

What works in regards to the film?

Crowe comes over properly, regardless of some components of the character which are extra humorous than horrifying –– he putters round Rome on a bit Vespa scooter, which given his present beneficiant girth and flowing robes, seems to be greater than a bit embarrassing.

But in full circulation, his portrayal of Amorth is an entertaining one. Whether it bears any resemblance to the precise exorcist is best answered by individuals who truly knew, labored with or have been helped by him, however within the film, he goals for a mix of pleasant, relatable priest and gruff cop-style determine.

He’s no fan of forms, and when introduced up in entrance of a snippy Vatican council about his most up-to-date case (a scene that might have been ripped straight out of a police thriller, with the council demanding that he reply for his actions and he blithely suggesting that if they’ve an issue with him they’ll discuss to his boss –– sure, the Pope). Add to that his actions later within the movie, the place he kicks in a door to assist a younger girl below menace from the demon of the day. Oh, and a second within the finale the place he and Esquibel brandish their crucifixes like weapons. It’s actually a selection, and whereas Crowe actually does his greatest with it, the thought doesn’t do a lot to assist the horror side.

Yet regardless of all of the real-life adventures to attract from, the movie as an alternative goes for a souped-up model of Friedkin’s traditional, mashing all the usual buttons and leading to a schlocky horror that hardly feels worthy of Amorth. There’s the gnashing, wailing, growling sufferer, the monks and relations flung round like ragdolls by supernatural energy and even a crucifix slowly grinding the wrong way up on a wall. It’s extra more likely to provoke eye-rolling than hiding them behind your arms.

One or two bounce scares work, and Avery, (working with cinematographer Khalid Mohtaseb) offers it a sure visible polish. But the story doesn’t do any of their work justice and several other of the performances are missing given their skeletal element within the script.

(L to R) Daniel Zovatto and Russell Crowe in Sony Pictures ‘The Pope’s Exorcist.’

Related Article: Russell Crowe Talks ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ and What to Expect from the Film

‘Da Vinci Code’ descent

And whereas we received’t spoil the way it all shakes out, the film (written by Michael Petroni and Evan Spiliotopoulos from a narrative by R. Dean McCreary, Chester Hastings and Jeff Katz) switches tracks from ‘The Exorcist’ to one thing extra like ‘The Da Vinci Code’ with the pontiff (performed in just a few temporary scenes by display screen legend Franco Nero) and Amorth digging up proof that buried beneath the abbey is one thing way more terrifying than anybody suspected.

We’re quickly being handled to exposition dumps explaining darkish chapters of the church’s historical past, and one explicit interval comes again to hang-out all concerned in a giant, darkish method. It’s one factor for the demon to play on our heroes’ fears, sins and regrets, it’s fairly one other for Crowe to go spelunking into cheap-looking caverns and musty chambers.

Plus, the plot strands by no means fairly weave collectively till the top, and it feels a waste of such an excellent actor as Nero to spend his time paging by means of historic tomes like he’s studying a young person’s diary and looking out shocked when he found that the Catholic church has been suppressing data. We’ve bought some actual revelations his holiness may wish to examine –– if it wouldn’t give the person introduced right here a case of the holy vapors.

Final Thoughts

Despite Russell Crowe’s greatest efforts, ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ by no means fairly gels. Which is a disgrace, as Father Gabriel Amorth is a really fascinating determine who would profit from, say, a restricted collection somewhat than this goofy try and jazz up his work.

‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ receives 4.5 out of 10 stars.

Russell Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth in Sony Pictures ‘The Pope’s Exorcist.’

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‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ is produced by Screen Gems, 2.0 Entertainment, Jesus & Mary, Worldwide Katz, and Loyola Productions. It is ready to launch in theaters on April 14th, 2023.