by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Do we really need yet another exorcism horror film? There has been an influx of such films since the arrival of The Exorcist back in the 1970s. Maybe basing it off true events might shake things up, especially when it has such a charismatic and intriguing central figure. Father Gabriele Amorth was a wise and funny man who saw the realities of mental illness, but took the battle against evil as well. You would think that you want to go about this in a respectful and honorable way. Or you could turn his story into basically a religious-based superhero flick with crazy effects and battles. Put together all those sentiments, and that mushy blend turns out to be The Pope’s Exorcist.
What is the most important aspect of the film? Russell Crowe in the central role. Without him, the film would have quickly devolved into a schlocky and absurd mess. But one actor can semi-salvage that, and at least engage you for every second that he is on screen. He is a world-class actor who shows respect for every project and performance. This might seem below the caliber of an Oscar winning actor, but he brings that same level of performance here. His presence is a charismatic flame, and the audience are a bunch of moths drawn in. There are a few moments where he has genuine, deep emotions that will affect the audience. Crowe is also quite hilarious, and the truth is that he will make you laugh way more than this film will scare you. He might even be a tad too good, as he makes (almost) everyone else feel mediocre in comparison.
But this is a horror movie, right? The scares are so derivative that they never really land. Ralph Ineson tries hard to be creepy and unnerving as the demon (which he is), but that is not enough to scare the audience. Even at the point where you expect a film to get its scariest (the climax), this one leans into big effects-driven moments that feel cheap and campy. The film swirls into so much absurdity that it is not able to deliver any scares of consequence. There are certainly moments that get over as creepy and have a certain atmosphere, but the film feels more fun than the inert horrors of the story require.
What is this film about? The story seems like it is about a grieving family whose son becomes possessed. But these characters become almost meaningless, and their function in the plot is just there to torture with crazy possession moments. The real story is Father Amorth and the Roman Catholic Church, and the film makes some strange, bold statements and conjectures about the church. This being based on true events and a real person certainly muddies the waters around whether any of this is meaningful or not. At least the film does make one strong argument for faith and belief over shifting the church for political reasons to recruit a young audience. But it all becomes so surreal and weird when it begins to feel like the dawn of a superhero franchise, instead of a faith-based horror film.
Is The Pope’s Exorcist a good film? That is a tough question. Crowe does deliver a fantastic performance that is hard not to fall in love with immediately. He owns the screen for every moment he is there. But the film around him is SO dumb. SO absurd. SO problematic in the context that this is drawing on the legacy of a real man. Director Julies Avery is known for the bold and brutal Overlord,which is a Nazi zombie movie. Is that the right perspective to put on a semi-biopic about a real priest? There are some potentially interesting supporting turns from Alex Essoe and Daniel Zovatto. You even have Franco Nero of all people playing the Pope! But all is wasted except for Crowe. That is not enough for a good film.
Score: 6/10
The Pope’s Exorcist is currently in theaters
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