Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
A Vatican exorcist who not only purges demons but also acknowledges the significance of mental health issues and recognizes ghosts can sometimes be manifestations of a fragile mind? That too in the 1980s? Interesting!
But the demon that Russell Crowe’s character, Gabriele Amorth, fights in “The Pope’s Exorcist” is supposedly the real deal. Amorth is sent to Spain to handle a complex case – the possession of a young boy by a demon with its own agenda. As Amorth investigates the demon’s origins, centuries-old skeletons of the Church are uncovered… quite literally. Directed by Julius Avery, this 2023 horror film is written by Michael Petroni, Evan Spiliotopoulos, R. Dean McCreary. The story is based on a book called “An Exorcist Tells His Story” by Gabriele Amorth (1925-2016), who was famed for his expertise in demonology and had been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in the 1950s.
From an ancient, crumbling castle-like church in Spain to the stunning, Renaissance-inspired interiors of the Papal Basilica in Vatican City, the cinematography in “The Pope’s Exorcist” is splendid, thanks to its meticulously designed sets. Despite numerous night scenes, the creators ensure that each scene is well-lit, preventing viewers from straining their eyes to understand what’s happening. And while the “creepy” or “scary” factor isn’t very high in the film, there’s enough plot to keep things intriguing, including internal politics of the Vatican Church.
Alex Essoe portrays Julia Vasquez, a widowed mother of two children who relocates from America to Spain after inheriting her husband’s ancestral property, which includes an ancient church. Construction work on the site leads to the unleashing of the demon that had been sealed within its walls for centuries, and it takes control of Julia’s younger son, Henry (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney). As doctors fail to help her son, Julia seeks out the local priest, Father Tomas (Daniel Zovatto), who, upon failing to tackle the problem, writes to the Vatican for assistance.
Russel Crowe delivers a riveting performance as the titular protagonist, however, Daniel Zovatto as Father Tomas looked suspicious and not trustworthy at all. Throughout the runtime, he had the kind of face that makes you think he is going to mess up. Peter DeSouza-Feighoney as the sickly Henry gave me goosebumps in one scene and managed to pull off the part of a minor in grips of something extremely evil. His dialogues during the possession were reminiscent of “Evil Dead Rise”, where a possessed mother says some terribly hurtful things to her children, here, Henry says shockingly vile things to his mother and others.
Since “The Pope’s Exorcist” is based on the accounts of a real-life priest, the film incorporates significant historical events into the narrative, elevating it beyond the average horror tale. However, one wishes the writers had taken more creative freedom with the script instead of playing it safe. The climax of the film feels contrived, and it lacks the explosive ending that viewers might expect, given the solid and engrossing story in the first part. Consequently, the ending falls somewhat flat. Nevertheless, “The Pope’s Exorcist” is a pretty good pick for horror fans.
It’s a 7 on 10 from me. Stream it on Netflix.