The Pope’s
Exorcist
2023
Director- Julius Avery
Cast- Russell Crowe, Alex Essoe, Laurel Marsden, Peter
DeSouza-Feighoney. Daniel Zovatto, Ralph Michael Ineson, Franco Nero
This film
serves as a dramatization (with a quite a few liberties I imagine) of the real
life exploits of Father Gabriele Amorth, a Catholic Priest and exorcist who,
over the course of his life performed some 160,000 exorcisms (when did he have
time to eat and sleep?).
This story
follows Julia (Alex Essoe) and her two broody children after they have just relocated
to Europe. Apparently, her husband has died and her only possession is a ruined
abbey that had been in her husband’s family for centuries. Construction crews,
knocking about, free a trapped demon that promptly possesses Julia’s son and
terrorizes the family. The local priest calls Rome for help and Russel Crowe is
dispatched to do battle with the demon.
The Father
soon figures out that possession is just a small part of the demon’s plan. A long-buried
conspiracy comes to light as he peels away the layers of the demon’s machinations.
If you are
expecting a full-on horror show like The Exorcist or a taut thriller like Exorcist 3, you better pump the brakes now. The Pope’s Exorcist is a horror
movie but played more for entertainment. It reminded me of a bigger budget
version of Paul Naschy’s Exorcism than a typical possession film.
Horror
fans will find a lot to like. The film isn’t particularly scary but has lots of
nice, creepy and satanic imagery. There are some good practical make-up effects
and only in a few places does the film indulge in obvious CGI.
There is also a good horror
cast. Daniel Zovatto (Crowe’s fellow priest in the film) has done a few horror
films including It Follows. If Alex Essoe looks familiar its because she’s developed
quite a horror resume even though she isn’t really thought of as a scream queen
just yet. She’s starred in Tales of Halloween, Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Bly
Manor and played Wendy Torrence in Dr. Sleep. And if the voice of the demon
sounds familiar, that’s because it's Ralph Ineson known to many from his roles
in Game of Thrones and The Witch.
The most
unusual casting though has to be Franco Nero as The Pope. Yep, you read that
right. The original Django and the titular character in Cannon’s inaugural
ninja film, Enter the Ninja, plays the most virile looking Pope you’ve ever
seen.
Franco’s unusual casting aside, The Pope’s Exorcist isn’t going to live forever in the annals of satanic cinema. However, if you are looking for a fun scary diversion for 90 minutes, there are worst ways to spend your time.
