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2023
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Apr 14, 2023 · 50% Tomatometer 107 Reviews 81% Audience Score 500+ Verified Ratings Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican (Academy Award®-winner Russell Crowe...
- (107)
- Julius Avery
- R
- Russell Crowe
Apr 14, 2023 · Unfortunately, “The Pope’s Exorcist” is a watchable but far-from-special rehash of exorcism movie cliches, with detours into a Vatican conspiracy plot that has been compared to Dan Brown's novels but half-assedly connects with church atrocities and scandals.
Apr 14, 2023 · Daniel Zovatto and Russell Crowe add a dollop of buddy-priest action comedy to an already genre-full plate in “The Pope’s Exorcist,” our critic writes. Jonathan Hession/Screen Gems. By ...
- 103 min
- Elisabeth Vincentelli
Apr 7, 2023 · Reviews. Apr 7, 2023 8:34am PT. ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ Review: The Power of Christ (and Russell Crowe) Mostly Compels You in Yet Another Possession Chiller. As a heavily fictionalized...
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- Russell Crowe takes on the devil’s army with an Olive Garden Italian accent.
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By Matt Donato
Posted: Apr 14, 2023 4:56 pm
Horror fans are recently and rightfully talking about Nicolas Cage in Renfield as the over-the-top character actor to beat, but don't discredit Russell Crowe in The Pope's Exorcist. He plays Rome's Chief Exorcist with an Italian accent cracked from a can of Chef Boyardee in a ridiculous possession movie that tries to be everything from The Exorcist to Men in Black, with barely mixed results. Director Julius Avery indulges the freakier elements of demonic overtakings with a B-movie sensibility, much like how he turned the massively enjoyable Overlord into a freakish WWII monster mash – there’s just much less excitement this time. This approach hits almost as much as it misses, but at least when scenes work, The Pope's Exorcist is an unintentional horror-comedy that doesn't try to be anything other than an aggression-forward religious nightmare that taunts saints and torments sinners.
For as exceptionally corny and stereotypical Crowe's performance can be, there's an enjoyable indulgence as his character, Father Gabriele Amorth, tries to save an innocent boy from a demon's grasp. Amorth belittles peer reviewers who dare question his sometimes archaic methods, chugs alcohol from elegant flasks like he's dying of thirst, and tosses around decomposed human heads as lighthearted dark humor. Crowe plays Amorth like some larger-than-life Vatican superagent and leans comically heavily into Italian – even when supporting characters speak English. Daniel Zovatto, as sidekick Father Esquibel, merely grasps onto Crowe's robe for dear life as he tries to keep up, while Crowe chews through scenery like extra-cured slices of prosciutto – or drives through it on his adorable lil' Vespa, a sight that's worth price of admission on its own.
The blasphemous case that unfolds is adapted from the real Father Gabriele Amorth's memoirs – that's right, he existed – and adheres to all of the expectations you probably have about an exorcism story. Single mother Julia (Alex Essoe) moves her rebellious teen Amy (Laurel Marsden) and traumatized mute son Henry (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney) into a spooky historical castle-type house under renovation, a cobwebby residence that’s dripping with haunted atmosphere. The Pope's Exorcist doesn't waste time before leaving Julia's family alone and unprotected, letting wee Henry's possessed form speak despicable lines as soon as possible. He's groping his mother's breasts and cackling past rotten teeth before you can finish your Hail Marys, as writers favor incest discomfort, vulgar language, and all the typical calling cards of Satan's army to beckon the take-no-gruff Amorth like a challenge.
Avery strives to prevent The Pope's Exorcist from being just another exorcism copycat.
The Exorcist
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Last Exorcism
The Conjuring
The Cleansing Hour
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Something like Renfield earns a more enthusiastic pass because its heights reach for the stars, where The Pope's Exorcist scatters happy surprises to stumble across on a minefield. Crowe can be a blessing or a curse depending on the scene, and how his presence can create tonal whiplash. Esquibel can't help but ignore Amorth's orders in front of evi...
You can do much better than The Pope's Exorcism, but when exploring the depths of an increasingly stale exorcism horror subgenre, you can do worse as well. Russell Crowe is hammier than an Easter dinner as Father Gabriele Amorth, spitting out Italianized dialogue that Chris Pratt could learn from for the inevitable Super Mario Bros. sequel and crea...
- Matt Donato
The Pope’s Exorcist rides almost entirely on Russell Crowe’s shoulders. Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Dec 13, 2023. Vinamra Mathur Firstpost. Director Julius Avery uses every horror...
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed The Pope's Exorcist. After initially seeing the trailers, I wrote this movie off as a standard possession film that I have seen time and time again, and while most of that is still true, there is something about this film that made it a joy to watch.
