The Pope’s Exorcist- Movie Review

 

The Pope's Exorcist, directed by Julius Avery, is yet another cliché exorcism film featuring Russell Crowe as the lead, Father Gabriele Amorth. The movie was partially based on the real-life Rev. Gabriele Amorth, who worked as an exorcist for the Diocese of Rome from 1986 until he died in 2016 at the age of 91.

Father Amorth is a theologian, a lawyer, a journalist, and a practical man (as he makes clear to the priests). He has authored articles and books that he believes are good ("The books are good," he tells Father Esquibel when he visits San Sebastian Abbey.) Amorth is a sharp wit and a wisecracking priest.

Crowe is fantastic in the film, despite the fact that it is a little boring and full of cliches like dark basements, anatomically impossible body twisting, levitation, and solemn pronouncements. The film is nevertheless pleasant due to Crowe's great casting as Father Amorth, whose screen presence is fascinating.

Julia (Alex Essoe), a widowed mother, comes to Spain with her two children to inherit an abbey from her husband. Henry (played by Peter DeSouza-Feighoney), the youngest member of the family is possessed by a demon. The possessed boy requests a priest. As a result, Father Amorth arrives. The film then begins to unveil more than just Henry's exorcism. Gabriele and Father Esquibel discover the Vatican's secrets. 

Father Amorth has got to be the coolest priest ever played on screen, he drove a Vespa, with sunglasses looking extremely awesome. Even while this film will not be remembered as a classic in the genre, Russel clearly enjoyed his role, which is shown in the film. The film does not rely much on jump scares, and it almost did not feature any.

I'd say THE POPE'S EXORCIST is an entertaining film that should be enjoyed on its own terms. The film is a little fast-paced, but it covers all of the important elements.

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