The Pope’s Exorcist Review: Russell Crowe Faces the Ultimate Evil in This Chilling and Thrilling Horror Movie

More victims… um, I mean guests! How splendid! Welcome to Think Horror, the blog where we explore the dark and twisted world of horror movies, Tv series, and merchandise. I’m Harper Nevar, your guide to the underbelly of insanity.

What would you do if you had the frightful pleasure of meeting a demon in real life? I mean coming face to face with the Devil as it stares straight into your eyes and engulfs your entire existence with pure evil? I invite my brave chill seekers to imagine the following dark scenario.

You’re in someone’s dusty old basement surrounded by cobwebs and the squeaks of hungry rodents. You smell a strange rotten scent that is unfamiliar to you, but not to your intuition.

Your attention is then suddenly directed to a faint moan that appears to be coming from a decrepit door that’s adorned with reddish-brown smudges and deep claw-like scratches. It appears like it hasn’t been opened in a very long time. Are you curious as to who or what is making that eerily curious sound?

I want to know if you’re dumb, I mean brave enough to open it? This is the realm of Think Horror, so of course you have no choice but to make bad decisions.

You open the door! A pale twisted hand lunges out from the threshold and effortlessly grabs your throat! A “thing” with bloodshot eyes and sharp teeth is now standing over you, leans into your ear, and whispers “Let me in.” You feel its foul breath on your cheek, sharp nails digging into your skin.

You then hear a familiar scream that momentarily interrupts your anguish. Your eyes gravitate toward someone standing directly behind the beast! Are you wondering if they can save you? The demon leads you by the neck toward the ominous individual.

You now recognize the screaming voice and the person standing in front of you. Well, it’s actually a tall mirror. The reflection, however, is of you with bloodshot eyes, grabbing your own neck, and screaming, “LET ME IN!” I just love looking into the mirror! It’s like the more I stare, the less I recognize myself. Wait, I’m, um, Oh, that’s right! – your host Harper Nevar and this is the “The Pope’s Exorcist Review.” This frightful horror film stars Russell Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth, the real-life exorcist appointed by the Pope himself. This movie will make you scream, shiver, and pray for your soul. And I’m here to tell you all about it.

Movie Synopsis

The Pope’s Exorcist is based on the true stories of Father Gabriele Amorth, the real-life exorcist appointed by the Pope himself. That’s right, this movie is not just Hollywood fiction.

It’s inspired by the actual files of a man who performed over 70,000 exorcisms in his lifetime. And he wrote two books about it: An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories. You can find them on Amazon if you’re brave enough. In this movie, we follow

Father Amorth as he investigates the case of a young boy who is possessed by a powerful demon that has a history with the Vatican and a plan to unleash hell on Earth. Sounds scary, right? Well, it gets worse.

Along the way, he uncovers a centuries-old conspiracy by the Vatican that involves secret rituals, ancient relics, and sinister forces that will stop at nothing to destroy him. Sounds thrilling, right? Well, it gets better.

The movie is directed by Julius Avery, who brought us the Nazi-zombie thriller, Overlord. It’s written by Michael Petroni and Evan Spiliotopoulos, who have adapted some of the most popular books of our time. And it stars Russell Crowe as Father Amorth, who gives a performance that will make you believe in miracles.

And demons. The Pope’s Exorcist is a movie that will make you question everything you know about good and evil. It’s also a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and pray for your soul. Because trust me, you’ll need it after watching this movie. So what are you waiting for? Grab your popcorn, your crucifix, and your holy water, and head to your nearest theater to watch The Pope’s Exorcist. Or if you’re too scared to go out, you can wait for it to come to Netflix later this year.

But don’t say I didn’t warn you. This movie is not for the faint of heart. Or the weak of faith. Or the easily offended. Or the Russell Crowe haters. This movie is for true horror fans who love a good scare and a good story. And who doesn’t love that? But be careful what you say. You never know who might be listening. Or who might be watching?

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The Good

Russell Crowe delivers a strong performance as Father Amorth, portraying him as a man of faith, courage, and compassion. He brings a lot of credibility and charisma to the role, making us care about his character and his mission.

The movie has some genuinely creepy and disturbing scenes of exorcism, showing the physical and psychological effects of demonic possession on the boy and his family. The makeup and special effects are well done, creating a realistic and horrifying look for the demon and its manifestations.

The movie also has some interesting twists and revelations that keep us engaged and surprised. The plot is not predictable or cliché, but rather complex and intriguing. The movie explores themes like faith, doubt, corruption, and redemption in a compelling way.

The Bad

The movie suffers from some pacing issues, especially in the first half. It takes too long to set up the story and introduce the characters, making us lose interest and patience. The movie could have benefited from some editing and trimming to make it more focused and tight.

The movie also has some clichés and stereotypes that undermine its originality and impact. For example, the Vatican is portrayed as a shady and secretive organization that hides dark secrets from the public.

The Pope is played by Franco Nero (John Wick: Chapter 2), who looks more like a mafia boss than a spiritual leader. Some of the supporting characters are also underdeveloped and one-dimensional.

Rating

I give The Pope’s Exorcist 3 out of 5 ravens. It’s a solid horror movie that delivers some scares and shocks but also has some flaws and clichés that prevent it from being great.

Personal Thoughts

I have to confess that this movie left me feeling torn. On the bright side, I appreciated that it was not your usual exorcism movie, with all the stale and overused tropes and scares that we’ve been fed over and over again. This movie attempted to be more authentic and gritty, portraying the mental and spiritual struggles of exorcism, as well as the political and religious tensions that plagued Father Amorth’s mission.

On the dark side, I felt that this movie missed some of the thrill and innovation that I crave from a horror movie. It was too sluggish and foreseeable at times, and it didn’t really delve into the deeper significance of exorcism and demonology. I wanted to learn more about what drove Father Amorth, what inspired him, what challenged him, and what terrified him. I wanted to witness more of the hidden powers and mysteries behind the Vatican and the infernal realm. I wanted to be stunned and horrified by some twists and revelations.

So, to sum it up, I think The Pope’s Exorcist is a fair horror movie, but not a remarkable one. It has some decent moments and ideas, but also some flaws and weaknesses. It might attract some horror fans who are curious about exorcism and demons, but it might also frustrate others who are looking for something more original and thrilling. I think it’s worth a watch, but not much more than that.

The The Pope’s Exorcist Review Conclusion

If you’re looking for a horror movie that will make you question your faith, then you might want to check out The Pope’s Exorcist. But if you’re looking for something more original and innovative, then you might want to look elsewhere.

What do you think of The Pope’s Exorcist? Did you like it or hate it? Do you agree or disagree with my review? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to subscribe to Think Horror for more reviews of classic horror movies, new releases, horror TV shows, and horror merchandise. I’m Harper Nevar, and I’ll see you next time. Stay spooky, my friends!