The Pope’s Exorcist: 2023 Horror Thriller

Movie Name: The Pope’s Exorcist
Directed by: Julius Avery
Starring: Russell Crowe, Franco Nero, Ralph Ineson, Alex Essoe, Daniel Zovatto, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney, Laurel Marsden, Paloma Bloyd, Cornell John, River Hawkins, Carrie Munro, Bianca Bardoe, Edward Harper-Jones, Ryan O’Grady, Marc Velasco, Tom Bonington, Derek Carroll
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Release Date: 07 April, 2023
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Rating:
Budget: 1.8 crores USD

Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, The Pope’s Exorcist follows Amorth as he investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.

The Pope’s Exorcist: 2023 Horror Thriller Film

The Pope’s Exorcist is an upcoming American supernatural horror film directed by Julius Avery, and starring Russell Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth. The film also stars Daniel Zovatto, Alex Essoe and Franco Nero. It is based on Amorth’s memoirs An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories.

Production began in 2020 when Screen Gems bought the rights to Amorth’s story. After a directorial replacement and script revisions, filming took place from August to October 2022 in Ireland. It is scheduled to be released in the United States on April 14, 2023, by Sony Pictures Releasing.

In October 2020, Screen Gems acquired the rights to the story of Father Gabriele Amorth with Ángel Gómez hired to direct. Chester Hastings and R. Dean McCreary were attached to write the script, while Michael Patrick Kaczmarek, Jeff Katz, and Eddie Siebert were set to produce the film. In June 2022, Julius Avery boarded the film as director along with producer Doug Belgrad of 2.0 Entertainment. Subsequent script revisions were provided by Michael Petroni and Evan Spiliotopoulos.

In June 2022, Russell Crowe was cast as Amorth. The following month, Alex Essoe and Daniel Zovatto joined the cast. In September, Franco Nero was cast as the Pope, while Laurel Marsden, Cornell S. John, and Peter DeSouza-Feighoney were added to the cast. Ralph Ineson voices the demon.

Principal photography took place from August to October 2022 in Dublin and Limerick, Ireland. Scenes were filmed with Crowe in Trinity College in Dublin.

The Pope’s Exorcist is scheduled to be released in the United States on April 14, 2023, by Sony Pictures Releasing.

The Pope’s Exorcist: Movie Trailer

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Movie Review:

Story: Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s top Exorcist, delves into a case of suspected possession of a boy, leading him to uncover a long-kept conspiracy that the Vatican had kept concealed from the public eye.

Review: Based on the authentic records of Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s leading Exorcist, The Pope’s Exorcist is a watchable flick that centers on his biggest career regret when a woman faked possession. This movie is not an exposé on the Vatican’s well-known exorcism practices, but rather a portrayal of real-life exorcism cases that Amorth handled during his career, and this film focuses on one such case. Starring Russell Crowe, the movie also draws inspiration from The Exorcist, featuring scenes of a child bound to a bed, objects moving on their own, priests brandishing crosses, and levitation. The film’s fright elements are heavily influenced by Japanese horror as well. It’s worth noting that William Friedkin, the director of The Exorcist, produced a documentary on Father Amorth in 2017, a year after his passing in 2016.

The Pope’s Exorcist portrays the story of Father Amorth, a real-life figure appointed by the Vatican to conduct exorcisms. When a family inherits an abbey in Spain, they temporarily move there to supervise the restoration work. During this time, Julia’s son Henry becomes possessed, with the devil making a specific demand – to see Amorth. As Amorth arrives at the abbey, he realizes he’s facing an insurmountable challenge against an incredibly powerful devil.

After a period of lying low, Russell Crowe’s talent resurfaces in The Pope’s Exorcist. Crowe’s remarkable performance in the film is noteworthy, and it’s evident that he thoroughly enjoyed portraying the character of Father Amorth. Credit goes to the writers for creating a well-crafted character whose biggest nightmare is losing to France in the World Cup. Watching Crowe ride a Vespa scooter through the streets of Rome, fighting demons with humour, makes for a delicious guilty pleasure watch. While his Italian accent may divide audiences, it undoubtedly has an edge over Jared Leto’s accent in House of Gucci. However, the standout performer is Peter DeSouza-Feighoney as Henry, delivering a brilliant performance that’s both tender and brutal.

Certain scenes, particularly those set in the catacombs, are executed exceptionally well in this fast-paced horror-thriller. Another scene towards the climax, featuring a blood-covered woman, draws inspiration from Japanese horror. The movie also effectively comments on the issue of sexual abuse within the church, seamlessly woven into the narrative. Humorous moments provide welcome relief from the constant tension. The gradual build-up of the story means that tension slowly escalates, ultimately reaching a crescendo. While the movie ultimately follows a formulaic horror format, it still manages to entertain viewers and a lot of it is to do with Crowe’s terrific sense of humour.