The Pope's Exorcist
The Pope's Exorcist | |
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Directed by | Julius Avery |
Screenplay by | |
Story by |
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Based on | An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories by Father Gabriele Amorth |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Khalid Mohtaseb |
Edited by | Matt Evans |
Music by | Jed Kurzel |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release dates |
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Running time | 103 minutes[1] |
Countries |
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Language | English |
Budget | $18 million[3] |
Box office | $77 million[4][5] |
The Pope's Exorcist is a 2023
Production began in 2020 when Screen Gems purchased the rights to Amorth's story. After a directorial replacement and script revisions, filming occurred in Ireland from August to October 2022.
The Pope's Exorcist was released in several countries beginning on April 5, 2023, and in the United States on April 14.[7] The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $77 million worldwide.
Plot
In 1987,
This incident gets Amorth in trouble with a Church tribunal, since he acted without permission from superiors. One tribunal member is a friendly African Bishop, Lumumba, but another is a vicious American Cardinal, Sullivan, skeptical of demonic possession. Amorth replies that evil does exist and that he did not perform an actual exorcism but rather, some psychological theater to help the mentally ill man. Disgusted, Amorth walks out of the tribunal.
The Pope assigns Amorth to visit a
Diabolically possessed, Henry requests a priest; the local Father Tomas Esquibel arrives, but Henry obscenely derides him. Amorth arrives and enlists Esquibel as an assistant, though Esquibel is untrained as an exorcist. Esquibel has heard of Amorth but not read Amorth's books; Amorth believes they are good books. Amorth advocates the importance of prayer, though Esquibel makes mistakes as an assistant exorcist, including strangling Henry when Henry antagonizes him, mocking him for his sins.
The duo attempt to exorcise Henry, without success, as he utters blasphemous phrases during the rite. Henry's demon even possesses Amy at times. Amorth finds Julia has not been a religious believer since childhood. Still, he convinces her to pray after she reveals that she believed that her guardian angel helped her in her youth.
In Rome, the Pope becomes ill while reading documents about the Spanish case and is hospitalized. Amorth finds a well on the abbey grounds going down to a complex sealed off by the Church as demonically dangerous. He learns that a founder of the Spanish Inquisition, an exorcist, was possessed, which let him infiltrate the Church and do many evils. Amorth also finds the Church covered this up and eventually discovers the name of Henry's demon, Asmodeus, which will assist the exorcism.
Amorth and Esquibel participate in the sacrament of
Amorth tries to hang himself, but the demon doesn't allow it, preferring that Amorth infiltrate and destroy the Church. However, Esquibel helps Amorth drive away the demon and demonic appearances resembling the two women who troubled the men, successfully banishing Asmodeus back to Hell. The Pope does recover, as does Henry while the Vatican purchases and reconsecrates the abbey.
The triumphant duo visit Rome and find Sullivan has taken leave in Guam, being replaced by Lumumba. Amorth and Esquibel are admitted to a special Church archive; Lumumba tells them they will be visiting 199 other evil sites,[8] with the help of a map Amorth discovered at the abbey, to combat the Devil; Amorth jokes that he and Esquibel are going to Hell.
Cast
- Russell Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth[9]
- Daniel Zovatto as Father Esquibel[9]
- Alex Essoe as Julia Vasquez[9]
- Franco Nero as the Pope[9]
- Peter DeSouza-Feighoney as Henry Vasquez[9]
- Laurel Marsden as Amy Vasquez[9]
- Cornell John as Bishop Lumumba[10]
- Ryan O'Grady as Cardinal Sullivan
- Carrie Munroe as Adella
- Bianca Bardoe as Rosaria
- Ralph Ineson as the voice of Asmodeus[11]
Production
Development
In October 2020,
Casting
In June 2022, Russell Crowe was cast as Amorth.[16] The following month, Alex Essoe and Daniel Zovatto joined the cast.[17] In September, Franco Nero was cast as the Pope, while Laurel Marsden, Cornell S. John, and Peter DeSouza-Feighoney were added to the cast.[10] Ralph Ineson voices the demon.[11]
Filming
Principal photography took place from August to October 2022 in Dublin and Limerick, Ireland and Rome, Italy.[18][19][20] Scenes were also filmed with Crowe in Trinity College in Dublin.[21]
Release
The Pope's Exorcist was released in India on April 7, 2023.
The film was released on digital formats on May 2, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on June 13.[24] The film was later streamed on Netflix starting August 16, 2023, where it ranked as the number one film in America for nine straight days.[25]
Reception
Box office
The Pope's Exorcist grossed $20 million in the United States and Canada, and $57 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $77 million.[4][5]
In the United States and Canada, The Pope's Exorcist was released alongside
In other territories, the film was released a week ahead of its U.S. debut, grossing $12 million from 43 markets.[31] In its second weekend, the film expanded to 51 markets, earning $10.4 million.[32] The Pope's Exorcist grossed $5.7 million from 53 markets in its third weekend.[33]
Critical response
On the
Tamlin Magee at The Guardian noted, "Most professions are flattered by the attentions of Hollywood. Yet a body representing the real-life practitioners depicted in new Russell Crowe horror The Pope's Exorcist have condemned the film as 'unreliable … splatter cinema'. ... In a statement issued last month, the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) called the title of the film 'pretentious' and claimed that its Da Vinci Code-esque conspiratorial plot poses 'unacceptable doubt' to the public as to who 'the real enemy is, the devil or ecclesiastical power'."[36]
Paul Asay at Plugged In, a Christian film review publication, praised the film for its themes of sacrifice and extolling the virtue of love; he wrote that The Pope's Exorcist "may actually plant seeds of spiritual growth in the lives of some".[37]
Crowe's performance has received mixed reviews from critics. Chris Vognar of Rolling Stone positively reviewed his performance, writing that "Crowe brings an imposing physicality and winking charm to go with Amorth's gravity."[38] Kayleena Pierce-Bohen of Screen Rant was similarly positive, writing that "even if he's in something subpar, his screen presence is undeniable."[39] However, several reviewers, including Pierce-Bohen and Luke Thompson of A.V. Club, criticized Crowe's Italian accent.[40][41]
Accolades
Award / Film Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
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Golden Raspberry Awards | March 9, 2024 | Worst Actor | Russell Crowe | Nominated | [42] |
Worst Supporting Actor | Franco Nero | Nominated |
Sequel
In April 2023, a sequel was announced to be in early development. Crowe is expected to reprise his role.[43]
See also
References
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- ^ a b Grobar, Matt (August 9, 2022). "The Pope's Exorcist Finds Its Pope In Django 's Franco Nero; Laurel Marsden, Cornell S. John & Peter DeSouza-Feighoney Also Set For Screen Gems Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Squires, John (January 27, 2023). "The Pope's Exorcist – The Witch Star Ralph Ineson Will Voice the Film's Demon [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 26, 2020). "Ángel Gómez To Direct The Pope's Exorcist For Screen Gems". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
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