Sir Anthony Hopkins hits the pulpit to scare the masses this Friday in the awfully portentous looking exorcism yarn THE RITE – the latest from Swedish director Mikael Hafstrom. And with subgenre doing pretty well right now (THE LAST EXORCISM, EXORCISMUS, RED STATE, THE DISCO EXORCIST), we may see more and more films of this ilk attract such venerated acting talent as Mr. Hopkins. At least, we can hope that’s the case. So to get us in the mood of all things eerily ecumenical, we thought it be fun to run a recollection of some of the best – that is to say, the most terrifying – religiously themed horror joints. From exorcised demons to subtle satanic ritual, vengeful angels to evil sludge…we’re running the Holy f*ckin’ gamut! You ready? Let’s roll!
WARNING: MINOR TO MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW!
#10. THE LAST EXORCISM (2010)
Buy THE LAST EXORCISM on DVD here
Speaking of Daniel Stamm’s surprise low-budget hit, it was certainly one of the most polarizing and somewhat controversial films of 2010…the ending evoking a strident love-or-hate-it, make-it-or-break-it opinion from most viewers. I know our very own Arrow hated it, but Ammon and Eric dug it quite a bit. Me, was neither turned off or elated by the films conclusion, but that probably has more to do with me being conscious of how polemic the ending was going in. In other words, I wasn’t blindsided. That being said…I do feel like the first half of the film is the more superior portion, the faux-documentary set-up, one we’ve seen before, is extremely effective here in – much like the characters to the Reverend’s ruse – making us buy into what the story’s selling. Solid work here from Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell, in a suggestive PG-13 bone-chiller, make THE LAST EXORCISM the last (or first) on our list!
#9. STIGMATA (1999)
I can’t say Rupert Wainwright’s STIGMATA is a terribly good film, but part of its fun rests in how absolutely absurd it’s theological viewpoint is sermonized. Now, I’m no expert on the matter…in fact far from it. But when you can contract a Stigmata from a rosary like it were a goddamn virus…it doesn’t take a priest to know something’s afoul. Unless of course, you’re Gabriel Byrne and Jonathan Price! Y’all know what’s up…when Father Kierman (Byrne) is dispatched in Brazil to vet and suss the mysterious Stigmata wounds Frankie Paige (Patricia Arquette)…an inexplicable stretch of wildly entertaining phenomena occurs. Stylistically, the film has the subtlety of a jackhammer…at times a frenzied MTV style, the film soaked in cold blues and hot firelight. Maybe it’s my love of Patty Arquette or seeing capable actors bob and weave through dubious material, STIGMATA is somewhat of a guilty pleasure.
#8. THE CHURCH (1989)
Italian director Michael Soavi is most recognized, with good reason, for his superb 1994 zombie joint CEMETERY MAN, but for our purposes here…his 1989 cult-debacle THE CHURCH (aka DEMONS 3) needs to be brought to light. Why? The shite is off-the-wall insanity, that’s why! A good film? A bad film? Who the hell knows. Uneven I think describes it best, what else do you expect with 8 writers credited? For those who missed this Argento inspired tale – about a 12th century demonic scourge plaguing people trapped in a Gothic cathedral – it’s everything you’d expect from a exorbitant Italian schlock-fest. Zanily energetic, grandly grue-filled, shamelessly unoriginal (biting some films actually higher on this very list)…THE CHURCH is a much welcomed dose of cartoonish levity that parts from (at times debilitating) sincerity most films of this ilk (religious horror). Attend THE CHURCH at least once if you haven’t already!
#7. PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1987)
Buy PRINCE OF DARKNESS on DVD here
First off, I’m not sure which is more unsettling…Donald Pleasance playing a priest, or the filthy 14th century poet goatee the sucker was rockin’ in John Carpenter’s oft-overlooked 1987 chiller PRINCE OF DARKNESS. Either way, there’s no way in hell (pun?) I’m leaving this bad boy out. Y’all know the skinny – when a mysterious canister is unearthed below an abandoned Los Angeles church, the contents of which (a green ooze) turn out to be the liquid manifestation of Satan. That is to say, anyone who comes into contact with said sludge is immediately morphed into a malefic minion of Lucifer himself. Made at the height of Carpenter’s career, the film isn’t his best, but with mainstays like Pleasance and Victor Wong doing work, a kickass theme song by Alice Cooper and a thought provoking stance on religion vs. science make PRINCE OF DARKNESS more than a worthy contender!
#6. FRAILTY (2001)
Who’d of thought Chet from WEIRD SCIENCE would, some 15 years later, step behind the camera and, in his feature debut, craft one of the most disturbing and bloodcurdling religious thrillers ever assembled? I guess it was all his time spent with Jimmy Cameron! Anyway, I think what makes FRAILTY so affective is how austere the material is played. These are very sincere performances, a risky choice that could have easily pushed the film over the top into laughable histrionics. Instead, everyone in the film seems to so wholeheartedly believe in what they’re doing and saying (Paxton in particular) – a nice allegory for faith in general – to the point where we the audience start to believe. It’s that powerful. Also, the snap denouement is both fresh and unpredictable…a credit to both Brent Hanley’s script, the child actors (Matt O’Leary, Jeremy Sumpter) and support from Powers Boothe and believe it or not, Matthew McConaughey. A great film!
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2!
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