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alex essoe, daniel zovatto, father gabrielle amorth, julius avery, Russell Crowe, the pope's exorcist
If you’re familiar with the works of Julius Avery, you won’t be surprised that his latest endeavour starring Russell Crowe is filled to the brim with cigar chomping action sequences that stretch the realms of believability to the nth degree. Whether it;s gold heists in Son of a Gun; American soldiers taking on experimental Nazi zombies in Overlord; or Superhumans in Samaritan, Avery likes to bend our receptions and tantalise the visual senses with implausibility and a mixture of delight. You’re alway guaranteed to have an entertaining time, no matter what subject the Australian director turns his attention onto.
For his latest outing, The Pope’s Exorcist takes inspiration from the real life personality Father Gabrielle Amorth, an Italian Catholic priest who was an exorcist for the Diocese of Rome. The tales that Amorth has to tell and his endeavours with the paranormal are to the extreme, so a perfect playing field for Avery and for Crowe to portray the titular character.
Amorth is introduced as a down-to-earth, practical man whose methods are questionable (as highlighted in the opening scene when he tricks a demon to possess a pig and then promptly shoots it) and a constant ache in the heart of those wishing to wield power in the Vatican community. When he is asked to investigate the curious possession of a boy in Spain, Amorth uncovers something much darker lurking beneath the refurbished castle abode, something that the Vatican had wished to remain dormant.
The Prognosis:
Avery tempts us in with a curious tale, weaving together a buddy relationship between the cavalier veteran, Amorth and the local priest Father Tomas Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto) and the mother in plight, Julia (Alex Essoe – a little underused here playing second fiddle to the testosterone on show).
If you’re willing to let the far-fetched, and attempted humour of an action-packed exorcism, then you will definitely be entertained. Crowe certainly appears to be having fun chewing up the scenery at any given opportunity, but the fanciful and extreme measures taken to amuse jolts far too often, thrusting you out of the picture in the process.
- Saul Muerte
The Pope’s Exorcist is available to Rent or Buy from Jul 19.