Good afternoon, House of Madness demons:
How many of your favourite movies revolve around the actor that starred in them? Would Terminator 2 still be an all-timer if Arnold Schwarzenegger hadn't been the one delivering one-liners and kicking ass? Not a chance. On the other hand, can you even name one of the actors that portrayed 'The Shape' in the "Halloween movies? Sometimes it's all about the quality of the script, story, and atmosphere, and others it's all about the actor(s) on screen delivering the dialogue like only they can. Chevy Chase may be well known as a dickhead, but don't ever try and sell me on another vacation dad, and don't ever try and have someone else impersonate Fletcher Irwin - sorry, Jon Hamm, you're just not it. As for "The Pope's Exorcist", I don't think the film would have been at all enjoyable if it wasn't for one Mr. Russell Crowe, whose performance not only saves a mediocre script, but actually makes the film a lot of fun.
Father Gabriel Amorth (Russell Crowe) is the head exorcist for the Vatican, and has been for decades. His unique methods and insubordinate attitude land him in hot water sometimes, but at the end of the day, he's simply the best. Most of his time is spent casting out the mental illness that consumes people's minds and very rarely has to deal with actual demon possession, but both jobs are equally important, and he has been relied on countless times to hone his efforts against the forces of evil. When he gets wind of the case plaguing young Henry (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney), he quickly packs his things and heads out for what he expects to be a routine mental cleansing. He couldn't have been more wrong.
Henry has just moved into a new home with his mother Julia (Alex Essoe) and his sister Amy (Laurel Marsden), and as the contractors are busy working away renovating the house, they accidentally unleash an ancient sleeping evil that has been patiently waiting for a new host. Unfortunately for Henry, he's the perfect vessel for the demon in search of raising hell, and almost immediately after settling into their new home, Henry is possessed by the unknown entity. Enter Father Amorth, and his not-so-trusty sidekick Father Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto), sent from the Vatican to squash the anguish which is currently harboring inside the young boy. Little do the priests know that they're not only dealing with a real demon, but quite possibly the most powerful demon Father Amorth has ever encountered. Is Henry the actual target of said demon, or is he simply a pawn in an ancient ritual waiting to reveal itself and enact the powers of Hell in a much more sinister motive?
If you're like me and roll your eyes when you get wind of another exorcism movie, I don't blame you. I often react this way with vampire and zombie movies as well, but every now and then a "30 Days of Night" or "Train to Busan" will come out and remind us that even the most tired and played scenarios can still be riveting if they're told with engaging ideas and takes. While "The Pope's Exorcist" doesn't really bring anything new to the table, Russell Crowe absolutely crushes his role as Father Amorth, and makes what would surely be another bland exorcist film into an enjoyable watch for just about any horror fan. He delivers his lines with brute force, yet there's enough subtle humour lying beneath to truly capture the viewer and have us rooting for him and his unorthodox methods. It's certainly not a masterpiece, but I had a lot more fun watching this film than I certainly anticipated. More Russell Crowe, please.
Madness Meter 6.9/10
NB
