The Pope's Exorcist
2023 · Directed by Julius Avery
Original language: English
- horror
- thriller
The story
Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, investigates a young boy's terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.
What it’s like
Murky, candlelit dark punctured by hard tungsten and sickly green glow, with Roman exteriors rendered in dusty ochre and cold stone under overcast skies. Julius Avery frames the Vatican with formal, symmetrical care, then shifts to handheld intimacy and jolting, rapid cutting once the possession takes hold, so the image keeps tightening and shaking. The score leans on low drones and abrupt stings, and the sound design often drops away to near silence before a shriek lands. Its vibe is gloomy, unsettled and grand, a dark rainy-night watch for a horror fan who wants atmosphere and a bit of ecclesiastical intrigue rather than a slow burn. Pacing is brisk and escalating, and its emotional core is a weary, hard-bitten priest and a frightened family pulled into something bigger than they can see. Intensity is moderate to high: bodily possession, grotesque imagery, bloody injuries, frightening imagery and violent scuffles, with gore that is visible but not extreme. Best for people who want sustained dread, dramatic set pieces and a pulpy conspiracy twist, not gentle viewing.
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