Online:
Visits:
Stories:
Profile image
By Jeffrey Daugherty
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views

Now:
Last Hour:
Last 24 Hours:
Total:

New Vatican vs. Devil Flick Gets Reviews From Hell

Sunday, July 26, 2015 13:12
% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

(Before It's News)

JEFFREY DAUGHERTY (www.jeffreydaugherty.com) submits this news item by Newsmax

The Catholic Church has nothing to fear over “The Vatican Tapes” — the latest Hollywood exorcism flick, which opened in theaters Friday, is getting a devilish shellacking. 

“With its whispering in ancient tongues, bendy double-jointed contortions, and holy water that stings, ‘The Vatican Tapes’ is basically ‘Exorcism’s Greatest Hits’ played by a schlocky cover band,” Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly writes.
 

Rob Staeger of The Village Voice opines: “At no point does this film strive to be more than a second-rate version of what it is: a halfhearted attempt to make some scratch while pretending the devil exists. Some trick.”

And Katie Walsh of Tribune News Service says: “Distressingly, it’s not even the littlest bit scary.”

Twelve out of 15 critics surveyed by movie review site RottenTomatoes.com didn’t like “The Vatican Tapes,” which stars Olivia Taylor Dudley, Kathleen Roberston and Djimon Hounsou, and chronicles “the ultimate battle between good and evil — God versus Satan,” distributor Lionsgate says.

 

The plot, according to Lionsgate: “Angela Holmes is an ordinary 27-year- old until she begins to have a devastating effect on anyone close, causing serious injury and death. Holmes is examined and possession is suspected, but when the Vatican is called upon to exorcise the demon, the possession proves to be an ancient satanic force more powerful than ever imagined.”

 

Los Angeles Times critic Martin Tsai boils it down this way: “Since Angela accidentally cut herself at her birthday party, she’s been able to summon ravens, speak in tongues, cough up eggs and compel a police detective to gouge his eyes with two light bulbs.”

Often, Catholic groups issue angry missives at movies that reference the church and the devil — films like “The Exorcist,” “The Omen” and “The Devils” were condemned by the now-defunct Legion of Decency — but “The Vatican Tapes” appears to have flown under the radar.

And the movie, which is rated PG-13 for disturbing violent content and some sexual references, does have its defenders.

Justin Chang of Variety writes: “Silly, screechy and eminently watchable, this thrifty horror exorcise (er, exercise) could yield decent theatrical profit … and might turn even more heads in VOD [Video on Demand] play.”

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter also compliments the film for “a nifty climactic plot twist.” But Scheck goes on to say that that twist “is undercut by the sickening feeling that it sets up the premise for a sequel.

 

Report abuse

Comments

Your Comments
Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

Top Stories
Recent Stories

Register

Newsletter

Email this story
Email this story

If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.