The Pope’s Exorcist is a horror movie released in 2023 that’s based on the life and books of Father Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist for the Vatican in the 1980s. While it borrows heavily from other horror movies such as The Exorcist and Drag Me to Hell, it does somewhat of a disservice to its source material. Starring Rutger Hauer as the infamous Father Gabriele Amorth, the film is a gripping tale of spiritual exploration at a time when the infinite powers of evil are all too real.

Father Amorth attempts to free a young boy from a sleeping, demonic possession. As Father Amorth battles to free the boy, the audience is drawn into a unique relationship between the priest and the inner realm of supernatural entities. The relationship between Father and the demon is complicated and intense, illustrating how a seemingly normal boy can become so deeply entwined within obscure and powerful forces of evil.

From the onset, the movie feels derivative and campy. The 80s setting shows time and time again, with props and anachronisms thrown in for good measure. It also fans the flames of horror movies of the 2010s with moments of jump scares and stereotypical story archetypes, as well as a lot of red herrings and reliance on religious symbolism to stir up fear. In fact, it seems more like a poorly made straight-to-video B-movie than a genuine, theatrically released film. But the special effects employed to bring this story to life are truly remarkable, providing a visual experience unlike anything else.

From levitating beds, to blaring fireballs, to terrifying visions, The Pope’s Exorcist is an eerie, suspenseful ride. The score is just as impressive, providing perfect accompaniment to the best moments of the movie — the spine-tingling climax — and adding to the horror-filled atmosphere. The sudden ending also caught us off guard, creating the sense of an open ending that allows for interpretation. The Pope’s Exorcist provides a thrilling look into the depths of the supernatural in the Catholic Church. It honors the work of Father Gabriele Amorth and pays respect to the power of belief through a terrifying but masterful display of horror theatrics. Despite its derivative plot and possible overuse of certain staple horror tropes, The Pope’s Exorcist is well worth a watch and will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the darkness that lies in the shadows.

Overall, The Pope’s Exorcist does a decent job of showing some of the struggles of a true exorcist. It’s campy and unoriginal, relying too much on borrowed visuals over a genuine story. However, it still found ways to climb its way to success, with breathtaking visuals and an ending that kept us guessing. The Pope’s Exorcist is well worth a watch and will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the darkness that lies in the shadows.