The Pope’s Exorcist: The Ambitious Beginning to the "Exorcist Universe"?

In 1973, The Exorcist, a low-budget horror movie centered around the idea of malevolent spirits, ignited a box office craze in the United States. With a worldwide box office earnings of $440 million, it outperformed the Oscar-winning film The Sting and claimed the top spot for annual box office revenue.

Since then, the theme of exorcism has evolved into a distinct genre within the horror film industry and garnered significant attention from Hollywood. This has led to the emergence of a series of exorcism-themed films and television productions, including works such as The Last Exorcism, The Rite, Requiem, Constantine, and The Conjuring.

In recent years, exorcism-themed works have experienced fluctuations in quality and have fallen out of favour in the mainstream market. However, thanks to their ability to blend religious elements, a haunting atmosphere, and exorcism rituals in an exciting manner, they still maintain popularity within the realm of low-budget productions.

In April of this year, The Pope's Exorcist, directed by Julius Avery and featuring actor Russell Crowe, made its debut in North America. Based on actual events and headlined by the renowned actor, this low-budget horror film, with a production cost of just $18 million, raked in more than $70 million in box office revenue.

The Pope's Exorcist

The Pope's Exorcist is an adaptation of the personal experiences of the renowned exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth. He dedicated his life to the practice of exorcism, overseeing over 100,000 exorcism rituals, and eagerly shared his wealth of experience in the field. He authored a book recounting his extraordinary journey, and prior to his passing, he unveiled a startling revelation hidden within the Vatican Church. To this day, this secret remains a closely guarded and sensitive topic within the Vatican's inner circles.

In the name of Father Gabriele, while the church did not officially voice its stance, the International Association of Exorcists publicly criticized the film. They contended that the film portrayed demonic activities implausibly and found its title both presumptuous and arrogant, causing misconceptions. Despite this critical stance, the controversy stirred considerable attention and even prompted official reactions, ultimately contributing to the film's surge in popularity.

The Pope's Exorcist, a European and American thriller, adheres to the typical exorcism narrative structure. It portrays a powerful depiction of the devil, with the protagonist ultimately triumphing over evil through investigation and reasoning. While the plot may be considered somewhat old-fashioned and plagued by certain logical inconsistencies, Russell Crowe's exceptional acting prowess and the brisk pace of the storyline manage to gratify aficionados of the horror genre.

Nevertheless, there is an underlying agenda behind the setting of horror movies, and it revolves around the troubling effort to sanitize the Inquisition — an infuriating aspect of contemporary horror films. Why do modern horror movies incorporate such agendas? The infamous Inquisition employed brutal methods in the name of religion, conducting numerous unjust trials throughout the centuries to punish heretics. In these films, by attributing centuries-old sins to demonic possession, they unjustly shift blame onto the demon, effectively whitewashing the dark history of the church. Should this type of portrayal be acceptable?

Setting aside its merits and drawbacks, The Pope's Exorcist emerges as an ambitious film that aims to make a significant impact. In terms of character development, the movie is entirely narrated from Gabriele's perspective, crafting a robust and heroic portrayal of the priest. Diverging from the conventional image of a priest with a solemn demeanor, he embodies a flesh-and-blood "superhero" exorcist who enjoys cracking awkward jokes, exhibits a short temper, travels on a motorcycle, and even indulges in a few sips of whiskey before getting down to business. Enhanced by Russell Crowe's charisma, the priest's character takes on a more authentic and appealing dimension, resembling a protagonist from a superhero story.

Regarding the world-building aspect, the film goes beyond focusing on a single exorcism case, presenting a relatively comprehensive exorcism universe. It delves into the organizational structure of the Vatican Church's exorcism system, illustrating the conflicts between the old and new churches. It also outlines the process and essential prerequisites for exorcisms. Additionally, it sheds light on the ancient books and secrets housed within the Vatican Library, which serve as a foundation for the sequel’s development.

In the context of the film's storyline, there is a reference to the existence of 200 fallen angels. This reference draws inspiration from the contentious apocalyptic text known as "The Book of Enoch." According to this narrative, these 200 fallen angels were cast out of heaven due to their rebellion and descended into the human realm. They concealed themselves where God's gaze could not reach, ultimately transforming into demons.

In the film's climactic battle, the ultimate adversary confronted by the protagonist is one of the 200 fallen angels. The conclusion of the film strongly suggests that a sequel will definitely be on the agenda. After all, there remain 199 fallen angels awaiting the protagonist's intervention and retribution.

Certainly, the real-life inspiration, Father Gabriele, conducted an astonishing 100,000 exorcisms during his lifetime, earning him the moniker of the "James Bond in Exorcism." With the incorporation of these 200 fallen angel elements into the film, there remains a wealth of untapped material for future storytelling. The exorcism universe seems poised to establish itself as a prominent contender in the realm of film and television, offering a continuous flow of captivating narratives. Material abundance is certainly not a concern in this regard!