In The Vatican Exorcist, a sequence worth its weight in Missal, the one where Russell Crowe confesses to a young incredulous Spanish priest a sentence worthy of a free thinker: "The Devil does not like jokes"...
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From the outset, the tone is set. Even if this horror film by Julius Avery (Overlord, The Samaritan) is inspired by the real archives of Father Gabriele Amorth (1925-2016), chief exorcist of the Vatican for nearly 36 years, it does not lose sight of this rebellious spirit, this small step aside that makes an "exorcist film" not totally take itself seriously in 2023, exactly half a century after the release of William Friedkin's seminal film starring Max Von Sydow and Linda Blair.
Set in 1987, the plot of The Vatican Exorcist follows the wanderings of Father Amorth, a cultured priest, deeply pious, but resistant to superstitions, who humbly circulates in a Lambretta scooter through the streets of Rome.
While the high authorities of the Roman clergy summon this nonconformist priest to question his conduct for the least heterodox and his religious convictions which are nevertheless solid, the Pope (camped by the legendary Franco Nero who logically embodies John Paul II) appeals to Father Amorth for an urgent mission.
A young American exiled with his mother and sister in a former Spanish monastery appears to be possessed by the demon. Neither one nor two, Amorth takes the plane and goes there to investigate. His investigations will lead him to uncover a centuries-old conspiracy related to the Inquisition, which the Vatican has desperately tried to hide from the eyes of the world for centuries.
On this rather classic plot, Avery stands a horror film 2.0 in the form of a successful tribute to William Friedkin's founding masterpiece released just 50 years ago. If the film does not deviate from the sacrosanct rules put in place by The Exorcist of 1973, The Vatican Exorcist has the intelligence to modernize its approach by playing the card of humility and self-mockery. We certainly find the demonic voices from beyond the grave, the furniture that tremble, the possessed who fly, the bloody stigmata and the exuberant make-up that indicate the presence of Evil. But all this horror folklore knows how to keep at bay. The exorcist will of course use a crucifix, holy water, holy oil, a Missal and a purple stole to fight against the Devil.
Russell Crowe embodies with conviction the exorcist priest Gabriele Amorth and happily rides his Lambretta scooter through the streets of Rome. © Sony
But what makes the film most interesting is the convincing presence of Russell Crowe. Like Anthony Hopkins twelve years ago who played an exorcist priest in The Rite, the Oscar-winning actor, unforgettable Gladiator for Ridley Scott, seems to have invested a lot and had a lot of fun in the role of Father Amorth. By lending him his imposing stature and his bonhomie matoise, Crowe literally bursts the screen in the role of this "James Bond of exorcists", a great connoisseur of contemporary psychology, who fights the demon with an energy of... gladiator.
The Hollywood star admits it bluntly: "The office of chief exorcist of the Vatican really exists. Father Gabriele Amorth held this position for thirty-six years and participated in tens of thousands of exorcisms. I was immediately interested. When I accept a role, I like to feel the responsibility of portraying characters who have actually existed. Because we must try to restore the authenticity of this person."
The homage to Friedkin's film is assumed. Basically, the greatest strength here is probably not to take yourself too seriously, while offering the spectators its dose of dread and chills. We come out smiling. The die is cast. Without too much pomp or ceremony...