Dir. Mikael Håfström , US , 2011, 114 mins
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O’Donoghue, Alice Braga,
Review by Carol Allen
Before the action even begins we’re told in an informative piece of text that Pope John Paul II believes in the devil – or should that be the Devil? We’re also told that this is a true story. Early in the film the young hero’s seminary priest in an effort to dissuade him from chucking in the cassock and returning to civvy street, informs his young charge that there’s a chronic shortage of priests in the US and exorcists are particularly in short supply. And at the end of the film there’s more text emphasising yet again that this story is based on fact.
So what is this? A propaganda film for the promotion of what many of us regard as mere superstition? Or a very expensive recruitment commercial for the American priesthood? It sometimes feels like both but actually it’s also a perfectly competent exorcism movie, which occasionally makes you jump a bit.
The trainee priest who feels he’s losing his vocation is Michael Kovak (O’Donoghue). In an attempt to keep him in the fold the aforesaid Father Matthew (Toby Jones) packs him off to Rome to study on an exorcism course under Father Xavier (Ciarán Hinds). Faced with his new student’s skepticism about all that evil spirit mumbo jumbo, Xavier introduces him to top exorcist Father Lucas ( Hopkins ). Seeing the great man at work on a hapless, pregnant teenage girl – some rather effective being possessed squirming and screaming here from Rosaria Marta Gastini – Michael, though not necessarily the audience, starts to think there might be some truth in this Old Nick lark after all. And when Lucas himself becomes possessed by an evil spirit, it’s up to Michael, with his somewhat incomplete grasp of the exorcism ritual, to rescue his mentor from the devil inside him.
The film does have some considerable entertainment value however. Hopkins delivers a screen dominating performance, which is a cross between Hannibal Lecter on a very grumpy day and your favourite uncle. O’Donoghue is fine as the hero and there’s good support from the solid actors already named plus Alicia Braga as the young journalist, who assists him in his mission. It’s a strictly platonic relationship however. No romantic shenanigans allowed, because we’ve all guessed from the moment Michael meets Lucas, that he’s destined to take up the exorcism mantle along with the continued celibacy that goes with the job.
Those who like this particular genre may well enjoy this example of it. Despite those would be persuasive bits of propaganda though, I doubt if many unbelievers will come out of the cinema converted to the idea that possession by evil spirits is one of those unfortunate facts of life. Mind you, I don’t believe in fairies either, and Peter Pan told me that every time I said that, one of the poor little blighters kicks the bucket. So maybe saying I don’t believe in Lucifer will have the same effect.
