
The Pope's Exorcist
Russell Crowe completely hijacks this supernatural thriller, treating the collar of real-life Vatican exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth like a superhero cape. Director Julius Avery dispenses with solemn religious introspection early, opting instead for severed limbs, blood-soaked crypts, and snappy Italian one-liners delivered from the seat of a Lambretta. What could have collapsed into another generic possession retread instead thrives on pure pulp momentum, pairing Amorth with Daniel Zovatto's inexperienced local priest to crack open a sprawling subterranean conspiracy. Crowe's magnetic eccentricity carries the film whenever the third-act CGI descends into loud, chaotic pyrotechnics. As the undisputed founding father and high-water mark of this fledgling saga, it sets an absurdly entertaining bar that any prospective follow-ups will struggle to match.




