“The Vatican Tapes” is a 2015 supernatural horror film directed by Mark Neveldine. The film explores themes of demonic possession, exorcism, and religious faith. While it is not as well-known as some other exorcism-themed movies, it offers a unique take on the genre.
Plot:
The film follows the story of Angela Holmes (played by Olivia Taylor Dudley), a young woman living in Los Angeles who begins to exhibit strange and violent behavior after a seemingly innocent cut on her finger becomes infected. Her behavior becomes increasingly erratic and dangerous, causing concern among her family and friends.
As Angela’s condition deteriorates, her father, Roger (played by Dougray Scott), and her boyfriend, Pete (played by John Patrick Amedori), seek medical and psychological help, but conventional treatments fail to explain or alleviate her symptoms. It soon becomes apparent that Angela may be the victim of a malevolent force.
Father Lozano (played by Michael Peña), a local priest, becomes involved in Angela’s case and starts to suspect that she may be possessed by a powerful demon. He contacts the Vatican for assistance, and they send an experienced exorcist, Cardinal Bruun (played by Peter Andersson), to perform an exorcism on Angela.
The film unfolds as a series of found footage and documentary-style recordings, chronicling Angela’s descent into possession and the subsequent exorcism attempt.
Themes:
“The Vatican Tapes” delves into themes of faith, evil, and the battle between good and evil. It explores the complexities of exorcism, the challenges faced by both the possessed individual and the exorcist, and the impact of demonic possession on the people around the victim.
Cast:
- Olivia Taylor Dudley as Angela Holmes
- Michael Peña as Father Lozano
- Dougray Scott as Roger Holmes
- John Patrick Amedori as Pete
- Peter Andersson as Cardinal Bruun
- Djimon Hounsou as Vicar Imani
Reception:
“The Vatican Tapes” received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. While some appreciated the film’s dark and atmospheric tone, others found fault with the pacing and execution of the story. It did not achieve significant box office success but has found a niche audience among fans of supernatural horror and exorcism-themed movies.
Overall, “The Vatican Tapes” offers a different perspective on the exorcism genre by incorporating elements of found footage and documentary-style storytelling. If you enjoy films that explore the intersection of faith and horror, it may be worth a watch.