The Exorcism of God
| The Exorcism of God | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Alejandro Hidalgo[1] |
| Written by | |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Gerard Uzcategui[1] |
| Edited by | Dester Linares[1] Rodrigo Ríos[1] |
| Music by | Elik Alvarez[1] Yoncarlos Medina[1] |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Saban Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 98 minutes[1] |
| Countries | United States Mexico |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $6.1 million[2] |
The Exorcism of God is a 2021 supernatural horror film directed and co-written by Alejandro Hidalgo and starring Will Beinbrink, María Gabriela de Faría, and Joseph Marcell.
Plot
Peter Williams, an American priest who is conducting an exorcism in Mexico, however, during the exorcism something goes terribly wrong, and Peter becomes possessed by a malevolent entity. In the grip of the possession, he commits a heinous act. Fast forward eighteen years later, and the consequences of Peter's sin come back to haunt him.
The evil that possessed him during the failed exorcism resurfaces, reigniting a formidable battle within him. Peter finds himself in a desperate struggle to confront and overcome the darkness that has consumed him for so long. Haunted by guilt and tormented by the entity that dwells within him, Peter faces a pivotal moment of reckoning.
The demon possessed Esperanza, presents him with a grim choice: either keep the demon within him, while expelling God out of Peter or safeguard the lives of innocent children and his daughter. This decision forces Peter to confront his own faith and the depths of his moral compass. As Peter weighs the options, the stakes are incredibly high. Should he choose to keep the deity within him, he risks perpetuating the evil and allowing the entity to continue wreaking havoc on the world.
On the other hand, should he opt to save the lives of the children, he must sacrifice the divine presence that has defined his existence as a priest. In a moment of moral clarity, Peter resolves to prioritize the lives of the innocent children. As he makes this selfless decision, a remarkable event unfolds. Esperanza, his daughter, experiences a sudden healing, and the children themselves are now safe and protected. However, this triumph comes at a cost. Peter realizes that the evil entity will persist within him, perpetuating its dominion over the world. In a chilling declaration, he asserts that he will continue to exert control over the world, signaling the prevailing influence of the malevolent force.
The Exorcism of God explores the complex interplay between faith, sacrifice, and the internal struggle against evil. It delves into the profound consequences of a priest's possession and the profound choices he must make to confront the darkness within himself.
Cast
- Will Beinbrink as Father Peter Williams
- María Gabriela de Faría as Esperanza
- Joseph Marcell as Father Michael Lewis
- Irán Castillo as Magali
- Hector Kotsifakis as Dr. Nelson
- Alfredo Herrera as Possessed Jesus
- Nuria Gil as Reporter
Release
The Exorcism of God premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 27, 2021. That same day, Saban Films finalized a deal to distribute the film in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa.[3] Saban Films released the film concurrently in theaters, on demand, and digital on March 11, 2022.[4]
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 57% based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 5.10/10.[5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 41 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[6]
Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting praised some of the creative scares but felt that the film relies on the genre's tropes and that the lead character was flat with no growth.[7] Tracy Palmer of Signal Horizon found herself "freaked out, grossed out, and laughing" after her screening. She praised the film's jump-scares, gleeful violence, and design and disturbing imagery of the film's demons, as well as the film's "thought-out and fast-paced" plot, concluding that the film is a "fun movie full of lasting imagery and just enough cheese with the gore to make it palatable."[8]
Justine Smith of RogerEbert.com awarded the film two and a half stars out of four, also noting the "aesthetic and narrative" cliches of the genre, but praised the film's plot and characters as "thought-out and progress logically" and the film's sufficient originality to distinguish it from similar films.[1] Phil Hoad of The Guardian awarded the film three stars out of five, stating that the film is "bombastic but occasionally surprising." He also noted the film falling back on tired tropes and "daft" horror mechanics and concluded by calling the film a "big, gaudy, overblown altarpiece of a horror movie."[9]
Accolades and awards
The Exorcism of God not only achieved success in distribution but also earned prestigious acclaim. "The Exorcism of God" was honored with the Box Office International Achievement Award, attaining recognition as the highest-grossing Latin American film of 2022. This dual achievement underscores the film's prowess both in securing major distribution channels and resonating with audiences on an international scale. The film garnered critical acclaim at the 42nd edition of Fantasporto, where it received the Best Director award, highlighting its prowess in storytelling and cinematic craftsmanship.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Smith, Justine (March 11, 2022). "The Exorcism of God movie review". Rogerebert.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ "The Exorcism of God (2021)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (September 27, 2021). "Saban Films To Acquire Alejandro Hidalgo's Horror Drama 'The Exorcism Of God' Ahead Of Fantastic Fest Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Rotten, Doc (February 3, 2022). "The Exorcism of God Possesses March 11, 2022". Gruesome Magazine. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ "The Exorcism of God (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ "The Exorcism of God Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Navarro, Meagan (September 27, 2021). "[Fantastic Fest Review] 'The Exorcism of God' Muddles Its Possession Subversion". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Palmer, Tracy (September 26, 2021). "{Fantasic Fest 2021} The Exorcism Of God Review-Surprisingly Scary With Stunning Creatures". Signal Horizon. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Hoad, Phil (March 23, 2022). "The Exorcism of God review – a big gaudy altarpiece of demonic horror". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
