Review: The Unholy

Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays a washed up investigative journalist and lapsed Catholic who ventures to a small Massachusetts town and witnesses unusual events involving a deaf-mute girl (Cricket Brown) claiming that the Virgin Mary speaks through her and has given her healing powers. Morgan doesn’t believe she’s the Virgin Mary, but becomes convinced something far more sinister is going on. Meanwhile a Bishop (Cary Elwes, murdering a Boston accent) and a visiting Monsignor (Diogo Morgado) investigate the supposed miracles. William Sadler plays a local priest who is also the girl’s protective maternal uncle.

 

A better and more interesting film than a synopsis likely makes it sound, this 2021 film from debut director Evan Spiliotopoulos (co-writer of the Dwayne Johnson-starring “Hercules” and the recent Disney live-action “Beauty and the Beast”) is like a better version of one of those religious/Satanic-themed films that were churned out in the late 90s and early 00s. The idea of a witch – or a devil – posing as the Virgin Mary and pretending to do God’s work is fascinating. I also liked how the sceptical reporter played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan becomes the believer and the religious representatives become the sceptics who ultimately get proven both right and wrong, which is really interesting stuff.

 

On the downside, while the director offers up a damn good-looking, foggy film, the jump scare horror tactics are a minor flaw. As are some of the poor performances, chiefly by repeat offender Cary Elwes who also never settles on a consistent accent (again, not for the first time). On the other hand, likeable and charming Jeffrey Dean Morgan is well-cast in the lead, and William Sadler is rock-solid, if a tad underused. An actress named Cricket Brown is decent in the important role of the deaf-mute girl at the centre of all the controversy. Some of the imagery is creepy as hell and both the story and Morgan’s character have some interest to them as well.

 

An interesting, creepy film. Nothing great, but certainly a whole lot better than I expected going in. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a fine anchor and the chief source of menace looks suitably eerie. Overlook the generic title, because this one might pleasantly surprise you. Based on a James Herbert story, the screenplay is by the director.

 

Rating: B-

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