La Chapelle du diable

While The Unholy is DEFINITELY not a 10 or a 9... it ALSO isn't a 1 or a 2 (even a 3). First half of the movie feels like a different flick than the second half. First half sets things up and it's creepy and exactly what you'd expect. Second half, feels like a rush to the finish line. Almost like two different directors made this movie.

I think people that are genuine and gave the movie a low score... likely had an issue with the script and pacing. However, it's definitely a fairly original take on the classic horror genre (demonic/possession). I'll admit, I'm a bit of a sucker for horror movies based around religion as generally they seem to be more interesting to me.

That all said, I think the cast was good. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, William Sadler, Cary Elwes and Cricket Brown were all great. Cricket Brown was especially impressive because I believe this movie is one of her first larger productions and she gives the impression of being a pro in this department. At times, it felt like the cast was not as connected to the movie as they could be. Of course, the movie didn't feel connected to itself after 52 minutes and goes wildly into warp speed conclusions.

Directing and Editing were just OK and could have been better IMO.. The script however could use some work. Even though the story felt like one we've seen a million times, I liked the premise and overall theme but the movie veers off and hits walls, then takes off at full speed before veering off into more walls. It provides the conclusions verses letting the audience figure them out. First half of the movie does a good setup job for the characters and direction. Second half of the movie ignores the setup, ignores the characters and goes straight to the source of the problems. It's like they spent a year recording the first half and a month on the second.

Overall, not a bad movie. Entertaining for at least half the movie. Good premise. Good acting. Great new acting with Cricket Brown. But, hits a wall halfway through and never recovers. Solid 6 IMO due to acting and overall theme.

The Unholy is a new horror film directed and written by Evan Spiliotopoulos, this is his first work as a director.

In the film, after a visit from the Virgin Mary, young deaf and mute Alice (Cricket Brown) is able to hear, talk again and is given the gift of healing other sick people. Journalist Gerry Fenn (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) investigates Alice and the miracle that happened to her in hopes of restarting his career. During his investigation, he begins to wonder if all the miracles are really the work of the Blessed Virgin Mary or if there is something dark behind all the miracles.

The director of this film wanted to make the film after reading the book Shrine by writer James Herbert on which he based the film. You can see from the film that this is the first film that the director has directed. The director chooses to show and let you know more as a viewer than the characters in the film. This way you as a viewer are ahead of the characters, so that the film quickly gets a predictable and slow playback speed The bad effects also show that this is only the director's first film. He has chosen to quickly reveal the entity behind the miracles in the film to viewers. So you can quickly see that this creature was placed in the film with cheap CGI. The incredibility of this creature makes you laugh almost more than it really scares you. The fire in the film is also clearly CGI rather than real fire. The director also tries to scare the viewer more by only using jump scares, most of which are too predictable to work.

The acting isn't done very well in the film by the film's cast either, as many characters don't seem very impressed with what's happening in the film. This is probably because the actors couldn't watch or really react to anything during the events of the film. Jeffrey Dean Morgan tries his best to carry the film as the lead, but due to the bad script, he doesn't really succeed. For a better horror movie starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, check out the 2012 movie The Possession.

I was happy seeing William Sadler in the trailer n it was one of the things which pulled me into seeing this.

The film has cheesy effects n a lousy ending.

But the most important thing, tension n suspense is nada in this movie.

The concept of using a religious entity in a evil twist is good and the choice was original, the actors do their part, and its an entertaining movie but definitely could have been better. I believe that this script could have gone better if the twist was revealed later almost at the end of the plot.

I went in expecting your {now} standard possession/exorcism movie (you know, lapsed/skeptic priest investigates a case of demonic possession. But after witnessing the subject talk dirty, rearrange the furniture, air people's dirty laundry and show off their amazing contortionist skills, said lapsed/skeptic priest becomes a true believer) but I actually enjoyed this movie. One surprise was the injection of humor. The other is that none of the events took place in a dark dungeon or on a dark and stormy night. Third, even though the cast was full of unknowns (except the parish priest, who I've seen in other films), the acting was thoroughly natural and believable enough to keep me engaged. The main characters truly developed and evolved throughout the film. Finally the movie, while never claiming to be anything other than fiction, nevertheless contained a valuable message. I rarely go to theaters to watch movies anymore because streaming has been kinder to my pocketbook, but I don't feel cheated .