Follow-up Write-up of The Unholy
This is a second of a series of write-ups on The Unholy (the first is here).
I think the key scene that is my obvious favorite (besides the neat opening which also features the "star of the film") is Nicole Fortier's demon Desiderius. My second is Trevor Howard's speech on Desiderius to a now-believing Father Michael (Ben Cross), with a stern, concerned Archbishop Moseley (Hal Holbrook) listening on. Moseley has been abiding his time as Michael continues to mature as a man of God in need of impactful visions and spiritual darkness/wickedness to encourage his acknowledgment in Satan and his minion, Desiderius.
Howard's "demonology expert", blind (the eyes with white contacts gives him a chilling look; horror uses this as a go-to for effect for certain colorful characters) and aware of the Devil's tools for spreading his influence, and having emissaries to carry out disturbing behavior, has his moment late in the film to describe Desiderius to Father Michael, laying out what it will do to tempt and entice him so it can take him to hell as a reward for its Master. Michael just finds Father Silva's initial verbiage about the fight between God and the Devil rather hard to swallow, unable to sit and listen to the whole package put together about Desiderius. Moseley knows that he "isn't ready" and allows Michael to return to St. Agnes.
I think the fever dream presentation of what happens when "evil flesh" from Desiderius is fed to Michael at the end and the crawling version of the demon as it closes in on Millie (Jill Carroll) left much to be desired (it is rather obvious a moving makeup workhouse creation which does have its charm,...just not when walking), but I get why the filmmakers would want a big finale full of special effects. Even more eyerolling but also featuring its merits is Luke's (William Russ) final adieu with his body crucified like Peter, Christ's disciple, upside down, and Peter Frechette's underdeveloped character popping up one more time (after his initial scene on a ledge contemplating jumping) in St. Agnes to barf up blood and foodbits before engulfing in flames. Better still, Luke's body bursts in flames as well. A skeleton of Luke afterward on the cross in St. Agnes pops off the screen, and within such a rather bizarre scene, that ends with Cross clinching fists to the heavens asking God what must he do with a delivery that is rather woefully forced, the whole ordeal just comes off odd instead of impacting.
I think the key scene that is my obvious favorite (besides the neat opening which also features the "star of the film") is Nicole Fortier's demon Desiderius. My second is Trevor Howard's speech on Desiderius to a now-believing Father Michael (Ben Cross), with a stern, concerned Archbishop Moseley (Hal Holbrook) listening on. Moseley has been abiding his time as Michael continues to mature as a man of God in need of impactful visions and spiritual darkness/wickedness to encourage his acknowledgment in Satan and his minion, Desiderius.
Howard's "demonology expert", blind (the eyes with white contacts gives him a chilling look; horror uses this as a go-to for effect for certain colorful characters) and aware of the Devil's tools for spreading his influence, and having emissaries to carry out disturbing behavior, has his moment late in the film to describe Desiderius to Father Michael, laying out what it will do to tempt and entice him so it can take him to hell as a reward for its Master. Michael just finds Father Silva's initial verbiage about the fight between God and the Devil rather hard to swallow, unable to sit and listen to the whole package put together about Desiderius. Moseley knows that he "isn't ready" and allows Michael to return to St. Agnes.
I think the fever dream presentation of what happens when "evil flesh" from Desiderius is fed to Michael at the end and the crawling version of the demon as it closes in on Millie (Jill Carroll) left much to be desired (it is rather obvious a moving makeup workhouse creation which does have its charm,...just not when walking), but I get why the filmmakers would want a big finale full of special effects. Even more eyerolling but also featuring its merits is Luke's (William Russ) final adieu with his body crucified like Peter, Christ's disciple, upside down, and Peter Frechette's underdeveloped character popping up one more time (after his initial scene on a ledge contemplating jumping) in St. Agnes to barf up blood and foodbits before engulfing in flames. Better still, Luke's body bursts in flames as well. A skeleton of Luke afterward on the cross in St. Agnes pops off the screen, and within such a rather bizarre scene, that ends with Cross clinching fists to the heavens asking God what must he do with a delivery that is rather woefully forced, the whole ordeal just comes off odd instead of impacting.
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| Father Michael receives a call...from hell! |
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| Chilling dog sacrifice right on an altar below statue of Christ |
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| Father Silva and a rather anxious Michael |
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| Archbishop allowing Silva to explain demonology |
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| Silva doesn't get to talk long before Michael dismisses his work |
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| Michael in prayer. |
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| Michael confronts Luke over a book Millie reads from |
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| Luke crucified |
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| "Dear God, what must I doooooo?????" |
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| Silva is about to share his knowledge on Desiderius |
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