The Unholy (1988) / 2022 Revisit

| Desiderius. The irresistible temptation. The object of desire is here. Permitted to abide out of hell, it manifests itself between Ash Wednesday and the Feast of the Resurrection. On the solemnest of days, it makes an offering to Satan -- someone who is pure, saintly; someone who has consecrated himself to God. It will tempt you with that you most desire. If you succumb to that temptation, it will kill you in the act of sin. And you will become the unholy's offering to Satan. If you resist, the powers of illusion will be broken...and you will see the true face of the demon. Then your final battle will begin. Let Christ manifest himself through you. |

My favorite piece of dialogue in a film that I'm not sure exactly who it is made for. There is actually this whole subgenre of horror/thriller involved with Catholicism, good and evil in combat, spiritual unrest, a priest's battle with Satan and his demons, possession, and how the powers of darkness are pervasive, if they actually exist at all. While I'm not Catholic, I have found a great interest in horror films and thrillers set around The Church, particularly when priests are put under duress. Trevor Howard, with the white contacts, as the blind Demonologist, Father Silva, really only has a few scenes, but he sure makes them count when he is in the film. His manner of speak is theatrical, sure, but he makes even the most ridiculous dialogue hum like a smooth melody. I just love seeing him go on that long monologue as a very serious Hal Holbrook -- who always looked 60 his entire career it seemed -- (as the Archbishop) sits behind his desk listening soberly while Ben Cross (as the miracle survivor of a 17 floor fall from a building while talking to a possessed (Frechette, whose death consists of vomiting a fountain of blood as his eyes explode and head sets on fire) on a ledge, believed to be a jumper, who pulled him out a window) mentally prepares for what awaits.

I'm guessing much like Howard, Cross' eyes go white as he goes blind because he saw Desiderius. Russ as the club entertainer using Satanism as a popular gimmick is a great sleazebag aiming to keep Jill Carroll's Millie with him while her virgin wishes to stay at Cross' church. Carroll is revealed to be a desire Cross must fight against, a kind of potential sin Desiderius will weaponize. Lari White is fun at the church housekeeper who looks down on Russ, wondering why Carroll would be scared of him, while always judging any threat to her priest's sanctity with God.

This film is fun to me for the casting almost exclusively. Ned Beatty as the detective appealing to the church to protect Cross by closing down his particular parish due to two murdered priests in the past and Holbrook as the Archbishop who knows more than he'll impart until "Cross is ready".

I actually first saw this on the now defunct Chiller channel, a Universal DirecTV horror channel that didn't last too long. It was basically, at the end, taking SYFY's scraps, sort of a sister channel to it. And we see where SYFY is now. I caught this twice during the day. I picked up a multi-film DVD Vestron set that also has The Unholy on it. But I noticed it was leaving Tubi, so I thought why not give it a go tonight. The pacing might not be to the liking of many, and the ending is really when this film kicks in the genuine horror goodies, with some elaborate demon costumes that are wonderfully grotesque. But another definite standout is Fortier as the alluring red-headed demon in the see-through gown and long red fingernails who leaves slashed throats. Russ' upside down death similar to St. Peter is particularly gruesome. Russ' club and his act (including a bedroom ruse that is this Exorcist mockery meant to provoke Cross) are a hoot. Russ even inside a church is a crack-up. Hal being in it always serves as a reason to return even if he really remains in one tone...he knows Cross has quite a battle ahead.

The "dark angel" statue in the church -- White tells Carroll the statue was shipped from an overseas parish burned to the ground -- is gnarly. I love when they close in on the statue. It is like that Joker statue in "Exorcist III". I love all the iconography in the parish, how it is used for atmosphere for the film.

|The sanctuary lamp is out. Our Lord lies dead. Now the demon is here.|