The Church

The Church was originally going to be Demons 3. If you have not seen demons 1 or 2 don't worry. First off these are italian films. Continuity is not an issue. Plot is not an issue. Think opera instead. Style is the the key here. When an Italian horror film is done right then it is a thing of dark passionate beauty. Like a nightmare butterfly.

The Church is still in the coccoon.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot they did right here. It has the right measure of broodiness and creepitude. The story goes that a bunch of devil worshippers are killed by knights. Their bodies are put in a pit and a church is built over it. In the present day the near derelict church is being restored even as it serves its small flock. A librarian and a restoration artist find a mysterious text and accidently set into motion the events that will test the mettle and souls of the restorationists, the clergy, a bunch of kids on a field trip, an old couple, a young couple, and some extremely annoying fashionista models and hanger ons.

Some of the images are beautiful. A cross on the floor falls into the abyss. A beautiful naked red head embracing a demon. But the problem is really you don't care a whit about the characters, not a bit. Well ok I cared a little about the teenage daughter of caretaker, but even she was just weird. Like sometimes she was supposed to be a little kid then others a teenage club goer. That inability to really define these characters is the problem. They go wherever the plot or the need for a cool visual takes them, but that doesn't take us anywhere.

It is sort of fun to watch this as a precursor to the "Da Vinci Code." Both movies have the church hiding secrets. The difference is this is the film that could have used a masochistic albino! Worth a watch for the horror viewers to be sure.