Vatican exorcists denounce Russell Crowe’s film for offending victims

The horror film “The Pope’s Exorcist”, starring Russell Crowe and based on the real files of Father Gabriele Amorth, the head exorcist of the Vatican, has attracted controversy since its announcement, being classified as a horror film. In the storyline, Crowe plays Father Amorthwho investigates a child’s demonic possession and discovers a “secular conspiracy“that the Vatican has tried to keep hidden, however, the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) criticized the film for its “pretentious” approach. and for raising “unacceptable doubts” about the Church.

In its official statement, the IAE also indicated this the film presents the Catholic Church as unreliable, and that the Vatican environment is painted with an effect similar to that of ‘The Da Vinci Code’, to make the public wonder who the real enemy is. While the criticisms touch on various issues, one of the most controversial is Father Amorth’s portrayal in the film.

This was stated by the International Association of Exorcists the content of the film criticizes the history of the Church and touches on the subject of sexual abuse, which generated discontent among its members. Furthermore, they accused the film of misrepresenting and falsifying the historical reality of exorcism, presenting it as an anomalous, monstrous and terrifying phenomenon, when in reality it is an extremely joyous event experienced in the presence and action of Christ the Lord, according to what they say.

“Such a way of narrating the experience of the exorcism of the priest Gabriel Amorth, in addition to being contrary to historical reality, it distorts and falsifies what one lives and experiences during the exorcism of the truly possessed that we Catholic exorcists perform according to the indications given by the Church”, they reveal.

Furthermore, it is offensive to the state of suffering in which those who are victims of an extraordinary action of the devil find themselves,” they add.

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‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ is a negative representation of exorcisms according to IAE

Gabriele Amorth, who passed away in 2016, founded the International Association of Exorcists in 1994 and was initially rejected by Pope John Paul II. However, since 2014, the IAE enjoys the official stamp of approval of its activities by the Vatican. The group criticized the film for its negative portrayal of exorcism and the figure of Amorth, whom they accuse of being portrayed as a monstrous character.

“Exorcism thus represented becomes a show destined to arouse strong emotions and unhealthy, thanks to a gloomy scenography, with sound effects that only arouse anxiety, restlessness and fear in the viewer. The end result is to instill the belief that it is a anomalous, monstrous and terrifying phenomenon, whose only protagonist is the devil, whose violent reactions can be dealt with with great difficulty; which is exactly the opposite of what happens in the context of exorcism celebrated in the Catholic Church in obedience to the guidelines that it dictates”, the complaint specifies.

The trailer confirms that this is a gore film, a horror subgenre, and the unreliability with which it tackles such a sensitive and relevant subject,” they point out.

Despite the criticisms, Father Amorth was a film buff and enjoyed the friendship of directors such as William Friedkin, who directed his favorite film, ‘The Exorcist’ in 1973. The IAE has been accused of wanting to recognize exorcism as something more “serious”, despite having benefited from the ideas created in the public by religious horror films.

‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ has generated controversy for its “pretentious” approach and raising unacceptable questions about the church. The International Association of Exorcists criticized the film for its negative portrayal of exorcism and the figure of Father Amorth, and for misrepresenting the historical reality of exorcism. Despite the criticisms, Father Amorth was a film buff and enjoyed the friendship of directors such as William Friedkin.