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“And the other two percent?” a priest asks in an exclusive clip from The Pope’s Exorcist that Rotten Tomatoes shared on its YouTube channel.
Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe) had just told a panel of five holy men seated behind a table that exorcism is his job. However, the majority of the cases that he gets don’t require an exorcism.
That’s when one of the men behind the table tells the others, “In my observation, 98% of the cases that are assigned to Father Amorth are then further recommended by him to doctors and psychiatrists.”
That’s when one of the others asks about the other two percent.
“Ah, the other two percent,” Father Amorth replies solemnly. “That is something that has confounded all of science and all of medicine for a very long time. I call it…evil.”
Part of the clip also appears in the official trailer, specifically the “I call it…evil” part. It’s a pretty dramatic statement, but it’s also a curious clip to release. There seem to be even more dramatic parts from the movie in the trailer that also would’ve made good clips. Why did they choose this one?
I don’t know. Likely for the same reason all teasers are released: to further pique people’s interest. Mission accomplished. I was trying to ignore all the hype I’ve seen so far around this movie. Demons, as I’ve said many times, are just not my thing.
However, after viewing this clip, I finally relented and watched the trailer. I’m not sure I’ll pay to go to see The Pope’s Exorcist in the theater, but I do now want to see it. Because it’s laid out a good mystery.
Will the Pope’s Exorcist need an exorcist?
The part in the trailer where Father Amorth and Father Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto) discover a hidden room somewhere is particularly intriguing.
“The church has fought against this demon before,” Father Amorth says about the room and what they find in it. “The Vatican covered it up. We need to find out why.”
And then later in the trailer, the demon-inhabited boy tells Father Amorth, “You’ve been played and you took the bait.”
Who set him up? The Pope? Someone else in the Vatican? And what’s he been set up for? What’s going to happen to him?
Even more intriguing is when another priest says to Father Amorth, “Imagine what could happen if the devil possessed the soul of the Pope’s exorcist. Who will defend you?”
Defend him or exorcise him? I don’t know, but a demon trying to possess a priest is a much more intriguing storyline.
I never understood why demons would want to bother with kids or other regular people. Why not go for the gusto and take over someone with power and influence? As I told my friend Jason from Odd & Untold when he had me on his podcast recently, what does a demon get out of debilitating some random human to the point they’re bedridden and shitting themselves? What’s the endgame there? Just to cause that person to die? Seems very shortsighted and unproductive.
But targeting a priest, and one who reports directly to the Pope…well, that ups the ante. It ought to be interesting to see where this movie goes.
The Other 2% Clip
The Pope’s Exorcist Official Trailer
For More Info
The Pope’s Exorcist premieres exclusively in theaters on April 14. Tickets are already on sale at Fandango. Visit https://www.fandango.com/the-popes-exorcist-2023-231125/movie-overview.
Check-In
Are you curious about The Pope’s Exorcist? Will you go see it in theaters or wait to either rent it or watch it on a streamer you subscribe to?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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I probably would have watched it, however, after the ludicrous and mordantly humorless botching of the movie “Noah” by Russell Crowe and everyone else who was involved in that heathen-strewn project, an actor and others I once appreciated, I have lost all respect for him, and he no longer carries any credibility with me. I will not be watching it. Actually, I think Sean Bean would have been better cast in his part. How about you? Are you going to see it?
P.S. Did you get my PM?
I would love to see The Pope’s Exorcist in a theater… a dark, cavernous theater. Hm, maybe I’ll wait until it streams.
Oh. I always love me some Sean Bean. I wonder if he was offered the role too? Russell Crowe usually always does a good job. I was shocked by how well he carries the accent in what I’ve seen of the trailer and teaser. I’ll give this a chance. (After I see some reviews from sources I trust, that is.)
I did not see any PM from you anywhere.
LOL! Yeah, there are some scenes I think I’d rather be at home to throw a blanket over my head for possibly. (It’s been a while since I’ve done that, though. I think that’s the allure of some of these horror movies…will one finally creep me out to that degree? lol)