The Church (1989) La chiesa (original title)

Director:

Michele Soavi

Writers:

Dario Argento (story)
Nick Alexander (dialogue: English version)
(more)

Release Date:

10 March 1989 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

It will make you squirm.

Plot:

An old Gothic cathedral, built over a mass grave, develops strange powers which trap a number of people inside with ghosts from a 12th Century massacre seeking to resurrect an ancient demon from the bowels of the Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Church | Demon | Secret | Massacre | Gothic

Cast

Hugh Quarshie	...	Father Gus
Tomas Arana	...	Evan
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.	...	The Bishop (as Feodor Chaliapin)
Barbara Cupisti	...	Lisa
Antonella Vitale	...	Bridal Model
Giovanni Lombardo Radice	...	Reverend
Asia Argento	...	Lotte
Roberto Caruso	...	Freddie
Roberto Corbiletto	...	Hermann, the Sacristan
Alina De Simone	...	Lottie's Mother
Olivia Cupisti	...	Mira
Gianfranco De Grassi	...	The Accuser
Claire Hardwick	...	Joanna
Lars Jorgenson	...	Bruno
John Karlsen	...	Heinrich
Katherine Bell Marjorie	...	Heinrich's Wife
Riccardo Minervini	...	Schoolboy
Enrico Osterman	...	The Torturer
Micaela Pignatelli	...	Fashion shoot photographer
Patrizia Punzo	...	Miss Brückner
John Richardson	...	Architect
Matteo Rocchietta	...	Younger Schoolboy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michele Soavi	...	1st Policeman at Lisa's House (uncredited)

Directed by
Michele Soavi

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nick Alexander		dialogue: English version
Dario Argento		story and screenplay
Fabrizio Bava		prologue (uncredited)
Lamberto Bava		uncredited
Franco Ferrini		story and screenplay
M.R. James		story "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" (uncredited)
Dardano Sacchetti		uncredited
Michele Soavi		screenplay

Produced by
Dario Argento	....	producer
Mario Cecchi Gori	....	producer
Vittorio Cecchi Gori	....	producer

Original Music by
Keith Emerson
Philip Glass
Goblin
Fabio Pignatelli

Cinematography by
Renato Tafuri

Film Editing by
Franco Fraticelli

Production Design by
Massimo Antonello Geleng

Costume Design by
Maurizio Paiola

Makeup Department
Laura Borselli	....	makeup artist
Franco Casagni	....	makeup artist
Piero Cucchi	....	hair stylist
Assunta Emidi	....	hair stylist
Rosario Prestopino	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Giuseppe Mangogna	....	executive in charge of production
Saverio Margogna	....	unit manager
Ezio Orita	....	production secretary

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Filiberto Fiaschi	....	assistant director

Art Department
Fabio Altamura	....	props
Daniela Giovannoni	....	assistant set designer
Osvaldo Monaco	....	props
Barbara Morosetti	....	assistant designer: special scenic creations
Caterina Napoleone	....	set dresser
G.P. Postgione	....	set furnishing
Antigone Predatori	....	carpenter
E. Rancati	....	set furnishing
E. Rancoti	....	set furnishing
Sergio Stivaletti	....	special scenic effects
Aldo Taloni	....	set construction chief
E. Tappezzeri	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Luca Anzellotti	....	sound effects editor
Luciano Anzellotti	....	additional sound effects (as L. Anzellotti)
Massimo Anzellotti	....	additional sound effects (as M. Anzellotti)
Mauro Anzelotti	....	additional sound effects soundtrack
Claudio Paolucci	....	boom operator
Giulio Viggiani	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Renato Agostini	....	special effects
Danilo Bollettini	....	special effects
Massimo Cristofanelli	....	special effects
Danilo Del Monte	....	special makeup effects assistant
Sergio Stivaletti	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Aldo Mafera	....	titles & opticals

Stunts
Arnaldo Dell'Acqua	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Alessandro Carlotto	....	camera operator
Maurizio Cremisini	....	assistant camera (as Maurizio Cremesini)
Enrico Maggi	....	camera operator
Fernando Massaccesi	....	gaffer
Nicola Pecorini	....	Steadicam operator
Augusto Proietti	....	key grip
Alfonso Vicari	....	assistant camera
Franco Vitale	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claudio Antonucci	....	wardrobe assistant
Carla Latini	....	dress maker

Editorial Department
Piero Bozza	....	first assistant editor
Roberto Priori	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Max Carola	....	composer: additional music
Max Carola	....	conductor
Martin Goldray	....	musician: synthesizer, Philip Glass pieces
Massimo Morante	....	musician (as Goblin)
Fabio Pignatelli	....	musician (as Goblin)

Other crew
Marisa Calia	....	continuity
Carlo Cestari	....	paymaster
Carlo Du Bois	....	production accountant
Maurizio Garrone	....	animal trainer
Claudio Lattanzi	....	assistant to director
Enrico Lucherini	....	unit publicist
Enzo Orita	....	production secretary
Grunwald Martino P.	....	animal supplier
Gianluca Pignatelli	....	unit publicist
Daniela Rocco	....	production secretary
Marco Stefanelli	....	animal supplier
Sergio Stivaletti	....	special scenic creations
Antonella Villanti	....	bookkeeper (as Antonella Villaniti)

Production Companies

• ADC Films (as ADC)
• Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
• Reteitalia (in collaboration with)

Distributors

• Nippon Columbia Co. Ltd. (1990) (Japan) (VHS)
• South Gate Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Gativideo (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Spike K.K. (2001) (Japan) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Shriek Show (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Media Blasters (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (video)
• Blue Underground (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Vivivideo (Italy) (VHS)

Other Companies

• A. & G. Corridori  special stage effects
• Artigiana Arredatori e Tappezzieri  carpeting
• Bixio C.E.M.S.A  music publishing
• CIAK Italia  production equipment (as Ciakitalia)
• Cinears S.r.l.  props
• Cinesicurtà  insurance
• Cinevox Records  soundtrack recording (as Cinevox Record)
• Cooperativa di Lavoro Fono Roma  PA system (as Coop. Di Lavoro Fonoroma)
• De Paolis, Rome  sound stages (as De Paolis)
• Dedalo S.r.l.  props
• Dialóg Filmstúdió  dialogue film studio: Budapest sequences (as Dialog Filmstudio)
• Dialóg Filmstúdió  thanks (as Dialog Filmstudio)
• Ditta Papas  costume house
• Ditta Papas  thanks
• Ditta Pinco Pallino  costume house
• Ditta Pinco Pallino  thanks
• Ditta Simonetta & Arturo  costume house
• Ditta Simonetta & Arturo  thanks
• E. Rancati  props
• Eastman Kodak  negative
• Franco Petracca & Co.  lighting (as Franco Petracca & C.)
• G. R. P. di Postiglione  props (as G.R.P. snc di G.R. Postiglione)
• G.P. 11 Safas Cantini  costumes (as G.P. 11)
• Hungarofilm  dialogue film studio: Budapest sequences (as Hungaro Film)
• Hungarofilm  thanks (as Hungaro Film)
• L'Immaginoteca  props (as Immaginoteca)
• L.A.B.A. S.r.l.  costume jewelry
• L.C.P.  footwear
• Neriteatromoda  costumes
• Omega  dubbing
• R.P.A. Elios Studios  sound stages (as R.P.A. Elios)
• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs
• Romana Trasporti Cinematografici S.r.l.  transportation
• Sartoria Izzo  costumes
• Sound Track S.n.c  additional sound effects (as Sound Track - L.M. Anzellotti)
• Studio A.M.  titles and opticals
• Technicolor  color
• Technovision  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

"La chiesa" - Italy (original title)
"Demons 3" - Japan (English title) (video title)

Runtime:

102 min | USA:98 min (R-rated version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | Hungarian | Latin

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted | Italy:VM14 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Italy:VM18 (VHS) | Hong Kong:III (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

ADC Films

Trivia:

Although the film is also known by the title 'Demons 3', the script for 'The Church' has nothing to do with the rest of the Demons series.

Quotes:

Hermann, the Sacristan:[to Lottie] Filthy liar! Here we'll wash your mouth out with soap, here!
Lottie's Mother:Don't make me wait for those onions Hermann

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dario Argento: Master of Horror (1991)

Soundtrack:

The Wire Blaze

Not quite the sum of its parts. Excellent pedigree but disappoints.

On paper, "The Church" appears to have a winning formula. Its pedigree consists of direction by Argento protégé Michael ("Dellamorte Dellamore") Soavi, input from the master, Dario Argento, in both writer and producer roles, a soundtrack by the likes of Goblin and Keith Emerson, and a capable cast.

Despite this, the film is a hesitant recommendation. For me, it doesn't quite gel. It's a little like "Demons" but without the cheesy charm and outrageous pace (it comes as little surprise that this film was almost named "Demons 3"). I didn't expect a brilliant plot but the film is genuinely clunky and makes the unforgivable error of actually losing tension and descending into boredom territory. I found myself clock watching at more than one interval during the proceedings. There are some excellent set-pieces, though, the best of which uses a simple windscreen to glorious effect. Also, fans of rubbery demons (of which I count myself as one) will not be disappointed.

Despite the talent involved, the soundtrack manages to be a little overpowering and repetitive.

Turning to the cast, Asia Argento fans will be able to see her in one of her earliest roles, before she became one of cinemas true "bad girls". The excellent Hugh Quarshie (genre fans will know him as the immortal Kastagir from "Highlander" and Panaka from the dreadful "Phantom Menace" but UK television viewers will know him as Ric Griffin from "Holby City") is a solid lead.

The film's worth watching if you're a fan of Italian supernatural horror. It's not for everybody, though. Aside from "Suspiria", "Demons" is probably a stronger bet for the newcomer than this offering. As a little Jedi would say, "Strong visuals alone do not good films make!"