Catacombs (1988)A demon is trapped in a monastery. 400 years later a young girl arrives at the monastery to study. Director:David Schmoeller |
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Catacombs (1988)A demon is trapped in a monastery. 400 years later a young girl arrives at the monastery to study. Director:David Schmoeller |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Timothy Van Patten | ... |
Father John Durham
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| Ian Abercrombie | ... |
Brother Orsini
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Jeremy West | ... |
Brother Marinus
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Laura Schaefer | ... |
Elizabeth Magrino
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| Vernon Dobtcheff | ... |
Brother Timothy
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Feodor Chaliapin Jr. | ... |
Brother Terrel
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Brett Porter | ... |
Possessed albino
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Michael Pasby | ... | |
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Mapi Galán | ... |
Antonia
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Nicola Morelli | ... |
The Inquisitor
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Julian Jenkins | ... |
Brother Martino
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| Ted Rusoff | ... |
Brother Brandt
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Leslie Thomas | ... |
Brother Agostino
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Giordano Falzoni | ... |
Brother Callisto
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G. Ferretti | ... |
Brother Angelo
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A demon is trapped in a monastery. 400 years later a young girl arrives at the monastery to study.
Taken off the shelf and retitled "Curse IV: The Ultimate Sacrifice", this was actually made before the second and third entries in the unrelated series. This one deals with a possessed albino who was sealed in the walls of an old monastery 400 years ago. Fast-forward to the present and a young teacher's arrival to the monastery somehow frees the demon from it's prison.
I'm a fan of the other three film in the Curse "series", and while I enjoyed this one to an extent, it's easily the weakest of the four. The film boasts an exciting opening sequence, but things get bogged down when we move to the present. Of the cast, Laura Schaefer is certainly attractive, but the only good performance here is that of Jeremy West as the strict Brother Marinus. The atmosphere is solid, Pino Donaggio contributes a typically good score and there's a really effective bit with a possessed statue towards the end. This scene alone is worth seeing the film for.
On the other hand, the film would benefit from a different actor in the hero role. The guy they chose annoyed me, and so did the bedridden priest who goes on and on about utter nonsense. His character should have been omitted entirely. I also can't believe that an obvious continuity error was allowed to remain during the scene where Schaefer walks in on the monks having dinner.
A mixed bag.