The Convent (2000)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Mike Mendez

Writer:

Chaton Anderson (writer)

Release Date:

10 July 2000 (UK)

Genre:

Horror | Fantasy

Plot:

A group of college students break into an abandoned convent and become possessed by demonic spirits. |

Plot Keywords:

Convent | Nun | Virgin Sacrifice | Gagged And Bound | Murder

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Joanna Canton	...	Clorissa
Richard Trapp	...	Frijole
Dax Miller	...	Chad (as Jason Dax Miller)
Renée Graham	...	Kaitlin
Liam Kyle Sullivan	...	Brant
Megahn Perry	...	Mo
Jim Golden	...	Biff
Chaton Anderson	...	Sapphira (as Chaton Itae)
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Adult Christine
Kelly Mantle	...	Dickie-Boy
David Gunn	...	Saul
Oakley Stevenson	...	Young Christine
Larrs Jackson	...	Father Ryan
Coolio	...	Officer Starkey
Bill Moseley	...	Officer Ray
Jennifer Buttell	...	Lisa
Allison Dunbar	...	Davina
Elle Alexander	...	Mother Superior
Dorenda Moore	...	Nun
Rosine 'Ace' Hatem	...	Nun
Theresa Pink	...	Nun
Cheryl Bermeo	...	Nun (as Cheryl Beremo)

Directed by
Mike Mendez

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Chaton Anderson		writer

Produced by
Chaton Anderson	....	co-producer
Roland Carroll	....	executive producer
Ryan Carroll	....	executive producer
Neil L. Kaufman	....	associate producer
Elliot Metz	....	executive producer
Bernard Natalino	....	associate producer
Jed Nolan	....	producer
Jeremy Rubin	....	line producer
Rene Torres	....	executive producer
Brian Walker	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Joey Bishara
Joseph Bishara

Cinematography by
Jason Lowe

Film Editing by
John Rosenberg

Casting by
Jack Phelan

Production Design by
Robert Hummel		(as Robert E. Hummel)

Set Decoration by
Beth Wooke

Costume Design by
Linda Duclos
Kresta Lins
Tanja Weck

Makeup Department
Mark Alfrey	....	special makeup effects artist
Jane Kelly	....	makeup artist
Rebecca Wachtel	....	makeup department head

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eduardo Cisneros	....	second unit director
Cyndy Johnson	....	second assistant director
Brian Walker	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Tad Dennis	....	set dresser (as Thomas A. Dennis)
L. Matt Hill	....	set dresser
Kevin Hummel	....	set dresser
Ken Weaver	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Scott Brewster	....	adr editor
Scott Brewster	....	adr recordist
Scott Brewster	....	dialogue editor
Reggie McGuire	....	dialogue editor
Clive Taylor	....	sound mixer
Clive Taylor	....	supervising sound editor
Lydian Tone	....	sound mixer
Gerald B. Wolfe	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Dean Jones	....	special makeup effects

Visual Effects by
Robert Chapin	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Elle Alexander	....	stunts
Cheryl Bermeo	....	stunts
Rosine 'Ace' Hatem	....	stunts (as Rose Ace Hatem)
Dorenda Moore	....	stunts
Theresa Pink	....	stunts
Nick Plantico	....	stunt coordinator
Keith Shindoll	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Alfredo Denila	....	key grip
Jake Devery	....	electrician
Eric H. Lasher	....	still photographer
Ian Sedensky	....	electrician
Carrie Urzua	....	best boy electric
Isabella Vosmikova	....	unit still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lorraine Alexis Mahru	....	set costumer

Music Department
David Bondelevitch	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Jorge Velasquez	....	transportation
Greag Waldrop	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
John Bunzel	....	production executive
Justin W. Hill	....	location manager
Neil L. Kaufman	....	production associate
Jack W. Larson	....	production associate
Bernard Natalino	....	production associate
Gene A. Roepke	....	key set production assistant
Mike Tristano	....	armorer

Production Companies

• Alpine Pictures

Distributors

• Albatros Film
• Alpine Pictures
• Lions Gate Films (USA)
• Lionsgate
• Planeta 2010 (Spain)
• Prokino Filmverleih (Germany)
• Sagittaire Films (France)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies

MPAA:

Rated R for strong horror violence and gore, and for language, some sexuality and drug content.

Runtime:

79 min | 80 min (uncut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Canada:16+ (Quebec) | South Korea:18 | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Company:

Alpine Pictures

Quotes:

Saul: The time is nigh for you to take your first step into darkness, so why don't you take the Dagger of Dispair, you know and plunge into thine virginal heart?
[none of Saul's followers move]
Saul: ...Today.

Movie Connections:

References Sixteen Candles (1984)

Bloody Good Fun

With the lack of quality horror films becoming more and more apparent, fans of the genre (and those looking to get into it) are left with nothing to lose by checking out the obscure titles found on the shelves of the non-chain video stores. Every once in a while, there is a surprise contained within. Such a surprise is the 2000 movie `The Convent'.

Directed by Mike Mendez (whose previous effort, `Killers', is very hard to find), `The Convent' is an exercise in excess and situational comedy. Far too often horror movies enter the realm of comedy unintentionally. As a small film, with a pea-sized budget, `The Convent' wraps itself, and enjoys, a cloak of playfulness.

The movie opens in the 1950's as a young woman decides to set nuns and priests aflame. just before laying a shotgun through them. It's an intro that needs to be seen to be believed. Unfortunately, as far as visual flare is concerned, this scene is never topped. We fast-forward to the present and meet a group of college kids heading to the long abandoned convent to spray paint fraternity letters. The mix of characters is so over the top you can't help but love them. Not a single role is taken 100% seriously and it's obvious that this movie is going to be fun.

Our college friends make it to the convent. Unfortunately, they are busted by two dope-smoking cops. I want nothing more than to go into detail about this scene, but it would ruin a surprise cameo that is beyond hilarious. As the group's bad luck continues, they realize they have left their entire bag of weed at the convent and must return. From here, gore galore and hilarity ensues.

The plot is simple enough and the movie is very funny (not to mention gory as all get out). We get a simply wonderful cameo from Adrienne Barbeau (whose performance in John Carpenter's `The Fog' is treasured by countless horror fans) and, generally, decent production values given the budget. My only complaint is that the movie is too short.