Two wonderful stars! Oh boy, this should be a good whodunit! But even Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning couldn't save this film. That's not to say it's bad film, but it doesn't exactly keep you on the edge of your seat...which a mystery ought to.
Perhaps the biggest problem here is pacing. It's an interesting concept (though not exactly unique) -- someone is killing priests and sisters at one particular parish. But why? And who? Sutherland plays a more modern priest who decides to look into the murders himself. And, as he begins to do so, he seems to be putting himself in line as a future target. Durning plays an old-fashioned priest who rules with an iron fist...and you get to thinking that he is the reason behind the murders...but who is doing it? Sutherland is a top notch actor, but here he doesn't seem very enthusiastic about his role. During, also top notch, has a far smaller role, and frankly, not a good scene in the whole movie. Clearly, this is Sutherland's film.
I would guess that the Catholic Church disliked this film a great deal. I'm not sure the director intended to do so, but it struck me just how bizarre some of the rites of the Catholic Church really are when serial killers can be protected.
Perhaps the biggest problem here is pacing. It's an interesting concept (though not exactly unique) -- someone is killing priests and sisters at one particular parish. But why? And who? Sutherland plays a more modern priest who decides to look into the murders himself. And, as he begins to do so, he seems to be putting himself in line as a future target. Durning plays an old-fashioned priest who rules with an iron fist...and you get to thinking that he is the reason behind the murders...but who is doing it? Sutherland is a top notch actor, but here he doesn't seem very enthusiastic about his role. During, also top notch, has a far smaller role, and frankly, not a good scene in the whole movie. Clearly, this is Sutherland's film.
I would guess that the Catholic Church disliked this film a great deal. I'm not sure the director intended to do so, but it struck me just how bizarre some of the rites of the Catholic Church really are when serial killers can be protected.