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IMDbPro

The Rosary Murders

  • 19871987
  • RR
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
34,608
18,687
The Rosary Murders (1987)
A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him.
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
35 Photos
CrimeDramaMystery
A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him.A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him.A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
34,608
18,687
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Fred Walton
    • Writers
      • William X. Kienzle(novel)
      • Elmore Leonard
      • Fred Walton
    • Stars
      • Donald Sutherland
      • Charles Durning
      • Belinda Bauer
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Fred Walton
    • Writers
      • William X. Kienzle(novel)
      • Elmore Leonard
      • Fred Walton
    • Stars
      • Donald Sutherland
      • Charles Durning
      • Belinda Bauer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:19
    Official Trailer

    Photos35

    Josef Sommer in The Rosary Murders (1987)
    Charles Durning in The Rosary Murders (1987)
    Donald Sutherland in The Rosary Murders (1987)
    Belinda Bauer in The Rosary Murders (1987)
    Donald Sutherland and Belinda Bauer in The Rosary Murders (1987)
    The Rosary Murders (1987)
    The Rosary Murders (1987)
    The Rosary Murders (1987)
    Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning in The Rosary Murders (1987)
    James Murtaugh in The Rosary Murders (1987)
    Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning in The Rosary Murders (1987)
    Donald Sutherland and Jihmi Kennedy in The Rosary Murders (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Father Robert Koesler
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • Father Ted Nabors
    Belinda Bauer
    Belinda Bauer
    • Pat Lennon
    Josef Sommer
    Josef Sommer
    • Lieutenant Koznicki
    James Murtaugh
    James Murtaugh
    • Robert Javison
    Leila Danette
    • Mrs. Washington
    Addison Powell
    Addison Powell
    • Father Edward Killeen
    Kathleen Tolan
    • Sister Ann Vania
    Tom Mardirosian
    Tom Mardirosian
    • Detective Fallon
    Anita Barone
    Anita Barone
    • Irene Jimenez
    John Danelle
    • Detective Harris
    Anna Minot
    • Sister Mary Martyrs
    Lupe Ontiveros
    Lupe Ontiveros
    • Sophie
    Roger Angelini
    • Brainard
    B. Constance Barry
    • Sister Grace
    Doris Biscoe
    • Woman Newscaster
    Sandy Broad
    • Librarian
    Keith Brooks
    • Altar Boy
    • Director
      • Fred Walton
    • Writers
      • William X. Kienzle(novel)
      • Elmore Leonard
      • Fred Walton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Future musician Jack White appears as an altar boy, marking this as his film debut.
    • Goofs
      A priest is called to the confessional from his quarters in the church. He walks across the altar to reach the confessional without genuflecting in front of the altar.
    • Quotes

      Father Edward Killeen: Break the seal of confession, and you destroy the Church.

      Father Robert Koesler: People are going to die.

      Father Edward Killeen: You're saving souls Bob, not lives.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      IN YOUR EYES
      Recorded & Sung by Nancy Wood

      Composed by Bobby Laurel

      Lyrics by Bobby Laurel & Dennis Leahy

      Based on an adaptation of the Third Symphony written by Johannes Brahms

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Moody, austere Catholic serial killer drama
    "The Rosary Murders" follows a Catholic parish in Detroit that is plagued by a series of brutal murders. One of the priests (Donald Sutherland) is joined by a journalist (Belinda Bauer) attempting to cover the story; both aim to stop the killer before he dispatches more nuns, monks, and members of the Holy Order.

    This is a downbeat and gloomy affair from Fred Walton, who, the year prior, directed the playful, joke-filled slasher "April Fool's Day." "The Rosary Murders" is more a return to Walton's style as seen in "When a Stranger Calls" (1979) in that it is a much more austere, dour take on the genre. This film gives no reprieve, and the subject matter is relentlessly grim. It has a similar taste to other Catholic-themed slasher films, such as "Alice, Sweet Alice" (1976), or even "The Exorcist III" (1990), both of which set a serial killer narrative against the stark backdrop of the Catholic Church. There is something inherently transfixing (and sinister) about this formula that evokes a creep factor that is hard to shake (especially if you were brought up Catholic). "The Rosary Murders" also has a late-'80s flair about it that at times feels redolent of a number of "Unsolved Mysteries" episodes.

    What works best about the film perhaps is the atmosphere: the wintry Detroit setting only adds to the ambiance, and the gothic cathedral and parish buildings are moodily photographed throughout. Donald Sutherland gives a muted but solid performance as the central priest, while Charles Durning has a smaller part as one of Sutherland's superiors. Belinda Bauer is great as the spunky reporter and has good chemistry with Sutherland, but it is ultimately wasted as her character is given little to do before altogether disappearing for the last quarter of the film (which is one of its main faults). Another instance where the film falters is that it has an even-keeled tone from beginning to end that drains the proceedings of any high suspense; the identity and motive of the killer is also unveiled too early, leaving little surprises to be had, and where the film feels like it should reach a fever pitch, it simply doesn't.

    All that being said, I still found "The Rosary Murders" absorbing and extremely watchable. It is a dour, gloomy affair that works better as a mood piece than it does a thriller or mystery. Its narrative issues aside, the shadowy halls of the parish and the chilly Detroit exteriors impress a somberness on the viewer that is unusually stirring. 7/10.
    helpful•0
    0
    • drowned_soda
    • Jun 11, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 4, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Mörder mit dem Rosenkranz
    • Filming locations
      • Dearborn, Michigan, USA
    • Production companies
      • First Take
      • Rosary Take One
      • The Samuel Goldwyn Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,730,337
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,730,337
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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