Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Church

Original title: La chiesa
  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
7.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
La chiesa (1989)
  • Horror
An old Gothic cathedral built over a mass grave develops strange powers that trap a number of people inside with ghosts from a 12th Century massacre seeking to resurrect an ancient demon fro... Read allAn old Gothic cathedral built over a mass grave develops strange powers that 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.An old Gothic cathedral built over a mass grave develops strange powers that 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.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
7.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michele Soavi
  • Writers
    • Dario Argento(story)
    • Franco Ferrini(story)
    • Michele Soavi(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Hugh Quarshie
    • Tomas Arana
    • Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michele Soavi
  • Writers
    • Dario Argento(story)
    • Franco Ferrini(story)
    • Michele Soavi(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Hugh Quarshie
    • Tomas Arana
    • Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 106User reviews
    • 89Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Church aka La Chiesa
    Trailer 1:09
    The Church aka La Chiesa

    Photos83

    La chiesa (1989)
    La chiesa (1989)
    La chiesa (1989)
    La chiesa (1989)
    Antonella Vitale in La chiesa (1989)
    Patrizia Punzo in La chiesa (1989)
    Lars Jorgenson in La chiesa (1989)
    Roberto Caruso in La chiesa (1989)
    Claire Hardwick in La chiesa (1989)
    John Karlsen and Katherine Bell Marjorie in La chiesa (1989)
    La chiesa (1989)
    Riccardo Minervini and Patrizia Punzo in La chiesa (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hugh Quarshie
    Hugh Quarshie
    • Father Gusas Father Gus
    Tomas Arana
    Tomas Arana
    • Evanas Evan
    Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
    Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
    • The Bishopas The Bishop
    Barbara Cupisti
    • Lisaas Lisa
    Antonella Vitale
    • Bridal Modelas Bridal Model
    Giovanni Lombardo Radice
    Giovanni Lombardo Radice
    • Reverendas Reverend
    Asia Argento
    Asia Argento
    • Lotteas Lotte
    Roberto Caruso
    • Freddieas Freddie
    Roberto Corbiletto
    • Hermann, the Sacristanas Hermann, the Sacristan
    Alina De Simone
    • Lottie's Motheras Lottie's Mother
    Olivia Cupisti
    • Miraas Mira
    Gianfranco De Grassi
    • The Accuseras The Accuser
    Claire Hardwick
    • Joannaas Joanna
    Lars Jorgenson
    • Brunoas Bruno
    John Karlsen
    John Karlsen
    • Heinrichas Heinrich
    Katherine Bell Marjorie
    • Heinrich's Wifeas Heinrich's Wife
    Riccardo Minervini
    • Schoolboyas Schoolboy
    Enrico Osterman
    • The Tortureras The Torturer
    • Director
      • Michele Soavi
    • Writers
      • Dario Argento(story) (screenplay)
      • Franco Ferrini(story) (screenplay)
      • Michele Soavi(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Sect
    6.1
    The Sect
    StageFright
    6.6
    StageFright
    Demons 2
    5.9
    Demons 2
    Dellamorte Dellamore
    7.1
    Dellamorte Dellamore
    Demons
    6.6
    Demons
    City of the Living Dead
    6.2
    City of the Living Dead
    The Beyond
    6.6
    The Beyond
    A Blade in the Dark
    5.9
    A Blade in the Dark
    Opera
    6.9
    Opera
    The Church
    2.8
    The Church
    Beyond the Darkness
    6.2
    Beyond the Darkness
    The House by the Cemetery
    6.1
    The House by the Cemetery

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally, Soavi and Argento wanted to shoot the movie in the Lorenzkirche of Nuremberg (Germany), and even did some test shots there. However, it was abandoned because the town of Nuremberg didn't want a horror movie to be shot there.
    • Goofs
      When Father Gus, as a recreational archer, is using a bow to shoot at a target, he is not wearing a wrist guard. This is a painful mistake even a beginner would only make once.
    • 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

    • Alternate versions
      All videos for The Church in the USA come in two formats: R Rated or Unrated/Uncut. There are mistakes on all boxes and tapes about the running times: All videotapes and boxes say 110 minute running time on the back cover and 102 minute running time on the cassette no matter if its the rated R version or the 110 minute unrated version. It will correctly state on the box & tape that it is rated or uncut/unrated.
    • Connections
      Featured in Dario Argento: Master of Horror (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Floe
      Written by Philip Glass

      Performed by Martin Goldray

    User reviews106

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Needs a script
    I am such a huge fan of Michele Soavi. I absolutely adore Stagefright, the best slasher ever. Dellamorte Dellamore is quite simply a Gothic masterpiece, a near perfect zombie film with a philosophical overtone to it. I also thought The Sect was a quite effective nerve-jolter filled with incredible surreal images and solid scares. So I was disappointed after viewing The Church, I had such high hopes.

    It starts of well enough. Medieval knights massacre a village they fear is possessed by demonic spirits and the priest orders that a church should be built on their buriel ground. Fastforward to the present, something weird is going on in that church; some evil seems to be lurking about and possessing people. A showdown between good and evil is unavoidable.

    The film has style to burn. Michele Soavi is a master at creating surreal imagery and his camera knows no limits. This is the film's high point along with some terrific set pieces, one in particular involving a subway and a teenage girl. Another thing I must mention in the film's favour; the music score. It's always wonderful to hear Goblin and Keith Emerson also provides some good music. But good music is simply something you can always count on in these Italian productions.

    The thing that doesn't work here, and it's a big thing, is the plot. It's practically nonexistent. The film doesn't make any sense, jumps from one setpiece to another (though some are brilliantly executed), with only so little to tie them together. It's got wooden characters, none you really care about (Tomas Arana in particular). The final showdown in the Church, although well done in terms of effects, is a real letdown, nothing much happens and in the end, well...I felt cheated in a big way.

    As it was originally conceived of as the second sequel in the Demons saga, I expected this to be full of violence. It's not, apart from the rather gory opening. I guess Soavi wanted to do a more serious film, with some philosophical input or something. He should have had a better script to work with.

    Although it's disappointing, it's certainly not without interest.
    helpful•13
    4
    • ODDBear
    • Jun 3, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 10, 1989 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • Hungarian
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • 教堂幽靈
    • Filming locations
      • Hamburg, Germany
    • Production companies
      • ADC Films
      • Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
      • Reteitalia
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    La chiesa (1989)
    Top Gap
    By what name was La chiesa (1989) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.