The Order (2003)

A young priest is sent to Rome to investigate the troubling death of the head of his order.

Director:

Brian Helgeland

Writer:

Brian Helgeland

Stars:

Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Shannyn Sossamon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Heath Ledger	...	Alex Bernier
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Mara Sinclair
Benno Fürmann	...	William Eden
Mark Addy	...	Thomas Garrett
Peter Weller	...	Driscoll
Francesco Carnelutti	...	Dominic
Mattia Sbragia	...	Apathetic Bishop
Mirko Casaburo	...	Little Boy
Giulia Lombardi	...	Little Girl
Richard Bremmer	...	Bookstore Owner
Maria Cristina Maccà	...	Sister Franca (as Cristina Maccà)
Paola Emilia Villa	...	Sister Marie
Rosalinda Celentano	...	Faraway Eyes Girl
Alessandra Costanzo	...	Eden's Maid
Paolo Lorimer	...	Englishman

Storyline

Alex Bernier (Ledger) is a member of an arcane order of priests known as Carolingians. When the head of the order dies, Alex is sent to Rome to investigate mysterious circumstances surrounding the death. The body bears strange marks on the chest which may or may not be the sign of a Sin Eater (Furmann), a renegade who offers absolution, last rites and therefore a path to heaven outside the jurisdiction of the church. Alex enlists the aid of his old comrade Father Thomas (Addy) and of a troubled artist (Sossamon) upon whom he once performed an exorcism. He soon finds himself plunged into a mystery only to find himself at the heart of it.

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Plot Keywords:

sin eater | exorcism | absolution | sin | church | 

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Taglines:

Every soul has its price.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent images, sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally scheduled for January 17, 2002, the film's release date was postponed when the visual effects had to be redone because they were thought to be unintentionally funny. According to a anonymous source close to the production quoted by Variety magazine, the special effects depicting sins exiting the human body after death looked like "calamari".

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Goofs

During the scene in which Alex and Mara are making love, the leather bracelet Alex wears changes position from one wrist to the other several times.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Alex Bernier: Every life is a riddle. The answer to mine is knowledge, born of darkness.
Alex Bernier: It wasn't always so. In the beginning, I still had questions. In the beginning, my mystery still remained.

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Connections

Version of The Sin Eater (1997)

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Soundtracks

Due Croci
Written by Adam Milo Smalley & Dan Powell
Performed by Crotch

User Reviews

Pretty Good Horror

I must disagree with many of the reviewers on this film. I consider The Order to be a mature, well-constructed horror story. The "horror" is subtle at first, but it builds, along with the suspense, into several, intense episodes that culminate the film decisively. It is a complex flux of development, change and ever-increasing intensity of suspense and anxiety. As with any horror film, indeed almost any film, one must become immersed in the culture and story that is created. One must assume certain elements of the film to be valid, then flow with the plot. The Order fills all of the requirements of a good horror tale, done smoothly and skillfully. The characters and the actors portraying them fit well into the development of it all. I was most impressed with the lead actress. Her portrayal was stunningly sympathetic. And I really loved the ending. It melded all of the elements of the film together in a satisfying conclusion. This film creates a sense of doom and inevitability that constantly grows with its progression. That is what drew me to keep watching. I am not generally a fan of "Religious" horror. I shall gladly make an exception for The Order.

Details

Official Sites:

20th Century Fox

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Syriac Aramaic Italian Latin

Release Date:

5 September 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Sin Eater

Filming Locations:

Caserta, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$38,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,438,899, 7 September 2003

Gross USA:

$7,660,806

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,560,806

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Baumgarten Merims Productions, N1 European Film Produktions GmbH & Co. KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1