"Exorcist" For The 90's?

by Jason R. Hewlett

A young woman is victimized by an unseen attacker. She comes out of the attacks inflicted with the wounds given to Christ upon his crucifixion: the stigmata. Such wounds are given to only those people who are possessed of the deepest spiritual faith. However, when the Roman Catholic Church sends an investigator (Gabriel Byrne) he learns that the woman, played in the film by Patricia Arquette, is an atheist. As the attackers grow more frequent and brutal he begins to fear for her life and test his faith as the church seems more concerned with debunking her problem than finding out its' true source.

So is the plot behind "Stigmata," a film that, on the surface, seems like just another clone of the classic horror film "The Exorcist." However, the film is more than that.

The screenplay, by Tom Lazarus and Rick Ramage, has something to say while it jolts us with some of the most disturbing (and beautiful) imagery this side of "Seven." It paints a very unflattering image of the Roman Catholic Church, which has offended religious groups everywhere. The church here is shown as an organization more concerned with keeping its death grip on religious people worldwide than showing them the true glory of God. It may not be a positive view of organized religion but I believe it a very true one.

The film is about faith and the ability for one to have a faith in God without needing a church to pray in. This is a view held by many on our modern world and it was just a matter of time before a film came out depicting that belief.

This isn't to say that the film is all preaching and no scaring. This movie has some truly haunting moments (my favorite being an attack in a subway and chilling images. The fact that the attacks are God based as opposed to Devil based makes the film all the more frightening. We've never seen the power of God displayed this way before and it's a bit of a shock.

Director Rupert Wainwright mixes MTV stylistics with some solid dramatic characters, each of whom are brought to life by a collection of capable actors. Arquette hasn't been this good in a long time and Byrne is as reliable as ever here. Veteran actor Jonathan Pryce (last seen as the baddie in "Tomorrow Never Dies") plays another good villain here...this time of the religious variety.

Okay, I can see how religious types will be offended by this movie but if they dislike it or even won't go see it because of that then I think they should grow up. This is a changing world and maybe their strict ideas should change with it. However, that isn't the point here. The point is "Stigmata" is a very good movie that has something to say and maybe we should all listen...whether we believe in God in or not.

8 out of 10!