The Church (film)

The Church
Italian theatrical film poster
Directed by	Michele Soavi
Produced by	Dario Argento Mario Cecchi Gori Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Screenplay by	Dario Argento Michele Soavi Franco Ferrini Dardano Sacchetti (uncredited) Lamberto Bava (uncredited) Fabrizio Bava (prologue)
Based on	The Treasure of Abbot Thomas (short story)  by M.R. James
Starring	Hugh Quarshie Tomas Arana Barbara Cupisti Asia Argento Giovanni Lombardo Radice
Music by	Keith Emerson Philip Glass Goblin Fabio Pignatelli
Cinematography	Renato Tafuri
Edited by	Franco Fraticelli
Production company	ADC Films Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica Reteitalia
Distributed by	Cecchi Gori Distribuzione
Release dates	10 March 1989 (Rome)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	English Italian Hungarian Latin
Budget	$3,500,000 (est.)

The Church (Italian title: La chiesa), also known as Cathedral of Demons or Demon Cathedral, is a 1989 Italian horror film directed by Michele Soavi. It was produced by Dario Argento with Mario Cecchi Gori and Vittorio Cecchi Gori, and written by Argento, Soavi, Franco Ferrini, Dardano Sacchetti, Lamberto and Fabrizio Bava.^[1] It stars Hugh Quarshie, Tomas Arana, Barbara Cupisti, Asia Argento, Feodor Chaliapin, Jr. and Giovanni Lombardo Radice.^[2]

It is the official second sequel to the Dèmoni series, although it has no direct thematic link with the first two parts, and therefore the 1991 horror film Dèmoni 3 (also known as Black Demons) is usually and incorrectly associated as the third film of the saga.

Plot

In medieval Germany, the Teutonic Knights massacre a village of supposed "witches" and build the titular structure over their dead bodies. In the present day, the church's new librarian (Tomas Arana) breaks the seal of the crypt out of curiosity and releases the evil spirits contained beneath it. At the same time, the church's automated mechanisms, which were set up by the architect who built the church, are triggered, causing the doors to close and trapping everyone inside, including a group of visitors. Father Gus (Hugh Quarshie), the only person not affected by the demons, eventually finds the way to make the church collapse on itself but dies in the process of doing so. Before the movie ends, Lotte (Asia Argento), the sacristan's daughter and the sole survivor of the incident, is seen walking towards the ruins of the church. She finds the seal of the crypt, opens it and peers inside. Blue light emits from within, just like when the librarian first opened it, and she smiles.

Cast

Hugh Quarshie as Father Gus Tomas Arana as Evan Altereus Feodor Chaliapin, Jr. as The Bishop Barbara Cupisti as Lisa Altereus Antonella Vitale as Bridal Model Giovanni Lombardo Radice as Reverend Asia Argento as Lotte Roberto Caruso as Freddie Roberto Corbiletto as Hermann, the Sacristan Alina De Simone as Lotte's Mother Olivia Cupisti as Mira Gianfranco De Grassi as The Accuser

Claire Hardwick as Joanna Lars Jorgenson as Bruno John Karlsen as Heinrich Katherine Bell Marjorie as Heinrich's Wife Riccardo Minervini as Schoolboy Enrico Osterman as The Torturer Micaela Pignatelli as Fashion shoot photographer Patrizia Punzo as Miss Brückner John Richardson as Architect Matteo Rocchietta as Younger Schoolboy Michele Soavi as 1st Policeman at Lisa's House

Background

The Church was originally conceived as the third film in the Dèmoni series; however, Michele Soavi insisted that the film stand alone and not connected with the first two entries.^[3] In an interview, Soavi derisively referred to those films as "Pizza Schlock", and expressed that he wanted The Church to be more sophisticated.^[4]

Soavi, in an interview with Cinefantastique, explained that he wished to move beyond with his creations following the film's release, and because of that he declined to keep working with Argento as a team.^[5] It is known in Japan as Demons 3.^[6]

Soundtrack

The score was composed by rock musician Keith Emerson and by composer Philip Glass. The soundtrack featured tracks from Goblin and Fabio Pignatelli.^[7]

Release

The film premiered in Rome on 10 March 1989 and was released in the Italian cinemas on the same day.^[8]

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, The Church has an approval rating of 70% based on nine reviews, satisfying the "Fresh" criteria.^[9] Allmovie called it a "gothic-drenched apocalyptic nightmare" that builds "a suffocating sense of quiet dread".^[10]

Location

External shots are of Matthias Church in Budapest. The final scene features the tower from St. Nicholas' Church, Hamburg.

References

1. The Films of Michele Soavi
2. Home Cinema @ The Digital Fix - The Church
3. The Church (1988) - The Movie Digital Retribution
4. La chiesa - Trivia section IMDb
5. "This is bullshit!" Interview mit Michele Soavi - Spookie online (German)
6. Alternative title IMDb
7. Michele Soavi The Church Filmkritik Rezension Kritik
8. Eccentric Cinema | THE CHURCH
9. "La Chiesa (The Church) (Cathedral of Demons) (1989)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
10. Jason Buchanan. "The Church". Allmovie. Retrieved 30 June 2012.

External links

• The Church at the Internet Movie Database
• The Church at AllMovie
• The Church at Rotten Tomatoes