With some hesitation I started watching The Pope’s Exorcist with my 17- and 18-year-old sons. The movie has its intrigue and Russell Crowe is generally a favourite in our house, but we turned it off within a few minutes.
It was one of my sons who made the first suggestion to do so. I had worried that the story of Father Gabriele Amorth, SSP, would be Hollywoodized and the reality of his true battles as an exorcist – sometimes dramatic and sometimes not as much as you might expect if you thought all exorcisms involve walking through ceilings (some do) –wouldn’t be respected.
The language and some content were the deal-breakers. We just hadn’t vetted it properly before starting it.
All of that is to say we rented Nefarious instead.
Before I continue, I am sharing my thoughts as a Catholic, and specifically as a Catholic mom. I always hesitate before suggesting any movies to other parents. There are so many different things to consider, and each family makes decisions, hopefully focused on a desire for growth in holiness, after researching a movie for themselves.
It’s worth saying that growth in holiness can simply include a really good laugh together, or a sweet romance that doesn’t harm innocence.
As a family of mostly boys, we have watched with our teens movies that were much more violent than some others would ever consider for their families – The Passion of the Christ, for example.
Sexual corruption and language are things we are much more concerned about. Scott and I will sometimes, even after reading Christian reviews, first watch a movie ourselves, and I don’t think it’s wasted time. To the groaning of children we have turned movies off because they simply weren’t worth it. Images and ideas do not leave young minds easily, and we are responsible for that.
So with all my bases covered, I would say that Nefarious is worth it for older teens and their parents. The movie takes place almost entirely inside a prison where a psychiatrist, Dr. James Martin, is interviewing a man convicted of murder. Scheduled for capital punishment, he needs to be deemed clear of insanity before the execution can take place.
The convict addresses the therapist and, claiming to be a demon called Nefarious, admits it was he who forced the possessed man Edward to murder.
Every now and then Edward is allowed to speak. The psychiatrist, an atheist, finds it all ridiculous and is determined to rule that Edward is sane, simply putting on a performance, and able to be executed.
He is confused when Nefarious corrects him, saying that he does not want to be found insane but wants to be executed and wants Edward’s soul to go to hell.
As the interview goes on, everything the psychiatrist believes about spiritual realities is challenged. The demon tells him things about himself that there is no possible way Edward could know. He laughs and rejoices in Martin’s atheism. He tells Martin that before leaving the prison the psychiatrist will have committed three murders.
Martin laughs cynically at the claim, until Nefarious asks him how his mother is. It is revealed that Martin’s mother died through assisted suicide, a decision that was Martin’s, who quickly defends himself with the usual rhetoric: she was suffering, she was old.
Nefarious again takes great delight in all of it. He scorns Martin’s attempts to defend himself, showing him how ridiculous his justifications are and at the same time how happy they make him. Murder number one, he says.
Nefarious later mentions Martin’s girlfriend, who we learn was encouraged by Martin to have an abortion, the second murder. The scene is particularly powerful, with Martin claiming he was not ready to be a father, and disturbing, as we see the sick and vile pleasure shown by the demon and his laughing mockery of Martin’s new line of defence.
The moment the demon allows Edward to speak is heart-wrenching. I could have sobbed at Edward’s hopelessness, his desperation. He is completely at the mercy of Nefarious, who has none.
The movie is mostly one long conversation as the doubting atheist is simultaneously ridiculed and praised by a demon. Ordinary things that our culture takes for granted as “good” make the demon ecstatic. The truth of a soul in the hands of Satan reminds us of our need to offer prayer and sacrifice for those with no one else to pray for them.
Both the movie and the performances, with a few small exceptions, are excellent. It’s been a very long time since I have seen such outstanding acting. I think it is worth watching, even if difficult – the ending is appropriately disturbing – because of how clearly Nefarious articulates the power of evil in the world. He describes well the manipulation, wordplays, and justifications used to gain the souls of God’s children, which he claims are the demons’ great and only possible revenge against God, their enemy, God.
In Nefarious, and in the first moments of The Pope’s Exorcist, certain priests are shown ridiculing the idea of demonic possession, something I have experienced with at least one priest. They think the concept is outdated, or at least a stumbling block to being seen as rational and relevant to the world. (I can imagine Nefarious’ delight.)
Father Amorth, in the few minutes we watched, replies to this cynicism, “Tell me then, if evil does not exist, what is the purpose of the Church?” His brother priests cannot answer.
Our children are falling away from the faith of the Church in unprecedented numbers. I believe that there is a great spiritual battle for their souls, but a soul cannot be taken without consent.
We as Catholic parents must do our part to inform our children’s minds and wills. We cannot allow a secular world to mould them in its image. We must have discussions about the realities of true good and evil, about the games, movies, books, movements, and choices that lead our children one way or the other, and they must know and hold closely the great love and mercy of our heavenly Father, offered in the sacraments, who gave everything to save them.
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