VOD Review: The Crucifixion (2017)

"Based on actual events."

(aka Agares Unleashed.)
Release Date: October 6th.
Country: UK.
Rating: R.
Written by: Chad and Carey Hayes.
Directed by: Xavier Gens.
Starring: Sophie Cookson, Corneliu Ulici, Brittany Ashworth, and Matthew Zajac.

Based on real events, The Crucifixion comes from the mind of Xavier Gens, the guy who gave us Frontiere(s) (review HERE) and The Divide (review HERE), so if we have to sit through another exorcism flick, it might as well be one by him. At least we know it'll be stylish.

In the dark heart of Romania, a nun is dead after an exorcism gone wrong, and the priest who performed the rite is in jail for murder. He swears that there was a Demon named Agares inside of the girl, and that as the vessel of God, it was his duty to save her eternal soul. Of course the rational folk of Romania think that he's nuts.

HE LOOKS LEGIT TO US.

Nicole is a spunky young journalist who wants to bring light to the fact that Demons don't exist, and that a young woman is dead because the Church insists of keeping up the charade of God, the Devil, and religion in general. She's a non-believer who lost her mother to cancer a few years back, and she's got no faith to spare.

OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH...

Is Father Demitru a murderer, or a warrior for God? Is there a reason for crucifying someone during an exorcism? Will Nicole get naked for Jesus? Far be it from us to spoil what happens for you here, but suffice it to say that Romania is a creepy place.

AGARES IS MAKING IT RAIN.

The Crucifixion is a gorgeous movie to behold. Not only is Romania a beautiful place, but Xavier Gens has a cinematic eye that makes for some lush, visually unique shots. The Demon Agares is genuinely creepy, and the exorcism scenes were about as well done here as they are in any film of its kind.

As visually pleasing as it is though, this one plays more like a mystery than it does a true Horror flick. It has its moments -The visualization of Agares was downright chilling at times, and its visually stunning in parts- but most of the movie is Sophie Cookson running around, looking vexed, and falling prey to any number of jump scares. She does a great job, don't get me wrong, it would have just been nice to see her get raked through the muck a bit more.

The Crucifixion had its moments, but overall it's a bit of a tame exorcism flick that didn't push the boundaries that we expected of a movie by Xavier Gens. Maybe we need to let go of the gory brilliance that was Frontiere(s), but ever since that movie we've waited for Gens to get back to that level of Horror, and he never really has.

ROMANIAN HEALTHCARE HAS ITS ISSUES.

There's plenty of disturbing imagery throughout this one, like a crotch full of spiders and some messy exorcism viscera, but nothing very gory.

WHY ALWAYS THE EYE?!?

Sophie Cookson takes a bath, has some sex, and her open shirt reveals a bit of flesh.

THE DEMON OF SEXINESS, THAT'S WHAT SHE'S POSSESSED BY.

The Crucifixion is a good movie in general, and it's a decent exorcism flick, it's just not a very horrific one. Sophie Cookson is a compelling heroine, and there are some great ideas at play here, but it just doesn't offer much in the way of dread or graphic terror to satisfy like we wanted it to.

You could do worse for a rental though.

C+

The Crucifixion is available now on VOD.

The gorgeous Ladies of The Crucifixion.