Synopsis
A virtuous monk descends to the depths of sin and depravity after Satan sends an unholy temptress to lead him astray.
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Cast
- Vincent CasselFrère Ambrosio
- Déborah FrançoisValerio
- Joséphine JapyAntonia
- Sergi LópezLe débauché
- Catherine MouchetElvire
- Roxane DuranAgnès
- Geraldine ChaplinL’abbesse
- Jordi DauderPère Miguel
- Frédéric NoailleLorenzo
- JaviviFrère Andrés
Recommendations
- 75
Chicago Sun-Times
An eccentric period melodrama with horror-flick overtones. Occasionally incoherent but never dull, the movie brims with weird imagery. - 75
Portland Oregonian
Not to be mistaken for a serious treatment of religious fervor or clerical corruption, The Monk is instead a knowingly over-the-top bit of gothic nuttiness. - 70
Village Voice
The finale, in which godly rites are juxtaposed against the vilest of sins, builds to an unholy power. - 70
Arizona Republic
Dominik Moll downplays the overtly scandalous nature of the story, at least for a while, with a leisurely pace heavy on imagery. He’s made a beautiful-looking film that portends disaster. And disaster arrives, eventually. It just takes its time getting there. - 60
The Guardian
It is not a story of great depth or passion, but there are intriguing and unsettling moments on its well-crafted surface. - 60
Total Film
Director Dominik Moll makes some odd style choices – like Looney Tunes-style ‘iris wipes’ – and it’s a while before Cassel fully embraces his dark side, yet his customary charisma is what seals The Monk’s redemption. - 60
Empire
An austere, cerebral reading of a book which is unfettered, blood-bolstered and wildly sensationalist — Lewis is the father of torture porn, not a master of subtle chills. It’s interesting and unsettling, with a charismatic lead performance, but nowhere near as shocking as it should be. - 60
Time Out
The sense of old-school piety as lust under inhuman pressure is juicy and polished, if a little earnest about spiritual conflict and too entranced with its LOTR-ish medieval trappings. In fact, as monksploitation goes, Dominik Moll’s film is sober and straight when it should be crazy and hot-blooded.
