“The Pope’s Exorcist” Leaves Viewers Breathless with Fear

Russell Crowe’s latest flick has made viewers totally spooked, with some even going so far as to warn fellow scare-seekers to watch it only during daylight hours.

It comes after Crowe himself revealed that he experienced something rather out of the ordinary while filming for a new horror movie.

The film in question is titled The Pope’s Exorcist, where Crowe plays Father Gabriele Amorth, a real-life person. From 1986 until his passing in 2016, the Catholic priest served as an exorcist for the Diocese of Rome.

In an interview with CBR, Crowe discussed how The Pope’s Exorcist drew him to the horror genre. “But, you know, Father Amorth was really my principal motivation for getting involved. I just found his life to be fascinating, you know? It’s one thing to do this job, to be the chief exorcist at the Vatican, and deal with people who are afflicted and the darkness that they’re going through.

“But it’s another level of courage altogether, to document your experiences. He wrote 12 books — there are 12 books available that are first person experiences, you know, and that’s an incredible situation to find myself in, with that much rich research.”

Starring Russell Crowe, The Pope’s Exorcist tells the story of children possessed by the King of Hell, Asmodeus, as he seeks to uncover a conspiracy that potentially implicates the entire Vatican. Crowe is joined by Daniel Zovatto (Father Esquibel), Alex Essoe (Julia), Franco Nero (The Pope), Laurel Marsden (Amy), Cornell John (Bishop Lumumba), Peter DeSouza-Feighoney (Henry) and Bianca Bardoe as Rosaria.

Given Father Amorth’s role in establishing the International Association of Exorcists, some speculate that “The Pope’s Exorcist” could potentially spawn a chilling franchise to rival “The Conjuring.” Excitingly, a sequel to the film is already in the works, set to send shivers down the spines of fans worldwide. And if that’s not enough, Crowe is also slated to appear in Sony Pictures’ “Kraven the Hunter,” alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ariana DeBose.

“The Pope’s Exorcist” hit theaters on April 5, 2023, bringing terror and suspense to eager audiences. Keep your eyes peeled for the sequel, which has already been confirmed to be in early production.