Starring - Simon Andreu (Die Another Day, Vampire Academy), Emilio Gutierrez (Estigma, Lost Bullet), and Jose Franco (Hail Hazana, Climax)
Release Date - 1978
Genre - Comedy/Drama
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I guess I've turned a corner on this box set as it seems like the last few films I've tossed in have not been horror. I knew not all of these films would be horror but I'm shocked by the amount of documentaries that are included. I love a good documentary so I don't mind that but it looks like we've reached the portion of the set where focus from horror may have shifted to other genres now that nudity and so on could be filmed. After watching the sex comedy Sins of a Nympho, the next film in the set is another comedy of sorts. This time it's the 1978 dramedy The Priest from Eloy de la Iglesia. Iglesia is no stranger to Horror Society after I reviewed several of his films years ago that Severin also released on blu. I was curious about this one once I realized he directed it.
The film follows a priest, obviously, who has reached a point in his life where he is questioning his decision to become a man of the cloth. He is starting to sexual desires that slowly start to take over his life. He doesn't know what to do with these feelings at first so he turns to others in the church. They offer up suggestions on how to deal with it but they are not helpful at all. With his sexual tension rising, he starts to lust over a married woman who has an abusive husband.
I went into The Priest actually a little excited. I had no idea what kind of film this was but I was hoping it would be better than Sins of a Nympho. I got my wish because it was better but not by much. It's not the most entertaining film but it was alright for a first time watch especially after watching a film that was damn near unwatchable. The acting in this one is fucking fantastic. Hell, it's about the only reason I was enjoyed it as much as I did. Simon Adreau carries the film in my opinion. While the supporting cast is fantastic and do a wonderful job at bringing to life many colorful characters, it's Adreau and his intensity that makes the film what it is. The story for this one is one that speaks volumes when you say it out loud but watching it on film is like beating a dead horse. We follow a priest who wants to get laid. It's ALL he can think about and lets us know about it over and over again. We do have a little bit of intrigue when he starts to fall for the married woman but that doesn't happen until later in the film. I really wish we had more to the story than a horny priest and a battered wife. Finally, this is purely a drama with some funny moments so don't expect a body count and memorable gore. The film is purely a character piece and nothing else. Overall, The Priest has a stellar cast and a story that should have been more enjoyable than it was. It's very repetitive and doesn't give the viewer anything worthwhile. I wanted to love it but couldn't get into it.
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