The Church is a 1989 Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento’s protégé Michele Soavi. Initially planned as the 3rd film in the Demons franchise, it ultimately stands alone and has little to do with the previous films. It opens showing a group of knights murdering a village of ‘supposed’ witches. It’s brutal. After throwing the bodies into a mass grave a church is built over the spot. Cut to modern-day and Soavi’s story begins a slow burn until a seal is broken releasing the demonic force. Once it gets going, The Church is a breathless journey of possession and religious symbology that is very satisfying. So the gore…it has its bloody moments, but this movie is more spooky than it is gory, and that’s a shame. With a touch more this could stand toe-to-toe with the Italian greats of the era.
