Watch The Unholy

The Unholy, released in 2021, is a supernatural horror film that stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Cricket Brown, and William Sadler. The film is directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos and produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Evan Spiliotopoulos. The plot of The Unholy is centered around the town of Banfield, Massachusetts. A journalist named Gerry Fenn (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) arrives in the town to cover a story about a young girl named Alice (played by Cricket Brown), who claims to have seen the Virgin Mary. The sighting gains attention from the locals, and soon pilgrims start visiting the area to witness the miracle. However, as the attention on Alice and her supposed vision grow, disturbing events start taking place in the town.

Fenn, initially skeptical about Alice's claims, starts investigating the events and comes across information that suggests that Alice’s visions may not be as innocent as they seem. It soon becomes apparent that the visions may be the work of a malevolent entity that aims to use Alice for its own gain.

William Sadler plays Father Hagan, a local priest who is skeptical of Alice’s vision but starts to believe after witnessing some of the events taking place in the town. As the story progresses, Hagan becomes an important figure in the fight against the demonic entity.

The film’s plot is centered around themes of faith, skepticism, and the consequences that arise from blind belief. It opens with a quote from Mark Twain that reads, “Faith is believing in something you know ain't true.” This quote sets the tone for the film and illustrates the central themes.

The film’s setting is mostly at night, and the atmosphere is appropriately eerie, aided by the muted color palette and effective use of light and shadow. The direction and cinematography help build tension and suspense gradually over the course of the story.

One of the strengths of The Unholy is its strong performances. Jeffrey Dean Morgan brings his trademark charm to the role of Gerry Fenn, making him both likable and relatable. Cricket Brown, in her debut role, manages to hold her own against a seasoned actor like Morgan. Her portrayal of the innocent yet haunted Alice is convincing and engrossing.

William Sadler offers a nuanced performance as Father Hagan, conveying the character's internal struggles effectively. Other actors within the movie lend their talents well as supporting cast members, delivering strong performances that further bring the narrative and setting to life.

Another strength of the movie is its sound design. The score by award-winning composer Joseph Bishara is haunting and effective in creating a sense of dread. The sound design also adds depth to the world-building and helps keep the audience immersed in the story.

Overall, The Unholy is an effective horror movie that manages to deliver scares without relying on cheap thrills. Its strong performances, direction, and sound design enable it to build an eerie atmosphere that is captivating and immersive. It offers a fresh take on the classic horror themes of faith, skepticism, and the consequences of belief.

The Unholy is a 2021 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1 and a MetaScore of 36.