The Rosary Murders (1987)

June 22, 2024 5:29 PM

A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him. Currently free on tubi.
posted by bunderful (3 comments total)

LA Times review

“The Rosary Murders” is an instance of good writing matched by firm, understated direction and some splendid playing from a large cast. In contrast to Walton’s spine-tingling “When a Stranger Calls,” “The Rosary Murders” is low-key yet can jolt you out of your seat--even on a second viewing. Sutherland, his hair silvered and close-cropped, radiates intelligence in one of the most substantial, reflective roles of his career. No matter that Durning always seems perfect casting as a priest, for he’s so skillful that he makes each time seem the first.
posted by bunderful at 7:43 PM on June 22

I was just thinking of another movie with Charles Durning as a priest, and decided to watch this one. The killer's motivation and pattern seemed kind of odd, and the depiction of Church practice felt a little antiquated, though not completely unbelievable. Especially as Durning's Fr. Nabors being a stickler here, a character who simultaneously seems to have had his pastoral care on auto pilot for a good while. Though that characteristic seems to pervade Detroit across the board in this depiction. The cops are sloppy and simply not very thorough, even when they have reason to believe a killer with a fairly predictable pattern is at large. Southerland's Fr Koesler oddly seems to withhold some evidence that he could be giving up to police, and plays private eye reasonably well, if departing from realism a bit more. The female reporter/almost-romantic angle feels superfluous. I really enjoyed the views of the era's Detroit.
posted by 2N2222 at 10:29 AM on June 23

Eye of the Needle led me to look up more of Donald Sutherland’s work.

I was falling asleep last night and had to come back to the movie this afternoon.

I’d watch it again.
posted by bunderful at 4:09 PM on June 23 [1 favorite]