The Unholy (1988)

This is a pretty poor EXORCIST rip-off with more dodgy special effects than you can shake a stick at. The film isn't helped by a confused plot, which bombards us with bizarre visuals and keeps repeating key points over and over again instead of taking the film in new directions. In the end, it all boils down to something so simplistic and vague that it was hardly worth making a film of it.This is a typical example of late '80s horror; despite trying to be scary, it just falls apart when the abysmal and rubbery special effects come into view. As a film, it's just too '80s to take seriously, with billowy and weird hairstyles, appalling fashions, and lots of bizarre dream sequences which make little sense. The story of a priest fighting demons is an old one, and needs to be done with a better script than it has here. Admittedly the film starts off well, with some real scenes of tension concerning the fall, but quickly descends into meaninglessness with the introduction of a Satanic nightclub which seems to serve as a den for perverts and punks who are into leather and mock rituals.This film has a cast better than it deserves, with loads of well known, earnest actors making fools of themselves by appearing in this. Ben Cross is pretty good as the lead, but fails to give his character life or even make him likable. Ned Beatty plays an extraneous cop who totally disappears from the film towards the end with no explanation. Goodness knows what Trevor Howard was doing appearing in this mess, but he obviously needed that paycheque very badly. There's also a silly '80s guy with bleached blond hair who looks like a right idiot.Things fall apart very quickly towards the end of the film, after a lot of mumbo jumbo and nothing much of substance happening. Then, all of a sudden, the producers suddenly decided to throw in as much nudity, gore, and violence as humanly possible, so we get people being nailed to crosses, getting gutted, set on fire, vomiting blood and lots more. When the "demon of desire"'s true form is finally revealed, it turns out to be a huge dog-like rubber monster which looks absolutely fake. I can appreciate the scenes of the creature walking unaided which are in their own way impressive, but mostly the creature is seen in close-up and very obviously being held and moved from inside. I know the special effects were typically bad in '80s films, but come on, did they ever expect anybody to find this scary? Things get even worse when Cross very nearly falls into Hell, portrayed too literally. All of a sudden a load of rubber masks appear on screen, flashing past in quick succession, the dry ice machine goes into overdrive and a hole comes out of nowhere. The eventual sight of the demon dog falling into the pit is hilariously awful. Then there's an ending which seems to rip off THE BEYOND for inspiration. Watch out for the bit where the priest says "Get thee behind me Satan!" too - it has to be seen to be believed. THE UNHOLY is a missed opportunity and a good example of all that was wrong with the '80s horror film - starting off with an interesting plot, but quickly descending into special effects madness.

After miraculously surviving a fall from a high rise building, Father Michael (a fine and credible performance by Ben Cross) gets assigned by Archbishop Mosely (the always excellent Hal Holbrook) to exercise a powerful demonic force from a church in New Orleans. Director Camilo Vila relates the engrossing story at a steady pace, creates and maintains a broodingly serious and sinister atmosphere, offers a nice evocation of the Big Easy setting, delivers a few startling moments of in-your-face graphic gore, and pulls out all the freaky stops for the gloriously wild and over the top special effects heavy climax in which Father Michael confronts the demon and its nasty dwarf minions in their natural grotesque forms. The ace acting from a top-drawer cast keeps the picture humming: Jill Carroll as sweet virginal innocent Millie, William Russ as sleazy nightclub owner Luke, Trevor Howard as sage blind priest Father Silva, Ned Beatty as the diligent Lt. Stern, and Peter Frechette as the suicidal Claude. Ravishing redhead Nicole Fortier positively burns up the screen as an incredibly sexy and enticing, yet still spooky and unearthly succubus. The offbeat script by Philip Yordan and Fernando Fanseca boasts a strong good vs. evil premise about the strength of faith and the difficulty inherent in resisting temptation as well as several inspired oddball moments (the definite loopy highlight occurs when Father Michael receives a crank call from hell!). The slick cinematography by Henry Vargas supplies a striking stylish look. Roger Bellon's moody score hits the spine-tingling spot. A very solid and enjoyable fright film.

Ben Cross plays Father Michael,a Catholic priest who ends up at an abandoned New Orleans church where two previous priests have been ghoulishly murdered on their own altar.Pretty soon he's dealing with an inquiring detective,a reticent archbishop,a pseudo-Satanist named Luke,a virgin and a blind priest who keeps trying to warn him that the Devil is more than an idea.There is also red-headed demon played by Nicole Fortier who provides some lovely full-frontal nudity."The Unholy" is a pretty weak horror film with some familiar cast and tons of clichés.There is some gore including blood vomiting,but nothing really shocking or impressive.I really wanted to like this film,but I couldn't.5 out of 10.

I first saw this movie on HBO or Cinamax back when it came out in 1988...I remember they used to play this all the time.Its a pretty cool late 80's horror film....it has a pretty cool story....its a about a priest ( Ben Cross) who has to battle the devil and the forces of evil...but, one of the twists in the movie is that the main Demon in the film Disguises itself as a very beautiful and Sexy girl ( played by Nicole Fortier) and let me say she is a major babe....one of my favorite things about the movie actually....hahaThis movie is a little hard to find....( I ended up having to get a copy off ebay) but, if your into 80's horror movies...Definitely check this one out...its a good one...with a neat story, decent acting, a cool soundtrack, and with evil hot babes ~