Leonard is of course best known as a crime novelist and a number of his works have been adapted into popular films including 52 Pick-Up (1974), Get Shorty (1995), Quentin Tarantinos Jackie Brown (1997), Paul Schraders miracle-healer film Touch (1997), Steven Soderberghs Out of Sight (1998), 3:10 to Yuma (2007) and Life of Crime (2013). Yet, it's not as edgy as the central premise and everything outside of the main mystery just falls . The fact that you could allow people to be killed because of some religious notion is just silly to me. "The Rosary Murders" uses the very familiar plot of a priest getting a confession from a criminal, but because the priest is bound by the seal of the confessional, he can't inform the police about what he knows. Copyright 2006 - 2023 by CIStems, Inc., d.b.a. Truthfully, the mystery angle is by far the least interesting part of the movie, and once it takes over the narrative my attention waned. I want it to be true, but I cannot believe something I know is most likely not true. Oh boy, this should be a good whodunit! It is based upon the 1979 novel of the same name by William X. Kienzle.Kienzle received screenplay credit, as did Elmore Leonard. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Detroit is shaken by the activities of a serial killer who is systematically slaying Catholic priests and nuns, always leaving a rosary wrapped around each victims hand. But this flaw will not diminish your enjoyment of the film, as there is enough action to keep the murder mystery fan happy. No, absolutely not. I just discovered this series of books. My dad's response to the librarian? The author has relied heavily upon the literary device of COINCIDENCE in constructing his plot; i.e., he expects you to believe that several people living in the same part of the country would have certain proper names. I tried, but there were several stumbling blocks. Released August 28th, 1987, 'The Rosary Murders' stars Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 45 min, and received a user score of 53 . hope this doesn't awaken anything within me, i hadn't revisited this movie since then because it was simply not very good and that still holds true, but hey, i owe a lot to it an iconic moment from my recent personal lore. This is not Sutherland's best role because he is not given enough material to work with. After the time allotted for those interrogations, Bundy had talked to only a small portion of the investigators who had traveled to Florida to speak with him, and he told the State of Florida it was going to take much longer than he had anticipated. However, I did make an effort to mention the names of the victims. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. It is a set-up that is pure Hitchcock in its subtly implied minimalism. Furthermore, if Bundy did make that claim, this would have been a more well-known story. As slow-burns go, Fred Walton's mysterious catholic-bounded thriller takes the cake with its minimal and sombre treatment. Alex R. Hey has had his work featured on TheBatmanUniverse.net and in The Eagle Democrat of Warren, Arkansas and The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, SD. After just skimming through the book I found that the story takes place in Detroit, Michigan. Murder mysteries generally speaking are criminal fantasies, outside of those based on real-life or so-called true crime. This cozy mystery is fun, easily followed, and easily read. Man, Oh Man, Catechism in a Year Podcast is Right Around the Corner! The steady accumulation of clues and evidence is interrupted only by an unsurprising (and unnecessary) romantic subplot, which happily compromises neither the mystery itself nor Sutherland's oath of celibacy. However, Bundy did not request him specifically, and it is not known if Bundy knew Father Kerr was at the scene of the crime that night. Walton came to attention with the slasher film When a Stranger Calls (1979) and went onto make April Fools Day (1986) and Dead Air (1994) and a host of made-for-tv movies including the likes of I Saw What You Did (1988), Trapped (1989), Homewrecker (1992), When a Stranger Calls Back (1993) and The Stepford Husbands (1996). me on june 25th, 2021 naively watching invasion of the body snatchers and the rosary murders in rapid succession, thereby becoming aware of both malewife and hot priest iterations of sutherland within 24 hours of eachother: huh! Donald Sutherland is good, but he can't make this film worth seeing all by himself. Is this a giallo? Start Shopping. The second victim is a colleague of Father Bob Koesler. I have yet to find an exception to this rule. BAd script and slow paced but still very watchable, Moody, austere Catholic serial killer drama, Would Have Been Better in a More Talented Director's Hands. Say three "Hail Marys" for Faith, Hope, and Charity. The Rosary Murders was made into a movie, starring Donald Sutherland, in 1987. A priest is conflicted following a string of murders which target fellow priests and nuns in this dark mystery drama. After a black rosary is found at the scene on the body of those who have been murdered, Father Robert Koesler (Donald Sutherland) hears a confession for the crimes from the other end of a partition. The murderer leaves behind a rosary. He walks across the altar to reach the confessional without genuflecting in front of the altar. Much of the blame for these problems seems to lie with novelist Elmore Leonard co-writing the script. Sure some things are dated, but it was politically correct at the time. But even Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning couldn't save this film. Before leaving for college, she had promised her mother and/or grandmother that she would pray the rosary before bed every night even if she fell asleep doing so. Acclaimed screenwriter Elmore Leonard and director Fred Walton adapted the book for the screen. The Rosary Murders R , 1h 44m Mystery & Thriller; Directed By: Fred Walton . The author has relied heavily upon the literary device of COINCIDENCE in constructing his plot; i.e., he expects you to believe that several people living in the same part of the country would have certain proper names. Filmed on location in Detroit. Being that I am from Michigan this peaked my interest. The Rosary Murders is an interesting little mystery-thriller with a solid premise and some spine chilling moments. Get this album or track at: 2:29. Announce the First Mystery and then say the "Our Father". Father Koesler begins collaborating with the police but soon finds himself in a spot when the killer decides to choose him as confessor.Salvatore Santangelo Donald Sutherland is a priest who becomes entangled in a series of murders where someone is offing nuns and priests. TMDb What might have benefited is a reflection on what unfolds from a spiritual perspective. He listens as the killer talks about how the church let his sixteen year-old daughter die. Spoiler Alert Link to Spoiler Alert. [CDATA[ It's full of old hoary clichs about the Catholic Church; full of unnecessary filler-type sub-plots; the main plot centres around a series of truly preposterous killings in which the names of the victims are related to the 10 Commandments (although in some cases, the link is pretty tenuous); the dialogue is awful (Elmore Leonard really had an off-day with this one); and the acting atrocious. A great premise but ultimately a bit of a snooze. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"dDBoq3WEvyGgx30SM_suJO16ehSvQTu9tn0_uz4CzPo-86400-0"}; Koesler is taking confession when he realises that the man he is talking to is the killer. Let us assume, for a brief moment, that Ted Bundy did say a mysterious force did prevent him from continuing his rampage at Chi Omega. The director doesn't seem to have the temperament that's needed for a successful thriller, the plot moves slowly and monotonously, and the whole thing just plods on to an ending that fails to explain the killer's motivation satisfyingly. The plot is excellent there are some amazing twists, albeit a slightly probability defying m.o. Second Story Priest. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. Good plot and decent characters, but for today's reader marred by the fact of the casual racist, sexist and religious quips and jokes that don't sit so well today. The making of the Rosary Murders with two original songs by Bobby Laurel. he is even cautioned by his fellow priests that me may not do so even to save lives. None of the other actors has much to do, and they all act accordingly, as though they really had better things to do. Sutherland and Charles Durning are the main highlights. The clue in the case is a black rosary left in the hand of each of the victims. I originally read this in high school. Later in the movie he makes himself and is motives known during confession to father Robert Koesler, Donald Sutherland.Three years ago his 16 year old daughter was killed and the murderer is holding the church and it's priests and nuns responsible for her death and now is exacting vengeance on them. Sutherland's Koesler is a priest who would pique the pope -- a liberal, gentle loner whose temperament and leanings conflict with those of his blustering, narrow-minded superior Father Nabors, played curtly by Charles Durning. Yes, the tone and language were a bit dated, it's an old book. Midsomer Murders - S21E05 - January 06, 2020 || Midsomer Murders (01/06/2020) Part 02. There is one jump-scene that made me bolt up suddenly. He sighs and goes on sleuthing about the creepy corridors of the Holy Redeemer complex. The Rosary Murders was named one of the top twenty-five mysteries of the twentieth century in spring 2000 by the Chicago Sun-Times. A slow-boil thriller that has some great moments but kinda fizzles overall. I recommend this any day of the week. (1987) A killer of Detroit clergy confesses to a priest (Donald Sutherland), who turns sleuth because he cannot tell the police. ***SPOILERS*** Starting with the 40 day's of Lent on Ash Wednesday a series of murders occurred in and around this suburban Detroit church ,The Holy Redeemer, that has everyone, the public and police, shocked and puzzled to who would do such a thing. Midsomer Murders S21E02 - The Miniature Murders - Part 01. This book did a good job weaving all the pieces of a complex murder mystery together -- until the last chapter. Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer, James Murtaugh, John Danelle, Addison Powell, Kathleen Tolan, Janet Smith; D: Fred Walton; W: Fred Walton, Elmore Leonard; C: David Golia. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. And yet his monastic muttering and moral puttering holds your interest somehow. In The Rosary Murders, Detroit priests and nuns are being methodically murdered; all are found with a plain black rosary entwined . 518.210.3877. the rosary murders spoileranthony ryan patterson wife Northern Cross Vineyard Even after the deranged individual responsible for these crimes confesses in church, the priest remains determined to find out who he is and why he is leaving a black rosary wrapped around the hand of each victim. Furthermore, if Bundy did make that claim, this would have been a more well-known story. 1987 Distribution Company. The Science Fiction Horror and Fantasy Film Review. Spirituality & Practice. Synopsis: priests and nuns are his targets. A priest is killed during Lent and the killer leaves a plain black rosary behind. The steps to praying the Rosary are: Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed". . A couple good startling moments break the dullness though. Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Josef Sommer Directed by: Fred Walton. The classic film about a Detroit cop who goes to Beverly Hills, California to solve a crime. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Note: when I first wrote out "serial killer" I accidentally wrote "cereal killer" and that made me chuckle. I enjoyed this. Then I started it, saw Elmore Leonard wrote the screenplay, and got more excited. 105m/C VHS . | All Rights Reserved. He attacked four girls, killing two, Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, and leaving Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler severely injured. Police believe he stopped his attack because he was spooked when a girl used the bathroom at the far end of the hallway around 3:15A.M. What Everyone is REALLY Thinking in the Cry Room, Laugh Your Way to Holiness with Catholic Card Game. Nabors: Charles Durning. He is abrupt and even down right tactless when dealing with his parishioners. Films Depicting NASA and the Space Program, Films That Make Dubious Claims to Being Based on True Stories, Coming of Age Stories in Fantastic Cinema, Films About Cryogenics and Suspended Animation, Disturbed Psychology as Portrayed on Film. Show All However, because it did not appear in his story, he assumes he was not told about it. But this flaw will not diminish your enjoyment of the film, as there is enough action to keep the murder mystery fan happy. These theological undercurrents make for a better mystery, adding some edge to this contemplative, rather sleepy screenplay based on the novel by ex-priest William Kienzle. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. A Nice little spin on Hitchcocks I Confess with Donald Sutherland as a priest who hears a confession from a serial killer murdering priests and nuns. Evil's Kristen Bouchard has had a hell of a week. 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