The Monk [15]

For those who enjoyed The Mysteries of Lisbon, this film has a similar feel. Any film with Vincent Cassel as the lead actor is usually a good one to watch. It's beautifully shot, with magnificent medieval architecture and gloomy shadowy Valasqueth-style facial framing throughout, which you cannot fault ...But despite some thought provoking lines about Satan lurking within all of us, it just doesn't work. The film sets up dozens of opportunities to introduce fear through superstition but always seems to miss the mark, trundling along at the same pace from start to finish. Whenever there is an opportunity to allow Satan within us to take a grip, a soaring symphonic orchestra knocks our moment of indulgence for six! The climax of the movie is laughably similar to that of a Dracula movie; in this case, the sinister priest clambering into the virgin's bed chamber... and then the terrible revelation about her identity... Need I go on. Name of the Rose this is not!

Moviemoghul (Unverified), 10/05/12