Spanish filmmaker Alex de la Iglesia followed his outlandish sci-fi/horror debut, Accion Mutante, with this colorful apocalypse fantasy about Father Angel (Alex Angulo), a scholarly priest whose intensive research into cabalistic "Bible Code" prophecies leads to a horrific discovery: the exact birthdate of the Antichrist. Convinced that Satan's spawn will be born somewhere in Madrid on Christmas Day, Father Angel embarks on a bizarre journey down the path of sin, committing the foulest possible acts against God and humanity in order to worm his way into the Devil's inner circle and face the ultimate foe on his own turf. Comprised of equal parts high-concept horror and scathing social satire (in the mode of the director's peer and former collaborator Pedro Almodovar), this ambitious horror film has garnered a sizable cult following. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Review
Continuing to hone his unique combination of surreal black humor and satirical fantasy, Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia refines his talents for both in this interesting tale of a questionably sane but sincere priest's desperate attempt to rid the world of the antichrist. Attempting to get as close to the devil as possible by embracing the chaos of sin and committing a series of repulsive acts (including the purchase of heavy metal albums and the theft of a dying man's wallet), Father Angel serves as the irreverent personification of religious paranoia that has become a sign of the times. Teaming with a cherubic, cheerfully satanic record store owner and the soothsaying host of an occult-themed television program, Father Angel's increasingly desperate attempts to come closer to Old Scratch become ever more delusional. Those hoping for closure and a sense of solid resolve may be disappointed in de la Iglesia's consciously ambiguous ending, which leaves the viewer to decide if Father Angel has completed his mission, or finally gone completely mad. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Cast
Terele Pavez - Rosario; Maria Grazia Cucinotta - Susana; Alex Angulo - The Priest; Armando De Razza - Professor Cavan; Saturnino Garcia - Old Priest; Gianni Ippoliti - TV Producer; Santiago Segura - Jose Maria; Nathalie Sesena - Mina
Credit
Jose Luis Arrizabalaga - Art Director, Biaffra - Art Director, Luciano Martino - Associate Producer, Leo Pescarolo - Associate Producer, Fernando de Garcillan - Associate Producer, Estibaliz Markiegi - Costume Designer, Salvador Pons - First Assistant Director, Álex de la Iglesia - Director, Teresa Font - Editor, Battista Lena - Composer (Music Score), José Antonio Sanchez - Makeup, Flavio M. LaBiano - Cinematographer, Andrés Vicente Gómez - Producer, Reyes Abades - Special Effects, Daiquiri - Special Effects, Gilles Ortion - Sound/Sound Designer, Miguel Rejas - Sound/Sound Designer, Álex de la Iglesia - Screenwriter, Jorge Guerricaechevarría - Screenwriter
