R Genre. Fairly standard yet still luridly fun, with a twist that doesnt feel too far off from being an American answer to WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE?. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. 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. Leaving a rosary on the bodies of his victims the killer seems to be sending a message to what his motives are. Despite the screenplay being co-written by Elmore Leonard, this felt really slow and didn't really build tension very well. It is based upon the 1979 novel of the same name by William X. Kienzle.Kienzle received screenplay credit, as did Elmore Leonard. 105m/C VHS . He struggles with his conscience as he searches for the identity of the killer and tries to find a way to stop him. Start Shopping. The Rosary Murders sees Donald Sutherland as a conflicted priest, investigating a serial killer of persons of the cloth. 1987 Distribution Company. The director is Fred Walton whose line of genre films both before and since has only been routine. Like the hero of Hitchcock's "I Confess," the priest finds himself in a pickle when he hears the killer's confession but cannot reveal the man's identity. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. MOTW-level yellow paged potboiler where Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning play Detroit priests facing a wild ethical quandary: a serial killer splattering clergy spills his crimes to Sutherlands casual collar during confession. With Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer. However the pacing seemed to plod a bit too much, where some monotonous patches seemed to lose focus. However, if it is not true, we need to be clear on the facts. Nevertheless, it does suffer from a dull script in places. This book did a good job weaving all the pieces of a complex murder mystery together -- until the last chapter. External Reviews A priest is killed during Lent and the killer leaves a plain black rosary behind. Directed by Fred Walton, from source material written by William X. Kienzie and adapted by Walton and Elmore Leonard, the film co-stars Charles Durning and Josef Sommer. His book, Eugne de Mazenod: A Saint for Today, is available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and LeoninePublishers.com. 36%. One of the priests (Donald Sutherland) is joined by a journalist (Belinda Bauer) attempting to cover the story; both aim to stop the killer before he dispatches more nuns, monks, and members of the Holy Order. It is a set-up that is pure Hitchcock in its subtly implied minimalism. ." Announce the First Mystery and then say the "Our Father". In this film, which Fred Walton has directed and co-written with Elmore Leonard, Donald Sutherland stars as a liberal priest who gets involved in a Detroit manhunt for a serial killer who is murdering Catholic priests and nuns. 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. "The Rosary Murders" follows a Catholic parish in Detroit that is plagued by a series of brutal murders. That is plausible, but what I cannot accept is the assertion that a mysterious force prevented him from continuing his rampage. A slow-boil thriller that has some great moments but kinda fizzles overall. Okay, I will get off my soapbox now. Man, Oh Man, Catechism in a Year Podcast is Right Around the Corner! I truly enjoyed the whole plot to the story. A killer of Detroit clergy confesses to a priest (Donald Sutherland), who turns sleuth because he cannot tell the police. The murderer has confessed to him, and after a bit of amateur sleuthing he knows who it is. 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. I tried, but there were several stumbling blocks. This Hilarious Card Game Will Keep You In Holy Stitches (and Out of Confession)! . Joseph Somer gives a fine performance as the police detective who knows that Father Koesler (Sutherland) knows something but also realizes he cannot compel him to share the knowledge. His interests include: Following hockey and Minnesota sports teams, Batman, detective stories, community theater, and improv. Someone is murdering Detroits clergy. Don Lessnau Mara Lpez Mark Margolis Robert C. Maxwell Sheldon Miller Joel Nash Ed Oldani Burt Pearson Sam Pollack David Regal Ed Ruffalo Edward Seamon Janet M. Smith Peter Van Norden Josephine Vassalo Jo Mullin White Dennis Wrosch Jeffrey R. Dolan Georgine Hall Michael Mili Jack White, Elmore Leonard Fred Walton William X. Kienzle, 105mins I've spent much of the past week binging the CBS-turned- Paramount Plus series Evil, which has become one of my favorite shows currently airing. Directed by Fred Walton whose most known for his "When a Stranger Calls" films. I'm pretty sure Elmore Leonard slumbered his way through the source material's adaptation. Let's just see it for what it is a whodunit where priests and nuns are the victims of a serial killer who leaves a black rosary on their dead bodies. Still makes me laugh to this day. A Priest as the main character is a compelling idea, but this doesn't do anything with it that's really special. 105m/C VHS . If he really did feel that mysterious force, would he not have ceased his rampage entirely? The story, based on . This cozy mystery is fun, easily followed, and easily read. It was little seen when it came out and sadly its profile has not substantially changed since then, although it is eminently deservous of much greater recognition. If the girl with the rosary was real, did a mysterious force prevent Ted Bundy from killing her? What about the girl who was praying the rosary that night? Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by priest-turned-author William X. Kienzle. I strongly recommend skipping the last chapter all together. The thriller, which also stars Charles Durning as a conservative priest and Belinda Bauer as a reporter, wins its stripes by exploring the dark connections between guilt, sex, and Catholicism. However, because it did not appear in his story, he assumes he was not told about it. Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes Cast Donald Sutherland Father Robert Koesler Charles Durning Father Ted Nabors Belinda Bauer Pat Lennon Josef Sommer Donald Sutherland with short hair = bad movie. The Rosary Murders is an extraordinarily good thriller. I can't believe that anybody has a good thing to say about this movie. Say the "Glory Be". There are two versions of the story, and I will relate the most fantastic version of the two. Acclaimed screenwriter Elmore Leonard and director Fred Walton adapted the book for the screen. She moves to another town, but leaves a message with her answering service that she loves him. Father Edward Killeen: Break the seal of confession, and you destroy the Church. Pat: Belinda Bauer. I'd love to explain that in detail, but doing so would ruin part of the ending. 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. In contrast to Walton's spine-tingling "When a . Two stalwart figure heads; an impressive Donald Sutherland and equally so Charles Durning are engagingly strong. The original trailer in high definition of The Rosary Murders directed by Fred Walton and starring Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer. That's not to say it's bad film, but it doesn't exactly keep you on the edge of your seatwhich a mystery ought to. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. I found that funny because the book cover has a dead woman in a bathtub..it doesn't show anything vital, but the naked is implied. 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. 59:00. Donald Sutherland is good, but he can't make this film worth seeing all by himself. Donald Sutherland has made some good movies - "Don't Look Now", for instance - but he's also had his share of shockers, and this one ranks right up there. The Rosary Murders. There's something about this particular type of plot and tone that I'm jonesing for at the minute, so I'll definitely be trying to source a couple more films directed by Fred Walton. What might have benefited is a reflection on what unfolds from a spiritual perspective. (*1/2). I contacted Bill Zlatos, the Pittsburgh reporter who wrote the profile on Monsignor William Kerr (whom he called one of the holiest persons he had ever met), who said he probably would have used the mysterious force part of the story if he had heard it from Monsignor Kerr. The World At War 1973. Evil's Kristen Bouchard has had a hell of a week. One girl told Father Kerr that she believed she had survived because she had been praying her rosary during the attack. This is not Sutherland's best role because he is not given enough material to work with. I originally read this in high school. 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. Say the "Our Father". And for all those musical savants, yes I am aware the music to \"In Your Eyes\" is an arrangement based on Brahms. Nabors is the cocksure, dogma-spouting counterpoint to Koesler's struggle with self-doubt and church doctrine. See production, box office & company info. There were many websites that shared various versions of the story. FAQ The story involves a series of murders associated with people in the catholic church, some laymen/laywomen while others are clergy. But even Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning couldn't save this film. William X. Kienzle was born in Detroit, Michigan. Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. No, absolutely not. The Rosary Murders Directed by Fred Walton. Thoroughly enjoyed this quick read from days gone by! Production Company First Take Productions. Far more compelling is Sutherland grappling with his faith, and the limitations of his calling. Two wonderful stars! It was the first of 24 books written by Kienzle, and the only one adapted to the screen, and it's easy to see why. The Rosary Murders. "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. I have yet to find an exception to this rule. Watch in SD. | This story did not appear anywhere until 2002 when it was mentioned in a 2002 article in a Pittsburgh newspaper(a really good article; I recommend it). Letterboxd Limited. 29:05. | Koesler is taking confession when he realises that the man he is talking to is the killer. 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. The two primary sources (and I use that term loosely in this case) for this story do not mention the mysterious force. A really good cast can't stop this movie from feeling, unfortunately, very tedious and dry. Not really a fault of the movie, just church law. Also, the movie at 105 minutes is much too stretched out. When producer Robert G. Laurel bought the rights to The Rosary Murders, Kienzle's first novel . Get help and learn more about the design. behind the killers choice of victims. 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. He lied and played games during those conversations. Fred Walton. 59:59. He does this in most of his films. This 1987 movie was just awful. Its plot follows a series of gruesome murders occurring within a Detroit Roman Catholic parish. I understand there are another twenty books in the series and if I can find them, I will definitely read them. New TV Tonight You: Season 4 . The Rosary Murders R , 1h 44m Mystery & Thriller; Directed By: Fred Walton . Tv shows. It's like reading Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot - get in the spirit of the book. In this film, which Fred Walton has directed and co-written with Elmore Leonard, Donald Sutherland stars as a liberal priest who gets involved in a . This is a Detroit set mystery series featuring the Catholic church. I recommend this any day of the week. 5. Please consider upgrading to a Pro accountfor less than a couple bucks a month, youll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages (example), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads! However, Koesler is bound by his confessional oath and must keep this information a secret. Charles Durning on the other hand is right on as the hard nosed conservative priest who lives by the book with no room for compassion. It was merely a way to stall his execution. It was a sorority house. Rated the #456 best film of 1987. At this point, one must ask: If the story is of questionable validity, why discuss it? 6. While City of Angels is incredibly different tha Josef Sommer and Belinda Bauer offer able support. First time seeing this thanks to Kino's new bluray. Copyright 2006 - 2023 by CIStems, Inc., d.b.a. Not only does she spend much of the CBS drama's finale worr The case itself has some darkly salacious elements but the narrative still feels very, "TV movie of the week". Koznicki (Josef Sommer), the detective on the case, is not as concerned with the rules of the Catholic church, aiming to catch himself a killer. StarringDonald Sutherland Charles Durning Belinda Bauer Josef Sommer Addison Powell John Danelle James Murtaugh Addison Powell Kathleen Tolan Directed byFred Walton Born in Maple Grove, MN, Hey has lived in Sioux Falls, SD since 1995. However, I did make an effort to mention the names of the victims. Kienzle's books are set mostly in Detroit, Michigan . But this book was a nice little mystery. Interesting, though sometimes muddled and too rarely tense. For an example of this, check out the forum on Snopes with regards to this story. 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. Warning: This post contains big spoilers for Evil's Season 1 finale. he is even cautioned by his fellow priests that me may not do so even to save lives. 1103 Beadle Hill Road, Valley Falls, NY 12185. Then, after he was arrested, Ted Bundy asked Father Kerr to be his spiritual advisor in prison. NEW LINE CINEMA (NEW LINE); New Line Cinema; Virgin Vision Location. Not because of why he did it but because of the blunt statement made by the killer. Now, no one but Sutherland, can give that blank stare so well. Sutherland, usually very good, doesn't really fit the role perfectly and the ending feels a little forced, trying to tie all the loose ends up. The murderer leaves behind a rosary. I had previously read all the other books in this series, but had somehow missed this one. After reading the alleged story, I shifted the focus of my Google searching. Someone is going around murdering priests and nuns, as it later turns out using the coincidence of their names matching the ten commandments (sometimes with a bit of a stretch. Furthermore, if Bundy did make that claim, this would have been a more well-known story. "The Rosary Murders" is based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle who was a real catholic priest. If Bundy did Monsignor Kerr about a mysterious force, it should be assumed he did so simply to mess with him. Nabors: Charles Durning. They are funny and remind me of a precursor to Stephanie Plum. Encyclopedia.com. It could have been just another routine shocker, but a clever script and some unusually taciturn direction turns the otherwise familiar material into a modest but intriguing whodunit (actually more a 'whydunit') set against the rituals and mysteries of the Catholic Church, always a reliable source of guilt and intrigue. However, there was more than one survivor. I should point out the movie has some strengths - for one thing, it does get you curious enough to want to find out how it will be wrapped up - but all the same the movie ends up being a somewhat unsatisfying viewing experience. It does the Faith no good if false stories are being circulated to promote the Faith. So the author build up the story but then the ending was flat. Midsomer Murders S21E02 - The Miniature Murders - Part 01. Midsomer Murders S13E02 The Made to Measure Murders. I thought hard about not mentioning Ted Bundys name in this article and simply referring to him as the killer because Bundy had the personality that would have enjoyed the attention. After just skimming through the book I found that the story takes place in Detroit, Michigan. A sleepy and glum, but well-acted and rather moving thriller. The unlawful killing of another human being without justification or excuse. Soon a nun is killed and the hunt is on for a serial killer. His imagination has always been over-active, and his love for story telling continues to bloom. :). The clue in the case is a black rosary left in the hand of each of the victims. In tonight's 9-1-1 season 5 episode 1 premiere as per the FOX synopsis, "As the citywide blackout continues to cause mayhem in Los Angeles, A Be better.' Funny story: I grew up protestant. 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