Letters of Youth

‘THE UNHOLY’: A MOVIE OF ART OR AN INSULT TO THE DOCTRINES OF CATHOLICISM?

/ 26 March 2021

This Sony Pictures’ trailer for the new horror feature garnered over 2 million views on Youtube in just one day, as the story revolves around a girl who can miraculously heal people by the power of the Virgin Mary. As people flock to witness her miracles, terrifying events unfold. Questioning her abilities, pondering if it is a work of the Virgin Mary or something much more sinister?

Evan Spiliotopoulos serves as writer-director in his feature directorial debut, a God-tier combo with the legendary horror icon Sam Raimi producing. Evan Spiliotopoulos is known best for his screenplays, such as The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Beauty, and the Beast, and the recent Elizabeth Banks-directed Charlie’s Angels.

This horror feature starts with a young hearing-impaired girl named Alice (Brown) who can one-day unfathomable to speak, hear, and heal the sick after a supposed visit from the Virgin Mary. A diminished journalist (Morgan) continues to hope for his career to grow, he decided to investigate and follow Alice’s story. But as soon as terrifying events begin to outgrow the scene, he starts to question if these are the works of the Virgin Mary or something more difficult to explain.

Despite collecting positive comments around the globe, many Filipinos were disgust by the said movie because of its close-ties around catholic traditions. An audience said “Looking at the other side, the movie can teach us to be more discerning when faced with something unnatural, or we might say preternatural. Not all powers, indeed, is a work of God”

Another viewer said “They will show that Mary is a demon in the movie and it is so disgraceful for me, I hate to break it to you but you’re actually worshipping Satan, look at the Baphomet statue’s hands. Most of the Catholic hand gestures aren’t like that”

Drawing the last straw, movies, due to the venal nature of horror films and the art of ideas they often provoke, the artistic blueprints, liberate skill, and aesthetic intentions behind them can often be laced with negative interpretations or overlooked entirely.

The Unholy arrives at theaters on April 2, which also happens to be Good Friday. When God builds a church, the devils build a chapel next door. “Be careful who you pray to” Take a look at the official trailer below.