Stigmata: Movie Review (2008)
6/20/2008 Posted by Admin
Self-crucifixionDirected by Rupert Wainwright, written by Tom Lazarus and Rick Ramage, 102 minutes, rated R.
Editor's note: Just came upon this on cable. Egad! Here is the review I wrote upon the film's release in 1999:
Clearly, the bright, well-read folks who made “Stigmata” have no idea what stigmata means.
Director Rupert Wainwright and his screenwriters Tom Lazarus and Rick Ramage have confused the term so hilariously with demonic possession, they made their star, Patricia Arquette, speak in deep, rumbling croaks taken straight from Linda Blair’s performance in “The Exorcist.”
No religious ecstasy there.
Worse, the film suggests that stigmata is something you can catch from holding a rosary, as if it were a deadly bacteria and not a phenomenon allegedly experienced by deeply religious people who have been taken over by the Holy Spirit.
Since the theology behind stigmata is lost on its filmmakers, “Stigmata” never creates a satisfying illusion. Wainwright’s heavy-handed direction suggests desperation; he doesn’t have much of a story to work with, so he throws a neverending barrage of religious clichés at the screen--water, doves, bleeding Madonnas, levitations.
His film isn’t scary, so he tries to give it energy by cutting it like a music video, which only makes his dull film frightfully choppy and, at times, unbearably loud.
The performances by Gabriel Byrne and Arquette are enough to lift this film out of cinematic hell, but even Arquette’s character, a Pittsburgh hairstylist, knows something isn’t right here. At one point, she picks her ravaged body off the floor to say: “If it isn’t God who’s doing this to me, who is?”
Your director. Your screenwriters. Your agent. You.
Grade: C-
June 21, 2008 at 6:44 AM
C'mon Christopher, I think you were a little harsh on this one back in the 90's. I thought it was interesting how they marketed a "horror" film, but gave us a very bold and daring look at the world of catholicism. I would have at least gone with a B- as the film did a very good job of tackling some very touchy ground.
June 21, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Hey Wes--
Good performances, but it all seemed like an also-ran to me when compared to its inspiration, "The Exorcist." And I disliked how they cut the film; a good story doesn't need to be backed by that kind of manufactured momentum. And as for their knowledge of the stigmata, well, let's just say they needed to do some research.
Christopher
June 21, 2008 at 6:14 PM
I really liked ths movie i thought it was really scary Icant belive you didnt enjoy it
June 21, 2008 at 6:38 PM
This is a throwback. And I remember not liking it at all. But I do like her in her Medium show.
September 30, 2008 at 3:03 PM
This movie was scary and not to bad to watch, but it did lack something in it's story line.
October 1, 2008 at 12:55 PM
As far as scary movies go, this seemed like just another "run of the mill" horror flick.
October 1, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Loved this movie!
October 3, 2008 at 6:54 AM
I loved this movie you dont need to know anything about stigmata just enjoy the scares it gives you.
October 5, 2008 at 8:17 AM
I really liked this movie. I had to go out and buy it right after i rented it!
October 5, 2008 at 1:41 PM
found it. again on a movie i havent seen, although i could watch patricia read a phone book.
October 14, 2008 at 4:20 AM
I think you were being generous with your C- rating.
October 20, 2008 at 8:25 PM
This movie grossed me out!!! You were spot on Christopher!!! UGH!!
I am in it to win it!!
November 27, 2008 at 7:23 PM
I like your reviews. Will not rent this one! I'm sending an email too!