Stigmata on DVD (1999)

A bold, spiritual masterpiece!

JohnnyRoss from Leeds , 19/01/2004

The film can only be described in one word - masterpiece. It has been adapted from the true discovery of the Nag Hammadi scrolls in 1945, and has altered parts to suit the plot slightly, and locally, to emphasise and expose the conspiracy theories of the Vatican with regards to such phenomenon. At times, it tends to ridicule the Orthodox religion of Christianity, but this is done through the scrolls that have actually been discovered. The film delievers not only an entertaining and gripping story, but also allows faith in general to be viewed at a much more broader perspective. Performances by the entire cast are strong and lasting; the music could have been better to suit the story, though it works fine. Top marks to the entire unit for coming up with a daring and wholly exciting film!

Read all reviews

Rollercoaster

Silverwillow from Macclesfield , 25/02/2005

From one scene to the next a rollercoater of emotions. A film that leaves you convinced you know the answers but not too sure all the same.

Read all reviews

Gorgeous

ThursdayNext from Warwickshire , 05/03/2005

A fantastic film with visual flair and a brilliant soundtrack from Corgan. This film has been accused of being like a rock music video but I don't think that should be taken as a criticism!

It is beautiful as well as energetic and violent. It is not a horror film in the strictest sense of the word, so don't expect the Exorcist. Watch with an open mind and you may be pleasantly surprised by the mixture of horror, religion, conspiracy and romance.

Read all reviews

Creepy

Siobhan Coxon from Newcastle , 02/04/2005

STIGMATA: Well, this one is certain to be somewhat controversial with hardcore fundamentalist Christians and the equally dedicated Catholic, but I personally found the movie to be far from irreverent, and actually rather faithful in parts. Though the film balances psychological terror and armchair Christian mythology, the movie manages to present a thought-provoking dramatic episode by clashing the faithful and the faithless, the true spirituality and hypocrisy, the sincere and the mundane.

The film centers on the experiences of a young woman who is a self-professed athiest who manages to somehow be afflicted with The Stigmata, a paranormal experience wherein the 'victim' or the 'gifted' (dependant upon one's point of view) is afflicted/touched by God and with manifestations of the wounds Christ suffered at His Crucifixion. These include the wounds through the wrists, the feet, the crown of thorns, the scourging of the back and finally the spear through the side.

Into the mix is tossed a mildly agnostic Catholic priest/scientist assigned by Rome to investigate supposed 'miracles.' Also blended into the story is a sub plot full of political goings on inside the Vatican and the attraction between the priest and the young woman afflicted. So not only does the movie examine The Stigmata, spirituality, Christian myth, and the Catholic tradition, but it explores the inner workings of the Church (to a very critical degree) and the meeting of man, woman and God. It's also entertaining.

The movie seems to be marketed as a modern-day 'The Exorcist.' I don't think the comparison is fair. Though there does appear to be some sort of possession story happening, it somehow ends up being mostly the desperate actions of a benevolent spirit of a deceased priest trying to get attention and bring the Truth to light. Obviously the more fundamental Christian believer familiar with the Christian mythos would find this plot element suspect, and dramatically it's only mildly fulfilling. For this reason the mature and educated viewer might find the ending of the film anticlimactic and arguably 'sell out,' but the casual viewer would probably find nothing questionable about the Hollywood ending. Personally, I thought it tainted an otherwise splendidly atmospheric film. The integration of Catholic mysticism with MTV-era music video filmography at times seems nearly as visually attractive as Madonna's 'Just Like a Prayer' video, though not quite as sublime.

On it's own merits, the film manages to create a foundation from which the viewer is challenged to fill in the blanks re: the spiritual goings-on, but it loses points where it attempts to find cheap thrills and reinvent the spiritual-psychological horror portrayed in The Exorcist by turning an interesting and engaging look at mystic spirituality's interaction with the 20th Century's narcissistic cynicism into something more akin to the later OMEN movies.

Read all reviews

Good watchable film!

car from glos , 21/06/2005

Watched this a while ago & enjoyed it then so i decided to rent it as i'd forgot most of what happened.

Its a good supernatural thriller about a Vatican conspiracy to suppress an Aramaic text that could shake the foundations of the church.

Read all highest rated reviews

A bold, spiritual masterpiece!

JohnnyRoss from Leeds , 19/01/2004

The film can only be described in one word - masterpiece. It has been adapted from the true discovery of the Nag Hammadi scrolls in 1945, and has altered parts to suit the plot slightly, and locally, to emphasise and expose the conspiracy theories of the Vatican with regards to such phenomenon. At times, it tends to ridicule the Orthodox religion of Christianity, but this is done through the scrolls that have actually been discovered. The film delievers not only an entertaining and gripping story, but also allows faith in general to be viewed at a much more broader perspective. Performances by the entire cast are strong and lasting; the music could have been better to suit the story, though it works fine. Top marks to the entire unit for coming up with a daring and wholly exciting film!

Read all highest rated reviews