The steps to praying the Rosary are: Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed". Metacritic Reviews. The Rosary Murders. However, Elmore Leonards script makes the film is far more than just a novelty detective story a la The Father Dowling Mysteries (1989-91). All victims are found with a black rosary in their hands. Walton favours a bloodless approach and the film is often more spookier than a dozen others that do not. Around 30 girls lived in that house at the time. | Also, at one point, the murderer confesses to the Koesler and he has to decide if he should break the church law of keeping confession confidential. 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 A Priest as the main character is a compelling idea, but this doesn't do anything with it that's really special. It read well, kept my interest and was pretty well written. This book is a run of the mill police procedural, made more interesting by its portrayal of the state of the Catholic Church and the city of Detroit in the late seventies. Okay, I will get off my soapbox now. No expression so you had no idea where the film was going. Book Review: The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari #bookreview. The Rosary Murders is an extraordinarily good thriller. A small glimpse by Douglas A. Lessnau, this contains a song my Father wrote for my . "The Rosary Murders" is based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle who was a real catholic priest. His interests include: Following hockey and Minnesota sports teams, Batman, detective stories, community theater, and improv. 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. But this flaw will not diminish your enjoyment of the film, as there is enough action to keep the murder mystery fan happy. Walton came to attention with the slasher film When a Stranger Calls (1979) and went onto make April Fools Day (1986) and Dead Air (1994) and a host of made-for-tv movies including the likes of I Saw What You Did (1988), Trapped (1989), Homewrecker (1992), When a Stranger Calls Back (1993) and The Stepford Husbands (1996). Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. BAd script and slow paced but still very watchable, Moody, austere Catholic serial killer drama, Would Have Been Better in a More Talented Director's Hands. "The Rosary Murders" is based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle who was a real catholic priest. Based on the William X. Kienzle mystery about a serial killer preying on nuns and priests. Overview. This will allow for a more in-depth discussion of the topic. It's a handsomely made film by Fred Walton (the OG When a Stranger Calls) and has a solid cast led by a fantastic Donald Sutherland. Add Tubi - Free Movies & TV. Rated the #456 best film of 1987. A killer of Detroit clergy confesses to a priest (Donald Sutherland), who turns sleuth because he cannot tell the police. 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. They go out for a drink one evening and suddenly it's the next day over coffee at a nearby greasy spoon. | 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. 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. Also, Charles Durning is around to generally act exactly like we expect all Catholic priests of the Eighties to act. 29:05. However, the more credible sources on this story relate that she had fallen asleep. Not really a fault of the movie, just church law. Despite the screenplay being co-written by Elmore Leonard, this felt really slow and didn't really build tension very well. One girl told Father Kerr that she believed she had survived because she had been praying her rosary during the attack. Before leaving for college, she had promised her mother and/or grandmother that she would pray the rosary before bed every night even if she fell asleep doing so. However, the date of retrieval is often important. The making of the Rosary Murders with two original songs by Bobby Laurel. Furthermore, if Bundy did make that claim, this would have been a more well-known story. Film data from TMDb. The great surprise about the film is some of the names behind it. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. Sutherland has a sincere presence about him, that even if he looks half-asleep. The Rosary Murders: Directed by Fred Walton. Copyright EpicPew. The Rosary Murders "was William X. Kienzle's first Father Koesler mystery, published in 1978. However, because it did not appear in his story, he assumes he was not told about it. The murderer leaves behind a rosary. He walks across the altar to reach the confessional without genuflecting in front of the altar. The Rosary Murders was named one of the top twenty-five mysteries of the twentieth century in spring 2000 by the Chicago Sun-Times. As the bodies start to pile up, Detectives Koznicki and Harris turn to one of the Motor Citys priests, Father Robert Koesler, for help. If Bundy did Monsignor Kerr about a mysterious force, it should be assumed he did so simply to mess with him. His only prayer -- to learn how the maniac chooses his victims. 518.210.3877. the rosary murders spoileranthony ryan patterson wife Northern Cross Vineyard R Genre. But this flaw will not diminish your enjoyment of the film, as there is enough action to keep the murder mystery fan happy. It was a sorority house. Interesting, though sometimes muddled and too rarely tense. A priest hears the confession of the man responsible for the murders of priests in Detroit, and due . A priest cannot tell on a child rapist or a serial killer even if they confess. The Rosary Murders (1987) 16 08/28/1987 (US) Crime, Mystery, Thriller 1h 45m User Score. (February 24, 2023). "The Rosary Murders" is rated R for profanity and violence. The vacant, sleep-walking style adopted in this film gets tiresome very quickly. The movie has a gritty, junkyard-dog look to it. Pat: Belinda Bauer. The murderer leaves behind a rosary. The second victim is a colleague of Father Bob Koesler. Filmed on location in Detroit. 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. A priest is killed during Lent and the killer leaves a plain black rosary behind. The Rosary Murders is an extraordinarily good thriller. Belinda Bauer, with her jackhammer delivery, plays the lapsed Catholic reporter who falls in love with Koesler after he mumbles in an interview. 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. It was also made into a movie, with Donald Sutherland in the role of Father Koesler. He struggles with his conscience as he searches for the identity of the killer and tries to find a way to stop him. The next mention was a third-hand account on a blog in 2009. In his early days of academia, no teachers ever told him he was a talented writer; they only gave him grades. Father Koesler is no Rabbi David Small. Released August 28th, 1987, 'The Rosary Murders' stars Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 45 min, and received a user score of 53 . There's quite a large alumni group of us out there. Twitter Facebook Link Print. 1103 Beadle Hill Road, Valley Falls, NY 12185. Go Orange. Although convoluted the plot is an interesting premise. Subplot with a potential romantic interest for Sutherland is the worst. Ted Bundy did attack the Chi Omega Sorority House on January 15, 1978. "The Rosary Murders" is an instance of good writing matched by firm, understated direction and some splendid playing from a large cast. It was quite good. With Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer. The story, based on . We ought to be giving more attention to the victims of horrendous crimes and not those who perpetrate those crimes. Life in the Catholic Church of the Holy Redeemer in Detroit is upset by a series of killings whose victims are all priests and nuns. However, in college a writing professor believed in him and helped him grow as a writer. I fail to see this guy's acting abilities. Koesler helps the police find how the killer was able to gain access to the seminary. Far more compelling is Sutherland grappling with his faith, and the limitations of his calling. 1987 R Thriller. Koesler is taking confession when he realises that the man he is talking to is the killer. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Retrieved February 24, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/rosary-murders. In The Rosary Murders, Detroit priests and nuns are being methodically murdered; all are found with a plain black rosary entwined . The Rosary Murders was one of the first real adult suspense thrillers I ever read. That night, then-Father (later Monsignor) William Kerr was called in to administer Last Rites to the victims. ." A priest is called to the confessional from his quarters in the church. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. 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