La chiesa (1989)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Michele Soavi

Writers:

Nick Alexander (dialogue: English version)
Dario Argento (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

10 March 1989 (Italy)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

It will make you squirm.

Plot:

An old Gothic cathedral, built over a mass grave, develops strange powers which trap a number of people inside with ghosts from a 12th Century massacre seeking to resurrect an ancient demon from the bowels of the Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Demon | Female Nudity | Sequel | Supernatural | Witchcraft

Cast

Hugh Quarshie	...	Father Gus
Tomas Arana	...	Evan
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.	...	The Bishop
Barbara Cupisti	...	Lisa
Antonella Vitale	...	Bridal Model
Giovanni Lombardo Radice	...	Reverend
Asia Argento	...	Lotte
Roberto Caruso	...	Freddie
Roberto Corbiletto	...	Hermann, the Sacristan
Alina De Simone	...	Lottie's Mother
Olivia Cupisti	...	Mira
Gianfranco De Grassi	...	The Accuser
Claire Hardwick	...	Joanna
Lars Jorgenson	...	Bruno
John Karlsen	...	Heinrich
Katherine Bell Marjorie	...	Heinrich's Wife
Riccardo Minervini	...	Schoolboy
Enrico Osterman	...	The Torturer
Micaela Pignatelli	...	Fashion shoot photographer
Patrizia Punzo	...	Miss Brückner
John Richardson	...	Architect
Matteo Rocchietta	...	Younger Schoolboy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michele Soavi	...	1st Policeman at Lisa's House (uncredited)

Directed by
Michele Soavi

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nick Alexander		dialogue: English version
Dario Argento		writer
Fabrizio Bava		prologue (uncredited)
Lamberto Bava		uncredited
Franco Ferrini		writer
M.R. James		story "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" (uncredited)
Dardano Sacchetti		uncredited
Michele Soavi		writer

Produced by
Dario Argento	....	producer
Mario Cecchi Gori	....	producer
Vittorio Cecchi Gori	....	producer

Original Music by
Keith Emerson
Philip Glass
Goblin
Fabio Pignatelli

Cinematography by
Renato Tafuri

Film Editing by
Franco Fraticelli

Production Design by
Massimo Antonello Geleng

Costume Design by
Maurizio Paiola

Makeup Department
Laura Borselli	....	makeup artist
Franco Casagni	....	makeup artist
Piero Cucchi	....	hair stylist
Assunta Emidi	....	hair stylist
Rosario Prestopino	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Giuseppe Mangogna	....	executive in charge of production
Saverio Margogna	....	unit manager
Ezio Orita	....	production secretary

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Filiberto Fiaschi	....	assistant director

Art Department
Fabio Altamura	....	props
Daniela Giovannoni	....	assistant set designer
Osvaldo Monaco	....	props
Barbara Morosetti	....	assistant designer: special scenic creations
Caterina Napoleone	....	set dresser
G.P. Postgione	....	set furnishing
Antigone Predatori	....	carpenter
E. Rancati	....	set furnishing
E. Rancoti	....	set furnishing
Sergio Stivaletti	....	special scenic effects
Aldo Taloni	....	set construction chief
E. Tappezzeri	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Luca Anzellotti	....	sound effects editor
Luciano Anzellotti	....	additional sound effects (as L. Anzellotti)
Massimo Anzellotti	....	additional sound effects (as M. Anzellotti)
Mauro Anzelotti	....	additional sound effects soundtrack
Claudio Paolucci	....	boom operator
Giulio Viggiani	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Renato Agostini	....	special effects
Danilo Bollettini	....	special effects
Massimo Cristofanelli	....	special effects
Sergio Stivaletti	....	special effects

Stunts
Arnaldo Dell'Acqua	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Alessandro Carlotto	....	camera operator
Maurizio Cremisini	....	assistant camera (as Maurizio Cremesini)
Enrico Maggi	....	camera operator
Fernando Massaccesi	....	gaffer
Nicola Pecorini	....	Steadicam operator
Augusto Proietti	....	key grip
Alfonso Vicari	....	assistant camera
Franco Vitale	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claudio Antonucci	....	wardrobe assistant
Carla Latini	....	dress maker

Editorial Department
Piero Bozza	....	first assistant editor
Roberto Priori	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Max Carola	....	composer: additional music
Max Carola	....	conductor
Martin Goldray	....	musician: synthesizer, Philip Glass pieces
Massimo Morante	....	musician (as Goblin)
Fabio Pignatelli	....	musician (as Goblin)

Other crew
Marisa Calia	....	continuity
Carlo Cestari	....	paymaster
Carlo Du Bois	....	production accountant
Maurizio Garrone	....	animal trainer
Claudio Lattanzi	....	assistant to director
Enrico Lucherini	....	unit publicist
Enzo Orita	....	production secretary
Grunwald Martino P.	....	animal supplier
Gianluca Pignatelli	....	unit publicist
Daniela Rocco	....	production secretary
Marco Stefanelli	....	animal supplier
Sergio Stivaletti	....	special scenic creations
Antonella Villanti	....	bookkeeper (as Antonella Villaniti)

Production Companies

• ADC Films
• Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
• Reteitalia

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (video)
• Gativideo (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Media Blasters (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Nippon Columbia Co. Ltd. (1990) (Japan) (VHS)
• Shriek Show (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• South Gate Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Spike K.K. (2001) (Japan) (DVD)
• Vivivideo (Italy) (VHS)

Other Companies

• A. & G. Corridori  special stage effects
• Artigiana Arredatori e Tappezzieri  carpeting
• Bixio C.E.M.S.A  music production
• CIAK Italia  production equipment
• Cinears S.r.l.  set furnishing
• Cinesicurtà  insurance
• Cinevox Records  soundtrack released by
• De Paolis, Rome  sound stages
• Dedalo S.r.l.  set furnishing
• Franco Petracca & Co.  lighting
• G.P. 11 Safas Cantini  costume house (as G.P. 11)
• G.R.P. S.r.l.  set furnishing
• Hungarofilm  dialogue film studio: Budapest Sequences
• Immaginateca Sas  carpeting
• L.A.B.A. S.r.l.  costume jewelry
• L.C.P.  footwear
• R.P.A. Elios Studios  sound stages
• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs
• Romana Trasporti Cinematografici S.r.l.  transportation
• Sound Track S.n.c  additional sound effects
• Studio A.M.  titles and opticals
• Technovision  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

Cathedral of Demons
Demon Cathedral
Demons 3
In the Land of the Demons
The Church

Runtime:

102 min | USA:98 min (R-rated version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | Hungarian | Latin

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

ADC Films

Trivia:

Though it was originally conceived as another entry in the popular Demons series, director Michele Soavi insisted that the film stand alone and not be connected with the films Dèmoni (1985) or Dèmoni 2: L'incubo ritorna (1986). In an interview Soavi referred to the Demons films as 'pizza schlock' and wanted La Chiesa to be more sophisticated.

Quotes:

Hermann, the Sacristan: [to Lottie] Filthy liar! Here we'll wash your mouth out with soap, here!
Lottie's Mother: Don't make me wait for those onions Hermann

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dario Argento: Master of Horror (1991)

Soundtrack:

The Wire Blaze

Say a little prayer.

In the middle ages a group of Knights slaughter a village full of suspected devil worshippers and a large cathedral is built on their burial pit. The church is now being reworked on, and when the seal from the crypt is broken by the new librarian Evan, slowly the occupants become possessed. An ancient mechanism is triggered off and a group of visitors find themselves locked inside with this relentless terror of madness and lust.

If you could ever say style very much over substance, director Michele Sovai's lavish Gothic horror piece "The Church" falls comfortably into that category. Originally it was going to be the third entry of the "Demons" films, But Sovai shaped it into what he wanted. Obviously the familiar groundwork of those films is still presented here, as this time the action takes place in a church where the trapped characters are eventually possessed. However it does take its time before the demented mayhem eventually erupts. Even then the splatter isn't particularly grisly, with more concern on the brooding atmosphere, striking art direction and gorgeously shot set pieces. The pacing might be terribly bumpy, but Renato Tafuri's dramatic flashes with the camera provide the film's main energy. Even the musical score by Keith Emerson and The Goblins stays fairly sombre, but poignantly effective nonetheless. What really lets this one down is the messy and inconsistent writing. Dario Argento, Franco Ferrini and Michele Soavi contributed to the material. Too much of it seems rushed and undeveloped, where the base of it was an inventive reworking that well thought-out, but there's too many loose ends. The script is pretty simple-minded, even with its religious structure, but it's not as compelling as it should be. At least your eyes have something to glaze over as Sovai's slow-grinding and densely detailed approach infuses some visually poetic images with a slowly surreal and claustrophobic feel making its way in. He makes great use of the shadows and lighting within well-etched infrastructure of the ominously sedate, but remarkably succulent looking cathedral. The demon make-up effects are well-exercised and look disturbingly menacing. Performances are hard to judge, because characters do seem to come and go. Tom Arana, Hugh Quarshie and Barbara Cupisti are solid. Also there's a fine turn by Feodor Chaliapin Jr. as the tormented Bishop and a young Asia Argento really does impress with her talented performance.

Accomplished direction, professionally catered production and a polished look help out on the problems facing its flat, confused material. Worth-a-look.