The Order (2003)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Brian Helgeland

Writer (WGA):

Brian Helgeland (written by)

Release Date:

5 September 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Unleash the power.

Plot:

A young priest is sent to Rome to investigate the troubling death of the head of his order.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Church | Absolution | Sin | Sin Eater

Cast

Heath Ledger	...	Alex Bernier
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Mara Sinclair
Benno Fürmann	...	William Eden
Mark Addy	...	Thomas Garrett
Peter Weller	...	Driscoll
Francesco Carnelutti	...	Dominic
Mattia Sbragia	...	Apathetic Bishop
Mirko Casaburo	...	Little Boy
Giulia Lombardi	...	Little Girl
Richard Bremmer	...	Bookstore Owner
Cristina Maccà	...	Sister Franca
Paola Emilia Villa	...	Sister Marie
Rosalinda Celentano	...	Faraway Eyes Girl
Alessandra Costanzo	...	Eden's Maid
Paolo Lorimer	...	Englishman

Also Known As:

The Sin Eater (Australia) (Singapore: English title) (UK) (USA) (working title)
Sin Eater - Die Seele des Bösen (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for violent images, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | Aramaic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 | Norway:15 (TV rating) | Sweden:15 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:R(A) | Singapore:R21 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #39328)

Filming Locations:

Caserta, Campania, Italy

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Heath Ledger and Shannyn Sossamon previously appeared together in A Knight's Tale (2001).

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene in which Alex and Mara are making love, the leather bracelet Alex wears changes position from one wrist to the other several times.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Alex Bernier: Every life is a riddle. The answer to mine is knowledge, born of darkness.
Alex Bernier: It wasn't always so. In the beginning, I still had questions. In the beginning, my mystery still remained.

Movie Connections:

Features A Knight's Tale (2001)

Soundtrack:

Due Croci

Pretty Good Horror

I must disagree with many of the reviewers on this film. I consider The Order to be a mature, well-constructed horror story. The "horror" is subtle at first, but it builds, along with the suspense, into several, intense episodes that culminate the film decisively. It is a complex flux of development, change and ever-increasing intensity of suspense and anxiety. As with any horror film, indeed almost any film, one must become immersed in the culture and story that is created. One must assume certain elements of the film to be valid, then flow with the plot. The Order fills all of the requirements of a good horror tale, done smoothly and skillfully. The characters and the actors portraying them fit well into the development of it all. I was most impressed with the lead actress. Her portrayal was stunningly sympathetic. And I really loved the ending. It melded all of the elements of the film together in a satisfying conclusion. This film creates a sense of doom and inevitability that constantly grows with its progression. That is what drew me to keep watching. I am not generally a fan of "Religious" horror. I shall gladly make an exception for The Order.