'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQL/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMwlRn//xAAeEAABBQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMFERIABBQhgf/aAAgBAQABPwCUk/FakUdNrDbsY2w8FLvZ0izXw1zaT7ojn//EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEABDH/2gAIAQIBAT8Aq4s//8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIABBH/2gAIAQMBAT8AujGCz//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Exorcism of Saint Patrick is the first installment of a trio of horror films directed by Quinn Armstrong. This is the first film of the series which premiered across theaters in the USA on August 27, 2024.
The Exorcism of Saint Patrick features Steve Pinder (known for Coda, Meeting You) in the role of Pastor Patrick, a devious pastor who partakes in conversion therapy. Michael J. Cline (known for Unprincipled) is joining him in another central role as Patrick Sherman. The psychological horror drama unfolds in an isolated cabin and subtly uses horror tropes while ensuring that the audience feels uncomfortable throughout.
Although the name may suggest that The Exorcism of Saint Patrick is a gory film full of jump scares, on the contrary, it deals with sensitive issues such as conversion therapies done on LGBTQ people. The indie film is a surprisingly pleasing watch for horror fans as it builds upon a heavy narrative based on two central characters.
Trending
Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in the article belong to the author.
The Exorcism of Saint Patrick tackles issues such as conversion therapy, suicide, and institutional abuse through the lens of a conventional horror film
The Exorcism of Saint Patrick is an unconventional horror film that uses a conventional setting to shine light upon pressing issues such as institutional abuse and homophobia within evangelical communities.
The film begins on a dark note, as a young lady named Alana (Maya Jeyam) is driven to suicide after being pushed into conversion therapy by her parents. The tone is set through her mother's recorded message about how this was God's method of transforming Alana into her best self (not homos*xual).
The first part of The Exorcism of Saint Patrick creates a sense of fear and oppression as the situation worsens and the tactics employed by the pastor get more extreme. A scene between the Pastor and the boy's parents, Deb (Lisa Coffey) and Kai (Jim Azelvandre) portrays the deep-seated homophobia in society as they are more concerned with the alleged persecution of Christians than what the pastor is doing to their son.
It is reinforced that Patrick has nowhere to go and that his own family is willingly paying for this torture just so that he can be 'cured' of homos*xuality. The film does an excellent job of shifting from satire to psychological horror, as it throws light upon the horrors of conversion therapy (a practice that still continues).
The Exorcism of Saint Patrick slowly gets under the audience's skin
The satirical film gradually transforms into a claustrophobic psychological thriller. Steve Pinder's portrayal of the pastor makes the plot stronger. The film's sympathetic portrayal of real-world atrocities is surprisingly insightful. The first half of the film induces claustrophobia as Pastor Pat imprisons Trick in a remote wooded cabin and subjects him to a series of severe psychiatric procedures that compel him to conceal his s*xuality.
The Pastor's more drastic therapies are depicted in sequences with a creepy usage of therapies that include forcing Trick to drink a mysterious substance that causes nausea, to connect his feelings of romance with physical suffering.
The supernatural aspect appears somewhat late in The Exorcism of Saint Patrick. The narrative grows increasingly brutal and gruesome as the Pastor is tormented by the spirits of former 'clients' or victims who suffered as a result of his cruel counseling.
These terrifying sequences are intense, with spirits wielding actual physical strength that challenges Pastor Pat's psychological power and sadism. The majority of the film concentrates on the horrors and negative consequences of homophobia.
The film balances its central message and horror aspects beautifully, making the viewers engrossed in the development of the central characters. The film plays out like a double entendre of horror, as it not only showcases supernatural horror but also the horrors of systemic oppression and homophobia throughout the ages.
The Exorcism of Saint Patrick is currently playing across select theaters in the USA. It is also available on popular VOD and digital platforms such as Prime Video and Apple TV+.
