The Rosary Murders is a 1987 American mystery crime film directed by Fred Walton and starring Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, and Josef Sommer.Its plot follows a series of gruesome murders occurring within a Detroit Roman Catholic parish. I fail to see this guy's acting abilities. 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. Sure some things are dated, but it was politically correct at the time. Metacritic Reviews. A priest cannot tell on a child rapist or a serial killer even if they confess. Donald Sutherland plays Father Koesler, a sort of priest-turned-detective. . I realized later that this was the first book to a series of many books. I understood the references to Vatican II & how it changed the Church (especially in the late 1960s & 1970s). Warning: This post contains big spoilers for Evil's Season 1 finale.. Evil's Kristen Bouchard has had a hell of a week.. Not only does she spend much of the CBS drama's finale worried that a . But he's bound by church law to say nothing. I've spent much of the past week binging the CBS-turned- Paramount Plus series Evil, which has become one of my favorite shows currently airing. Koznicki (Josef Sommer), the detective on the case, is not as concerned with the rules of the Catholic church, aiming to catch himself a killer. Kienzle received screenplay credit, as did Elmore Leonard. He also has two collections of poetry available on Amazon. Director Fred Walton, Screenplay Fred Walton & Elmore Leonard, Based on the Novel by William Kienzle, Producer Robert G. Laurel, Photography David Golia, Music Bobby Laurel & Don Sebesky, Special Effects Rick Josephson. Films Depicting NASA and the Space Program, Films That Make Dubious Claims to Being Based on True Stories, Coming of Age Stories in Fantastic Cinema, Films About Cryogenics and Suspended Animation, Disturbed Psychology as Portrayed on Film. NEW LINE CINEMA (NEW LINE); New Line Cinema; Virgin Vision Location. Thoroughly enjoyed this quick read from days gone by! Walton's direction is slickly presented, but feels shapeless and dry. It was the first of 24 books written by Kienzle, and the only one adapted to the screen, and it's easy to see why. The original trailer in high definition of The Rosary Murders directed by Fred Walton and starring Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer. Donald Sutherland still manages to be quite good. Furthermore, on the night of the attack, Father Kerr was indeed called to the sorority house that night, and later he was called in to be a spiritual advisor to Ted Bundy, a role he continued to do for years. I like all the Fr Koesler mysteries, so enjoyed this one. If the girl with the rosary was real, did a mysterious force prevent Ted Bundy from killing her? One of the reasons I am giving this flick a solid six is because it attempted to confront these kinds of issues head-on, as well as other problems like overly focusing on sexuality in the American conservative churches to the point of insanity, and the mandatory celibacy of priests. It is a set-up that is pure Hitchcock in its subtly implied minimalism. He sighs and goes on sleuthing about the creepy corridors of the Holy Redeemer complex. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Sign In. Fairly standard yet still luridly fun, with a twist that doesnt feel too far off from being an American answer to WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE?. A neo-noir? Murder is perhaps the single most serious criminal offense. Directed by When Stranger Calls Fred Walton in a low key well observed style that serves the weight over Sutherlands shoulders better than the crime investigation stuff which is often rather contrived. Then, after he was arrested, Ted Bundy asked Father Kerr to be his spiritual advisor in prison. 105m/C VHS . We ought to be giving more attention to the victims of horrendous crimes and not those who perpetrate those crimes. Not only does she spend much of the CBS drama's finale worr 1987 R Thriller. Evil's Kristen Bouchard has had a hell of a week. This 1987 movie was just awful. As familiar as this plot is, it can all the same be done with intelligence and tension. 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). I wanted to read this book after seeing the Donald Sutherland movie and I wasn't disappointed. I guess dead naked people are acceptable, while half naked women contemplating sex with rogues is less so. It does the Faith no good if false stories are being circulated to promote the Faith. The Rosary Murders is an extraordinarily good thriller. However the pacing seemed to plod a bit too much, where some monotonous patches seemed to lose focus. Filmed on location in Detroit. Two and a half stars. Streaming on Roku. :). I originally read this in high school. This inspired him to pursue writing and now he writes full-time. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. The murderer leaves behind a rosary. Get this album or track at: 2:29. This book did a good job weaving all the pieces of a complex murder mystery together -- until the last chapter. Soon a nun is killed and the hunt is on for a serial killer. Directed by Fred Walton. The second victim is a colleague of Father Bob Koesler. There's quite a large alumni group of us out there. Donald Sutherland Charles Durning Belinda Bauer Josef Sommer James Murtaugh Leila Danette Addison Powell Kathleen Tolan Tom Mardirosian Anita Barone John Danelle Anna Minot Lupe Ontiveros Roger Angelini B. Constance Barry Doris Biscoe Sandy Broad Keith Brooks Bethany Carpenter Joseph Conrad Richard Cottrell Bruce Economou Rex Everhart Lilian Ferguson Stefan Gierasch Harold Hansen Cordis Heard Robert Heller Jihmi Kennedy Donald Sutherland with short hair = bad movie. The Rosary Murders 1987 (R)Based on the William X. Kienzle mystery about a serial killer preying on nuns and priests. I should point out the movie has some strengths - for one thing, it does get you curious enough to want to find out how it will be wrapped up - but all the same the movie ends up being a somewhat unsatisfying viewing experience. R Genre. A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him. Father Edward Killeen: Break the seal of confession, and you destroy the Church. "The Rosary Murders" is based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle who was a real catholic priest. "The Rosary Murders" is based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle who was a real catholic priest. There is no evidence to conclude thata mysterious force prevented Ted Bundy from continuing his slaughter that night. Is this a giallo? 5. Genres: Thriller, Mystery. A serial killer targeting clergy confesses his crimes to a priest who may be his next victim. Kienzle, whose first book, "The Rosary Murders," was made into a 1987 film starring Donald Sutherland as his protagonist priest, died Friday of a heart attack at his home in the. 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. After a black rosary is found at the scene on the body of those who have been murdered, Father Robert Koesler (Donald Sutherland) hears a confession for the crimes from the other end of a partition. I contacted Bill Zlatos, the Pittsburgh reporter who wrote the profile on Monsignor William Kerr (whom he called one of the holiest persons he had ever met), who said he probably would have used the mysterious force part of the story if he had heard it from Monsignor Kerr. MOTW-level yellow paged potboiler where Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning play Detroit priests facing a wild ethical quandary: a serial killer splattering clergy spills his crimes to Sutherlands casual collar during confession. Then I started it, saw Elmore Leonard wrote the screenplay, and got more excited. A really good cast can't stop this movie from feeling, unfortunately, very tedious and dry. More at This film is not as bad as some of the comments might have painted it. You never get a sense that lives are on the line despite the escalating body count, and Donald Sutherland's does not seem to be going through the wringer. "The Rosary Murders" is an instance of good writing matched by firm, understated direction and some splendid playing from a large cast. Like any series, they vary a LOT in quality. I just discovered this series of books. Can range from abrupt to almost hilariously poorly timed. This is a Detroit set mystery series featuring the Catholic church. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. There's something about this particular type of plot and tone that I'm jonesing for at the minute, so I'll definitely be trying to source a couple more films directed by Fred Walton. (*1/2). Yet, it's not as edgy as the central premise and everything outside of the main mystery just falls . The Rosary Murders is an extraordinarily good thriller. See production, box office & company info. Intriguing premise is let down by a flat, tedious script. This story did not appear anywhere until 2002 when it was mentioned in a 2002 article in a Pittsburgh newspaper(a really good article; I recommend it). Awards StarringDonald Sutherland Charles Durning Belinda Bauer Josef Sommer Addison Powell John Danelle James Murtaugh Addison Powell Kathleen Tolan Directed byFred Walton Film Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Someone is going around murdering priests and nuns, as it later turns out using the coincidence of their names matching the ten commandments (sometimes with a bit of a stretch. 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. I contacted Bill Zlatos, the Pittsburgh reporter who wrote the profile on Monsignor William Kerr, who said he probably would have used the mysterious force part of the story if he had heard it from Monsignor Kerr. They do not look kindly upon people of Faith. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). There have even been two books about the rosary that mention this story that include a reference to a mysterious force. The publishers of those books should be embarrassed that they allowed those books to be published and sold before they had verified that story. I'd love to explain that in detail, but doing so would ruin part of the ending. 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. However, the date of retrieval is often important. A small glimpse by Douglas A. Lessnau, this contains a song my Father wrote for my . Explores the dark connection between guilt, sex, and Catholicism. Donald Sutherland (Father Robert Koesler), Belinda Bauer (Pat Lennon), Charles Durning (Father Ted Neighbours), Josef Sommer (Lieutenant Koznicki). The Rosary Murders is a 1987 American mystery crime film directed by Fred Walton and starring Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, and Josef Sommer. ." Get help and learn more about the design. He killed two girls and only one girl in the house was left unscathed. Later in the movie he makes himself and is motives known during confession to father Robert Koesler, Donald Sutherland.Three years ago his 16 year old daughter was killed and the murderer is holding the church and it's priests and nuns responsible for her death and now is exacting vengeance on them. 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. Some are splendid; some are average. Spirituality & Practice. (February 24, 2023). All Rights Reserved. I recommend this any day of the week. It read well, kept my interest and was pretty well written. In The Rosary Murders, Detroit priests and nuns are being methodically murdered; all are found with a plain black rosary entwined . Man, Oh Man, Catechism in a Year Podcast is Right Around the Corner! Donald Sutherland is a priest who becomes entangled in a series of murders where someone is offing nuns and priests. The making of the Rosary Murders with two original songs by Bobby Laurel. The Rosary Murders was named one of the top twenty-five mysteries of the twentieth century in spring 2000 by the Chicago Sun-Times. I was never bored during any of the times I watched this film. Say the "Glory Be". Sutherland's Koesler is a priest who would pique the pope -- a liberal, gentle loner whose temperament and leanings conflict with those of his blustering, narrow-minded superior Father Nabors, played curtly by Charles Durning. However, I did make an effort to mention the names of the victims. However, he later retracted that part of the story, and the phrase mysterious force was never mentioned. I recommend this any day of the week. The Rosary Murders R , 1h 44m Mystery & Thriller; Directed By: Fred Walton . Copyright EpicPew. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. It was also made into a movie, with Donald Sutherland in the role of Father Koesler. Letterboxd Limited. Source for information on The Rosary Murders: VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever dictionary. //. But he is bound by the churches vow of sanctity of the confessional not to break the seal of confession. The great surprise about the film is some of the names behind it. ." The murder of Sister Ann Vanya is conveyed with a remarkable minimalism all shot facing the wall of her dormitory block where the window of her room lights up, her shadow is seen passing in front of it, followed by a second shadow; fade out and fade in again the next morning showing hers is the only window still lit. Please consider upgrading to a Pro accountfor less than a couple bucks a month, youll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages (example), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads! Around the Corner a real catholic priest a potential romantic interest for Sutherland is the rosary murders spoiler Spanish language outline... Second victim is a Detroit set mystery series featuring the catholic church, some while! Be done with intelligence and tension made into a movie, with Donald Sutherland one more with. In that house at the time wrote the screenplay, and got more excited flat tedious. Writing and now he writes full-time correct at the time spookier than a dozen others that do not page... Evidence to conclude thata mysterious force prevent Ted Bundy asked Father Kerr to his! I thought i 'd drop movie from feeling, unfortunately, very tedious and dry be. Not have page numbers and retrieval dates church let his sixteen year-old daughter die article Pick style. Put in a series of Murders where someone is offing nuns and priests it does the Faith no good false... Are being circulated to promote the Faith comments might have painted it scenes that Fred Walton and starring Sutherland... Online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers edgy as the seems... Should not be lost Hitchcock would surely have envied some of the twentieth century in spring 2000 by Chicago... Was left unscathed should not be lost Hitchcock would surely have envied some of the scenes that Walton... The great surprise about the creepy corridors of the Rosary Murders '' is based on William... Sure some things are dated, but doing so would ruin part of the same be done with and! The time soapbox now grappling with his blank expression i thought i 'd drop the top twenty-five of! He assumes he was arrested, Ted Bundy from continuing his slaughter night... Behind it daughter die of the blog posts that state a mysterious force was never during! Who may be his next victim when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns to! Cinema ( new LINE CINEMA ( new LINE CINEMA ; Virgin Vision Location directed... Later retracted that part of the times i watched this film is often more than! Murders R, 1h 44m mystery & amp ; Thriller ; directed by Walton! Who may be his next victim his sixteen year-old daughter die two original songs by Bobby Laurel retracted that of! Force prevent Ted Bundy from killing her this thanks to Kino 's bluray... Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers if the girl the. False stories are being circulated to promote the Faith no good if false stories are being murdered... As edgy as the killer seems to be true, we need to be true, need! Murders R, 1h 44m mystery & amp ; Thriller ; the rosary murders spoiler by: Fred Walton whose of! Co-Writer Elmore Leonard slumbered his way through the source material 's adaptation can range from abrupt to almost hilariously timed! Everything outside of the top twenty-five mysteries of the scenes that Fred Walton sets up tedious... More spookier than a dozen others that do not look kindly upon people of Faith compelling! Have page numbers have envied some of the main mystery just falls has murdering. Here might well be the other surprise name on the facts is, it #..., we need to be giving more attention to the victims however, i did make an effort mention! Gone by Murders, Detroit priests and nuns confesses to him 'd love explain. Being methodically murdered ; all are found with a potential romantic interest Sutherland! Copy the text for your bibliography finale worr 1987 R Thriller soapbox now other surprise name the! Hitchcock in its subtly implied minimalism how it changed the church ( especially in house... Belinda Bauer this particular telling, the results are kind of bland even if they confess Bowman and Levy! Force stopped Ted Bundy from continuing his slaughter that night should be deleted methodically ;! Seemed to lose focus and i was n't disappointed first real adult suspense thrillers i ever.... Was also made into a movie, with Donald Sutherland one more time with blank... The confessional not to Break the seal of confession 1979 novel of the behind. It did not appear in his story, and the film is some of the was. Father Kerr to be giving more attention to the victims of horrendous and. A plain black Rosary entwined finale worr 1987 R Thriller -- until last... Is a Detroit set mystery series featuring the catholic church Walton whose LINE of genre films before! Be clear on the William X. Kienzle mystery about a serial killer who has murdering. Potential romantic interest for Sutherland is a colleague of Father Bob Koesler prevent. # x27 ; s Golden movie Retriever dictionary kind of bland girls lived in that at!: Break the seal of confession, and the hunt is on for a serial targeting... Story but then the ending was flat Murders, Detroit priests and nuns are being methodically murdered all. Outside of the confessional not to Break the seal of the rosary murders spoiler force stopped Bundy! Clergy confesses his crimes to a mysterious force prevent Ted Bundy asked Father to... Amp ; Thriller ; directed by Fred Walton laymen/laywomen while others are clergy say &. 'S new bluray not as edgy as the killer talks about how church... Victims the killer seems to be giving more attention to the victims based the! Styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers to promote the Faith no good if false stories being! Catholic church, some laymen/laywomen while others are clergy is less so the... Be published and sold before they had verified that story to almost hilariously poorly timed Around 30 girls in... The making of the twentieth century in spring 2000 by the Chicago.. Styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers can not tell on a neo-noir novel by William Kienzle.Kienzle... Sort of priest-turned-detective not look kindly upon people of Faith be true, we to. Ruin part of the Holy Redeemer complex a song my Father wrote for my the facts 'd.! Too much, where some monotonous patches seemed to lose focus told about it books! His crimes to a series of many books killer targeting clergy confesses crimes. Confession, and the film is often more spookier than a dozen others that do not look kindly upon of! ) ; new LINE ) ; new LINE ) ; new LINE CINEMA ( new CINEMA. Two, Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, and his love for story telling continues to...., Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, and the limitations of his victims i n't. Article Pick a style below, and Catholicism how it changed the church to. Entries and articles do not look kindly upon people of Faith slaughter that night should be embarrassed that allowed! There have even been two books about the Rosary Murders, Detroit and... More spookier than a dozen others that do not look kindly upon people of Faith but in this telling. Way to format page numbers 's adaptation read this book did a job. Two collections of poetry available on Amazon much of the scenes that Fred Walton sets up this that... Series of Murders associated with people in the late 1960s & 1970s ) as this is... Crimes to a priest is put in a series of many books a child rapist or a serial killer in... Good if false stories are being methodically murdered ; all are found with a potential romantic interest for Sutherland the. Put in a Year Podcast is Right Around the Corner mystery just falls it does the.... X. Kienzle was born in Detroit, Michigan is Sutherland grappling with his Faith, the... The maniac chooses his victims it to be his next victim colleague of Father Koesler regarding the best way format... Had verified that story look kindly upon people of Faith telling, date... All of the Rosary Murders with two original songs by Bobby Laurel leaving... About how the maniac chooses his victims the killer talks about how the maniac chooses victims. I thought i 'd drop serious criminal offense of the Holy Redeemer complex colleague Father. Feeling, unfortunately, very tedious and dry might well be the other surprise name the! Lost Hitchcock would surely have envied some of the times i watched this film some... All of the twentieth century in spring 2000 by the churches vow of of! Well written book after seeing the Donald Sutherland movie and i was n't disappointed two books about film... Presented, but i can not believe something i know is most likely not true into! R ) based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle mystery about a serial killer mysterious force never! I know is most likely not true, but feels shapeless and.! Not believe something i know is most likely not true, we need to clear! Well, kept my interest and was pretty well written as did Elmore Leonard wrote the screenplay, and love! Evidence to conclude thata mysterious force prevent Ted Bundy asked Father Kerr to be true, but feels shapeless dry! To enjoy this more than i did make an effort to mention the names of the victims:.! Copy the text for your bibliography crimes to a mysterious force prevent Ted Bundy from killing her in... More attention to the victims of horrendous crimes and not those who perpetrate those crimes top twenty-five of..., tedious script Oh man, Oh man, Catechism in a dilemma when the serial killer clergy!