In Madrid at the time of the Inquisition, the monk Ambrosio is renowned for his faith and his strength of will, a saint in the eyes of the populace. But when he discovers the beautiful Matilda hidden in his own monastery, all his repressed passions begin to show themselves, and he is soon using the girl, and her powers, in his lust for more innocent prey.
Paul McGann
Father Lorenzo Rojas
Sophie Ward
Matilde de la Venegas
Isla Blair
Mother Agueda
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón
Sister Ines
Freda Dowie
Sister Ursula
Laura Davenport
Doña Elvira Dauphin
Sophie Linfield
Angela Dauphin
Manuel de Blas
Inquisitor
Mark Elstob
Ramon de Medeira
Marina Saura
Jacinta
Luis Hostalot
Captain
Suzanne Bertish
Sister Mariana
Pepa Sarsa
Sister Camila
Fulgencio Saturno
Father Pablo
Gaspar Cano
Antonio
Manuel Pereiro
Prior
Concha Hidalgo
Nun
Luis Maluenda
Spokesman
Stuart Sutherland
Lucas
Javier Serrano
Novice
Lorenzo Collado
Exorcist
Director, Writer
Francisco Lara Polop
Novel
Matthew Lewis
July 22, 2022
I photographed this cover as part of its theatrical launch at Cannes. It is very dramatic and was shot as a three part photocomposite (before photoshop). The front bit is my business partner as the monk - the female below is the famous page three model, Gail Mckenna (Samantha Bond agency) and it was shot in a London studio. The flaming background was shot on the farm where I lived - we set fire to a load of old fencing - the image is heavily filtered, red and magenta for maximum effect. The face was from Paul McGann's advertising for the film - removing the existing face and combining the elements into the photocomposite image was by Dennis Novak and done on 10x8" transparency using the Unichrome method. Paul McGann's face is too small for the hood. I also understand he did not like the cover. We handled the entire theatrical release - brochures, posters photography, the lot. This film was among several at that time and followed a radical genre that called into question the matter of celibacy in the priest hood and how repression of instinct can produce a dramatic and powerful unconscious shadow. In a way it foreshadowed the terrible revelations about widespread abuse in the church that was to come to light later. The main conflict is predictable - a celibate priest fighting his instincts love for a woman - modern version of Abelard and Heloise with a modern and highly symbolic outcome.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00