La chiesa (1989)

Director:

Michele Soavi

Writers:

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

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

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

Colour:

Colour (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:

The film's title for its Spain release was El Engendro del diablo, which means "The Fetus of the Devil."

Quotes:

Father Gus: [after a huge fish like demon is attacking the male model] MY GOD! What's going on here?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Death Is Beautiful: Michele Soavi Directs Dellamorte Dellamore (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Floe

Very impressive horror film.

"La Chiesa"/"The Church" is a great Gothic horror film made by Michele Soavi with wild usage of camera,very hypnotic Goblin soundtrack and overall creepy atmosphere.The film was written and produced by Dario Argento,so fans of Italian horror won't be disappointed.It starts out with incredible scene of massacre,where a crusading army kills all inhabitants of a small village.There is plenty of violence and the photography is absolutely stunning.Soavi uses the camera tricks only hinted at in his wonderful "Deliria"(1987).There are several amazing camera shots and the lighting is excellent.The film is visually striking and the gore effects are quite good.The sequences involving secret machinery built into the structure of the cathedral are especially well executed.A must-see for fans of Italian horror!