Growing up in the era of VHS and tape trading, when you’d get a rare or foreign cult film, you could never tell what the quality would be. In the day and age of 4K upgrades, it’s pretty easy to forget where you came from. Not everything needs it, but classic Italian horror films definitely benefit. After directing Dario Argento’s World of Horror (1985) and Stage Fright (1987), Michele Soavi really began to find a rhythm when he tackled The Church (1989). It was one of those movies I saw on a fifth-generation VHS dub and seeing it on Severin’s 4K UHD gave me a whole new perspective on it.
Set in medieval times, the Knights Templar launch a brutal assault on a village rumored to harbor witches, annihilating its inhabitants. They inter the bodies in a vast, cursed grave and construct a towering church over the site, hoping to bury the darkness forever. Centuries later, a librarian, Evan (Tomas Arana), begins cataloging the church’s vast collection of books. During his work, he crosses paths with archaeologist Lisa (Barbara Cupisti), who delves into the mysteries of the church’s ancient catacombs. Unbeknownst to them, their actions awaken a dormant, malevolent force.
Evan becomes the unwilling vessel of a demonic entity, triggering a horrifying chain of events. Visitors of the church soon find themselves trapped and overtaken by demonic possession. Only Father Gus (Hugh Quarshie) and a resourceful teenager, Lotte (Asia Argento), remain untainted. Racing against time, Father Gus uncovers an age-old secret concealed within the church’s structure, a revelation that may offer the only hope for humanity’s survival.
My main issue with The Church has always been the script. It’s widely known that it was tossed into the hands of a few different writers, and the final result is pretty uneven. The cast does a fine job with the material, even elevating the problematic script. The effects work is amazing, but would you expect anything less from Sergio Stivaletti?
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That being said, I have always found it a visually pleasant film, and this 4K transfer takes it to the next level. The detail stands out, as do the colors. The film is intentionally dark and dreary, so brighter colors pop. It also allows the viewer to see just how beautiful the church is, delivering absolute evil in a divine sanctuary.
Severin Films’s standard edition 2-disc set contains the UHD featuring the film and a trailer. The second disc contains several interviews with Soavi, Dario Argento, co-screenwriter Franco Ferrini, co-screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti, Asia Argento, actress Antonella Vitale, actor Tomas Arana, actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice, FX artist Sergio Stivaletti, make-up artist Franco Iasagni, set designer Antonello Geleng, assistant director Claudio Lattanzi, and Profondo Argento author Alan Jones. It also includes trailers. It’s a well-rounded set, and the interviews are informative and entertaining.
I’ve seen almost every edition of The Church, and this is the one to beat. Check out the trailer on YouTube.
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