The making of the Rosary Murders with two original songs by Bobby Laurel. 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. Mystery thriller with a Catholic twist. I tried, but there were several stumbling blocks. Made by fans in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Rosary Murders "was William X. Kienzle's first Father Koesler mystery, published in 1978. Its plot follows a series of gruesome murders occurring within a Detroit Roman Catholic parish. The Rosary Murders 1987 (R)Based on the William X. Kienzle mystery about a serial killer preying on nuns and priests. With Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer. The Rosary Murders deals with a lot of complex issues in the Catholic church, someone might argue the plot of this film is absurd, but it's not. First time seeing this thanks to Kino's new bluray. The late hour of the attack leads credibility to the assertion she fell asleep. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Far more compelling is Sutherland grappling with his faith, and the limitations of his calling. When I saw that there was a movie starring NAACP Image Award-winning actor Donald Sutherland as a priest who tries to track down a serial killer bumping off clergy, it seemed like a serendipitous companion to the show. I understood the references to Vatican II & how it changed the Church (especially in the late 1960s & 1970s). A killer of Detroit clergy confesses to a priest (Donald Sutherland), who turns sleuth because he cannot tell the police. They do not look kindly upon people of Faith. 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. Fred Walton. Learn more. ." I'd love to explain that in detail, but doing so would ruin part of the ending. A Priest as the main character is a compelling idea, but this doesn't do anything with it that's really special. Show All Furthermore, if Bundy did make that claim, this would have been a more well-known story. 59:00. Ted Bundy killed Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy and injured Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler at the Chi Omega Sorority House on January 15, 1978. None of the other actors has much to do, and they all act accordingly, as though they really had better things to do. The Hitchcock connection should not be lost Hitchcock would surely have envied some of the scenes that Fred Walton sets up. It's almost as visually dreary as "The Name of the Rose," but as your holy thrillers go, something of a Hail Mary. Donald Sutherland Charles Durning Josef Sommer. 105m/C VHS . I found this book because I needed it for a challenge and then I was intrigued. Starring: Charles Durning, Donald Sutherland. This Hilarious Card Game Will Keep You In Holy Stitches (and Out of Confession)! This presents a moral quandary for Father Koesler: does he remain silent after being forced to absolve a killer for his heinous sins, or does he turn his back on his sworn duty as a priest and reveal what he knows about the killer to the authorities? He is bound by the church law to not betray that trust despite the fact that more people will be killed. The murderer leaves behind a rosary. Letterboxd Limited. :). I wanted to read this book after seeing the Donald Sutherland movie and I wasn't disappointed. Let us assume, for a brief moment, that Ted Bundy did say a mysterious force did prevent him from continuing his rampage at Chi Omega. Interesting, though sometimes muddled and too rarely tense. However, I did make an effort to mention the names of the victims. The Rosary Murders (1987) 16 08/28/1987 (US) Crime, Mystery, Thriller 1h 45m User Score. Turns out the guy decides to make a formal confession leaving Sutherland conflicted unable to tell the authorities due to a religious conviction that seems to be increasingly tested. I also believe that all of the blog posts that state a mysterious force stopped Ted Bundy that night should be deleted. Evil's Kristen Bouchard has had a hell of a week. Acclaimed screenwriter Elmore Leonard and director Fred Walton adapted the book for the screen. Released August 28th, 1987, 'The Rosary Murders' stars Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 45 min, and received a user score of 53 . Co-Written by Elmore Leonard. The author has relied heavily upon the literary device of COINCIDENCE in constructing his plot; i.e., he expects you to believe that several people living in the same part of the country would have certain proper names. The plot is excellent there are some amazing twists, albeit a slightly probability defying m.o. The Rosary Murders sees Donald Sutherland as a conflicted priest, investigating a serial killer of persons of the cloth. Midsomer Murders - S21E05 - January 06, 2020 || Midsomer Murders (01/06/2020) Part 02. priest, confession [criminal], serial-killer, investigation, killing, nun, amateur, detective, investigator, murder, victim. The steps to praying the Rosary are: Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed". So the author build up the story but then the ending was flat. 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. 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. A priest cannot tell on a child rapist or a serial killer even if they confess. If the rosary had stopped a serial killers rampage, how had I not heard that story before? Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. 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. It's actually at its most interesting in the conflict between Charles Durning and Sutherland surrounding church orthodoxy and a more liberal approach. Sutherland, usually very good, doesn't really fit the role perfectly and the ending feels a little forced, trying to tie all the loose ends up. The original trailer in high definition of The Rosary Murders directed by Fred Walton and starring Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer. Watch in HD. (February 24, 2023). He attacked four girls, killing two, Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, and leaving Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler severely injured. 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. This book did a good job weaving all the pieces of a complex murder mystery together -- until the last chapter. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. At times, The Rosary Murders resembles a serial killer version of Alfred Hitchcocks I Confess (1953), which featured Montgomery Clift as a priest troubled over whether to break the sanctity of the confessional by revealing his knowledge of a murder. And yet his monastic muttering and moral puttering holds your interest somehow. One of the priests (Donald Sutherland) is joined by a journalist (Belinda Bauer) attempting to cover the story; both aim to stop the killer before he dispatches more nuns, monks, and members of the Holy Order. Evil doesn't want this, it's going to be pissed off that someone who claimed atheism is having faith and reaching to God for help. On January 13, 1978 Ted Bundy broke into the Chi Omega Sorority House on the campus of Florida State University and went on a rampage. The director doesn't seem to have the temperament that's needed for a successful thriller, the plot moves slowly and monotonously, and the whole thing just plods on to an ending that fails to explain the killer's motivation satisfyingly. More at Nothing amazing. I like religious horror and giallos. Levy was also sexually assaulted. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by priest-turned-author William X. Kienzle. I thought hard about not mentioning Ted Bundys name in this article and simply referring to him as the killer because Bundy had the personality that would have enjoyed the attention. As the bodies start to pile up, Detectives Koznicki and Harris turn to one of the Motor Citys priests, Father Robert Koesler, for help. Detroit is plagued by a series of murders of priests and nuns, with each victim found holding a black rosary. Filmed on location in Detroit. However, the more credible sources on this story relate that she had fallen asleep. I write for epicPew and have a masters degree in criminal justice. 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 If he really did feel that mysterious force, would he not have ceased his rampage entirely? There are two versions of the story, and I will relate the most fantastic version of the two. First of all, after leaving Chi Omega that night, Bundy went on to attack another girl, Cheryl Thomas (she survived), that night. A really good cast can't stop this movie from feeling, unfortunately, very tedious and dry. Part of the effectiveness here might well be the other surprise name on the credits Waltons co-writer Elmore Leonard. The World At War 1973. Not because of why he did it but because of the blunt statement made by the killer. Rent this movie and see if you agree. While he was a good writer, this kind of story was not what he was good at. After doing some amateur sleuthing, Koesler figures out who the killer is. A small glimpse by Douglas A. Lessnau, this contains a song my Father wrote for my Grandmother, Jeanette Dupius, Called \"Jeanette\" it is one of my favorite instrumentals by him; of course the title track \"In Your Eyes\" is pretty nice too; this song was written by my Father and Dennis Leahy. After just skimming through the book I found that the story takes place in Detroit, Michigan. I believe this was his first novel too. Donald Sutherland (Father Robert Koesler), Belinda Bauer (Pat Lennon), Charles Durning (Father Ted Neighbours), Josef Sommer (Lieutenant Koznicki). The Rosary Murders Directed by Fred Walton. It is based upon the 1979 novel of the same name by William X. Kienzle.Kienzle received screenplay credit, as did Elmore Leonard. Nabors: Charles Durning. The Rosary Murders was made into a movie, starring Donald Sutherland, in 1987. Duration. He struggles with his conscience as he searches for the identity of the killer and tries to find a way to stop him. With Sutherland especially doing some great work. Encyclopedia.com. Film data from TMDb. ***SPOILERS*** Starting with the 40 day's of Lent on Ash Wednesday a series of murders occurred in and around this suburban Detroit church ,The Holy Redeemer, that has everyone, the public and police, shocked and puzzled to who would do such a thing. I am willing to accept that one of the survivors believes she survived because she fell asleep holding her rosary that night. The vacant, sleep-walking style adopted in this film gets tiresome very quickly. Bundy replied that he felt a mysterious force preventing him from entering her room. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. I recommend this any day of the week. Kienzle's books are set mostly in Detroit, Michigan . Like the hero of Hitchcock's "I Confess," the priest finds himself in a pickle when he hears the killer's confession but cannot reveal the man's identity. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. We are in the business of saving souls, not lives. 5. Spirituality & Practice. Watch in SD. But this book was a nice little mystery. In fact, as a teenager, when I brought it to the check-out counter at my small hometown library, the librarian called my father to get permission to check it out to me. The 2009 blog did originally mention something to the effect of Bundy said he could not continue the attack. 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. His only prayer -- to learn how the maniac chooses his victims. A couple good startling moments break the dullness though. He became an editor of MPLS Magazine in Minneapolis, later moving to Texas where he was director of the Center for Contemplative Studies at the University of Dallas. Soon a nun is killed and the hunt is on for a serial killer. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. One of his best known novels is his first, The Rosary Murders (1978), which was made into a 1987 movie starring Donald Sutherland as Father Koesler. 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). Directed by Fred Walton. Someone is murdering Detroits clergy. Go Orange. The author has relied heavily upon the literary device of COINCIDENCE in constructing his plot; i.e., he expects you to believe that several people living in the same part of the country would have certain proper names. What might have benefited is a reflection on what unfolds from a spiritual perspective. 518.210.3877. the rosary murders spoileranthony ryan patterson wife Northern Cross Vineyard The violence happened mostly off-screen, but managed to leave a chilling mark and the Detroit setting complements the weary imprint. The Rosary Murders R , 1h 44m Mystery & Thriller; Directed By: Fred Walton . The story, based on . Donald Sutherland with short hair = bad movie. Man, Oh Man, Catechism in a Year Podcast is Right Around the Corner! Discover Rosary Murders [Original Soundtrack] by Original Soundtrack released in 1993. In this film, which Fred Walton has directed and co-written with Elmore Leonard, Donald Sutherland stars as a liberal priest who gets involved in a . Let's not play with labels. A black rosary is his calling card. But this flaw will not diminish your enjoyment of the film, as there is enough action to keep the murder mystery fan happy. Twitter Facebook Link Print. I guess dead naked people are acceptable, while half naked women contemplating sex with rogues is less so. Father Edward Killeen: Break the seal of confession, and you destroy the Church. Production Company First Take Productions. A slow-boil thriller that has some great moments but kinda fizzles overall. It was merely a way to stall his execution. There is one jump-scene that made me bolt up suddenly. Detroit is shaken by the activities of a serial killer who is systematically slaying Catholic priests and nuns, always leaving a rosary wrapped around each victims hand. But the premise was interesting and I am looking forward to book 2 very soon. Midsomer Murders S13E02 The Made to Measure Murders. 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). Play Trailer; God works in mysterious ways. Say three "Hail Marys" for Faith, Hope, and Charity. I understand there are another twenty books in the series and if I can find them, I will definitely read them. At least he did construct a subtle, startlingly dreary atmosphere and the music score etches out a placidly haunting vibe. Police believe he stopped his attack because he was spooked when a girl used the bathroom at the far end of the hallway around 3:15A.M. Father Koesler begins collaborating with the police but soon finds himself in a spot when the killer decides to choose him as confessor.Salvatore Santangelo He was ordained to the priesthood in 1954 and spent twenty years as a Roman Catholic parish priest. Thriller. I had previously read all the other books in this series, but had somehow missed this one. Copyright 2006 - 2023 by CIStems, Inc., d.b.a. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. Okay, I will get off my soapbox now. Directed by Fred Walton and adapted from a novel by William X. Kiensle, it basically was a combination of the director and his actors that made this terrible. James Stewart was a second son of Lord Ochiltree [S]. If Bundy did Monsignor Kerr about a mysterious force, it should be assumed he did so simply to mess with him. Donald Sutherland plays Father Koesler, a sort of priest-turned-detective. New Phim Vit Nam Vision. "The Rosary Murders" is based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle who was a real catholic priest. Some scenes are startling the cold chill that comes in the moment that Donald Sutherland returns to his room to find the flower pinned to his dartboard; or the scene where he stands by the grave reciting the names of the victims and is joined by the whispered voice coming out of the darkness; and the jump that rattles the whole theatre as a tense Sutherland opens a door only to find a cupboard, laughs it off and then opens another door to find the killer standing there. However, Elmore Leonards script makes the film is far more than just a novelty detective story a la The Father Dowling Mysteries (1989-91). A serial killer targeting clergy confesses his crimes to a priest who may be his next victim. The Science Fiction Horror and Fantasy Film Review. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. His superiors - among them, the hard nosed, conservative Ted Nabors (Charles Durning) - believe that nothing can violate the sanctity of the confessional. They are funny and remind me of a precursor to Stephanie Plum. The movie has a gritty, junkyard-dog look to it. However, Bundy did not request him specifically, and it is not known if Bundy knew Father Kerr was at the scene of the crime that night. I know this is written by a former priest, but I don't understand why the priests in the book have so much swearing and taking God's name in vain and constant sexually dirty jokes. R Genre. Start Shopping. FAQ NEW LINE CINEMA (NEW LINE); New Line Cinema; Virgin Vision Location. 7. 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. I originally read this in high school. It begins when Koesler, editor of a Detroit Catholic newspaper, agrees to help the police solve a bizarre murder mystery. And for all those musical savants, yes I am aware the music to \"In Your Eyes\" is an arrangement based on Brahms. After the time allotted for those interrogations, Bundy had talked to only a small portion of the investigators who had traveled to Florida to speak with him, and he told the State of Florida it was going to take much longer than he had anticipated. Donald Sutherland plays Father Koesler, a sort of priest-turned-detective. Some are splendid; some are average. I fail to see this guy's acting abilities. | This is an oldie, but I really enjoyed it--especially all of the details about the Detroit area. Sign In. A priest is killed during Lent and the killer leaves a plain black rosary behind. As much as I enjoyed this book I don't think reading book after book about the Catholic religion and the people that work amongst the religion is something that would keep my interest. As slow-burns go, Fred Walton's mysterious catholic-bounded thriller takes the cake with its minimal and sombre treatment. He does this in most of his films. Oh boy, this should be a good whodunit! Directed by Fred Walton whose most known for his "When a Stranger Calls" films. The story, scripted by thriller author Elmore Leonard and director Fred Walton, tippy-toes around the subject of our hero's celibacy with implications about his relationship with a Detroit Free Press reporter. //