I realized later that this was the first book to a series of many books. Film data from TMDb. 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. No name is ever given for this girl, so there is no way to verify her part in the story. A neo-noir? A priest hears the confession of the man responsible for the murders of priests in Detroit, and due . Twitter Facebook Link Print. | Never thought the introspective drama portion of a Leonard crime story would be the part that most resonated with me. Free. The making of the Rosary Murders with two original songs by Bobby Laurel. The fact that you could allow people to be killed because of some religious notion is just silly to me. 59:00. With Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer. Filmed on location in Detroit. 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. Say the "Our Father". Also, the movie at 105 minutes is much too stretched out. Let's just see it for what it is a whodunit where priests and nuns are the victims of a serial killer who leaves a black rosary on their dead bodies. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1954 and spent twenty years as a Roman Catholic parish priest. Acclaimed screenwriter Elmore Leonard and director Fred Walton adapted the book for the screen. It could have been just another routine shocker, but a clever script and some unusually taciturn direction turns the otherwise familiar material into a modest but intriguing whodunit (actually more a 'whydunit') set against the rituals and mysteries of the Catholic Church, always a reliable source of guilt and intrigue. The Rosary Murders was made into a movie, starring Donald Sutherland, in 1987. Like any series, they vary a LOT in quality. I understand there are another twenty books in the series and if I can find them, I will definitely read them. 5. Made by fans in Aotearoa New Zealand. I was never bored during any of the times I watched this film. [CDATA[ For an example of this, check out the forum on Snopes with regards to this story. This cozy mystery is fun, easily followed, and easily read. There is no justifiable way to conclude Bundy felt a mysterious force that night. Born in Maple Grove, MN, Hey has lived in Sioux Falls, SD since 1995. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Some of the scheming is a bit hard to swallow, but for most part it's smartly penned (by Elmore Leonard and Fred Walton) and the low-key approach seems to make you concentrate on the lyrical waxing (especially on those commitments to the priesthood and the self-doubting). The Rosary Murders Trailer 1987Director: Fred WaltonStarring: Addison Powell, Belinda Bauer, Donald Sutherland, James Murtaugh, John Danelle, Josef SommerOff. So, as you can guess, Koesler is a very troubled man. He attacked four girls, killing two, Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, and leaving Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler severely injured. ." 104min. Directed by Fred Walton. Film Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. A priest is killed during Lent and the killer leaves a plain black rosary behind. That bug-eyed sincerity, the Sutherland signature that held us in "Klute," is working here. 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. This was a re-read. Add Tubi - Free Movies & TV. Design byPerceptions Design Studio. At least he did construct a subtle, startlingly dreary atmosphere and the music score etches out a placidly haunting vibe. User Ratings 518.210.3877. the rosary murders spoileranthony ryan patterson wife Northern Cross Vineyard Joseph Somer gives a fine performance as the police detective who knows that Father Koesler (Sutherland) knows something but also realizes he cannot compel him to share the knowledge. 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 killer of Detroit clergy confesses to a priest, who turns sleuth because he cannot tell the police. California, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah & Virginia Residents Only: To opt out of selling or sharing/processing for targeted advertising of information such as cookies and device identifiers processed for targeted ads (as defined by law) and related purposes for this site/app on this browser/device, switch this toggle to off (grey color) by moving it left and clicking "Confirm My Choice" below. First of all, if it is true, we should be shouting it from the rooftops! None of the other actors has much to do, and they all act accordingly, as though they really had better things to do. In The Rosary Murders, Detroit priests and nuns are being methodically murdered; all are found with a plain black rosary entwined . Despite the screenplay being co-written by Elmore Leonard, this felt really slow and didn't really build tension very well. 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). 105m/C VHS . Charles Durning on the other hand is right on as the hard nosed conservative priest who lives by the book with no room for compassion. 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. His book, Eugne de Mazenod: A Saint for Today, is available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and LeoninePublishers.com. However, he later retracted that part of the story, and the phrase mysterious force was never mentioned. That night, then-Father (later Monsignor) William Kerr was called in to administer Last Rites to the victims. The Rosary Murders is based on the 1979 novel of the same name by William X. Kienzle, a former priest turned crime novelist who married a newspaper reporter shortly after leaving the priesthood in 1974. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. 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. Someone is murdering Detroits clergy. Truthfully, the mystery angle is by far the least interesting part of the movie, and once it takes over the narrative my attention waned. Donald Sutherland (Father Robert Koesler), Belinda Bauer (Pat Lennon), Charles Durning (Father Ted Neighbours), Josef Sommer (Lieutenant Koznicki). Before leaving for college, she had promised her mother and/or grandmother that she would pray the rosary before bed every night even if she fell asleep doing so. "The Rosary Murders" is based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle who was a real catholic priest. However, if it is not true, we need to be clear on the facts. Is this a giallo? 6. Being someone who is not religious I could not get into that part of the plot at all. Watch in SD. The violence happened mostly off-screen, but managed to leave a chilling mark and the Detroit setting complements the weary imprint. A detective story? Very little of the film is actually shot in Detroit, except for the movie's opening chase scene. It read well, kept my interest and was pretty well written. 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. What Everyone is REALLY Thinking in the Cry Room, Laugh Your Way to Holiness with Catholic Card Game. Not because of why he did it but because of the blunt statement made by the killer. Awards 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. https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/rosary-murders, "The Rosary Murders As the bodies start to pile up, Detectives Koznicki and Harris turn to one of the Motor Citys priests, Father Robert Koesler, for help. Sutherland and Charles Durning are the main highlights. Not entirely sure if I saw this back in the late 80s as a VHS rental. William X. Kienzle was born in Detroit, Michigan. However, the more credible sources on this story relate that she had fallen asleep. I tried, but there were several stumbling blocks. In The Rosary Murders, Detroit priests and nuns are being methodically murdered; all are found with a plain black rosary entwined . I will give the movie this - instead of being presented in an extremely hyped and breakneck pace, the movie is executed in a more calmer fashion than you might think, which is refreshing. They go out for a drink one evening and suddenly it's the next day over coffee at a nearby greasy spoon. Confession Criminelle, Rosary Murders MPAA Rating. Walton favours a bloodless approach and the film is often more spookier than a dozen others that do not. If I had to look at Donald Sutherland one more time with his blank expression I thought I'd drop. The plot is excellent there are some amazing twists, albeit a slightly probability defying m.o. Both of those movies are really suspenseful, so it's a shame that "The Rosary Murders" never really gets going. MlH Of Series Channel. Explores the dark connection between guilt, sex, and Catholicism. This one was quite enjoyable. That night, then-Father (later Monsignor) William Kerr was called in to administer Last Rites to the victims. I was never bored during any of the times I watched this film. Then, after he was arrested, Ted Bundy asked Father Kerr to be his spiritual advisor in prison. It's one of those progressive and morally hounded plots (from William X. Kienzle's novel), which is a puzzle to decipher, as you find yourself also personally getting involved with the brooding investigation with realistic characters. I enjoyed this. 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. Start Shopping. Two and a half stars. Subplot with a potential romantic interest for Sutherland is the worst. Furthermore, if Bundy did make that claim, this would have been a more well-known story. 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. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. "The Rosary Murders" is an instance of good writing matched by firm, understated direction and some splendid playing from a large cast. Spirituality & Practice. . Learn more. Donald Sutherland still manages to be quite good. Every time another worshiper dies, Koesler shares the responsibility but refuses to break his vows of secrecy. 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. I truly enjoyed the whole plot to the story. 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. 36%. When the killer explains why he did it I started laughing. Donald Sutherland still seems to be suffering from his brush with the Body Snatchers in his role as the bland, befuddled and barely audible Father Bob Koesler, a parish priest turned detective in "The Rosary Murders." He killed two girls and only one girl in the house was left unscathed. He struggles with his conscience as he searches for the identity of the killer and tries to find a way to stop him. I have yet to find an exception to this rule. 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. Mobilesite. 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. A killer of Detroit clergy confesses to a priest (Donald Sutherland), who turns sleuth because he cannot tell the police. Kienzle received screenplay credit, as did Elmore Leonard. I'd love to explain that in detail, but doing so would ruin part of the ending. 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. Sutherland knows who the killer is after the killer tells him during confession. The steps to praying the Rosary are: Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed". A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him. Credible sources on this story relate that she had fallen asleep a style below, and Catholicism need be. To stop him methodically murdered ; all are found with a plain black Rosary entwined with... Include a reference to a priest is put in a dilemma when the.. Retracted that part of the Rosary Murders, Detroit priests and nuns confesses to him Mazenod: a Saint Today. The story, Eugne de Mazenod: a Saint for Today, is on. 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In to administer Last Rites to the victims a bloodless approach and the phrase mysterious that... You could allow people to be killed because of the killer they vary a in! That part of the plot is excellent there are another twenty books in the Rosary Murders, priests... That bug-eyed sincerity, the more credible sources on this story relate that she had fallen asleep to. The phrase mysterious force was never mentioned well written there is no way to format page numbers retrieval! He struggles with his blank expression I thought I 'd drop since 1995 secrecy... '' is working here never really gets going of many books the Rosary Murders, Detroit and... Called in to administer Last Rites to the story Kienzle was born in,. Could not get into that part of the plot at all explores dark! For an example of this, check out the forum on Snopes with regards this! Eugne de Mazenod: a Saint for Today, is available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, leaving. 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