Priest
Screen Gems | Release Date: May 13, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
41
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
10
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
MovielineS.T. VanairsdaleMay 13, 2011
To Stewart and screenwriter Cory Goodman's credit, the whole set up takes about 10 minutes flat, leaving Priest's remaining 77 minutes to the dark, desolate action at hand. Even more to their credit, there's something evocative in that darkness, something poetic in its desolation. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierMay 13, 2011
It appears that turning the John Ford/John Wayne classic "The Searchers" into the church-vs-vampire adventure Priest was not an altogether god-awful idea. As long as we don't get "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" as an elegiac zombie drama, this adaptation of a graphic novel has some bite. Read full review
60
Boxoffice MagazineTodd GilchristMay 11, 2011
In an era where monster mythology has become raw material for all sorts of mediocrity, Priest is one of the best examples of a broad-scale vampire blockbuster. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeMark FeeneyMay 19, 2011
Priest is based on a series of Korean graphic novels. What it's really based on, though, is other movies - a whole lot of other movies. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesMay 14, 2011
This is mildly entertaining for its cheery sacrilege (crucifixes that turn into throwing stars, etc), but once the premise has been rolled out, the movie is about as surprising to watch as the Stations of the Cross. Read full review
50
VarietyLeslie FelperinMay 9, 2011
Not exactly an unholy mess, but still a rather too pious retread of classic sci-fi/action/horror riffs that lacks originality or pizzazz. Read full review
42
Entertainment WeeklyAdam MarkovitzMay 13, 2011
Its B-movie sins are many, worst among them an icy hero and a plot that feels like it was built from relics of other, better films. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenMay 19, 2011
Bettany exudes an intensity that lays the groundwork for an interesting character, but Priest hasn't a prayer of creating anything more subtle than the giant cross tattooed on his face. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesMay 13, 2011
The film is somehow a disappointing combo of too-full and oddly empty. Even with all the various parts and pieces going into its structure, it feels bare-bones. Read full review
40
The New York TimesMike HaleMay 13, 2011
It becomes clear pretty quickly that the only real thought in the movie has gone into the cowboy-gothic costumes and the computer-generated effects. Read full review
40
The Hollywood ReporterRay BennettMay 7, 2011
A short, dour and stodgy creature feature with average 3D effects that draws on so many film influences from westerns, action adventures and sci-fi tales that what fun there is comes from spotting the many sources. Read full review
38
Orlando SentinelRoger MooreMay 13, 2011
A mad mash-up of sci-fi, Western, sacrilegious silliness and vampire movie. What lifts it to "I've seen worse" status is the previous teaming of star and director Scott Stewart, who last gave us the archangel fighting off other angels fiasco "Legion." Read full review
33
The A.V. ClubNathan RabinMay 13, 2011
Bettany's performance consists entirely of a purposeful frown paired with a menacing glare: He goes about his godly business with solemn, no-frills intensity. The film follows suit. Read full review
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