The Vatican Tapes

Name: The Vatican Tapes
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: July 24, 2015
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Djimon Hounsou, Dougray Scott, Michael Peña, Olivia Dudley, Peter Andersson

2015

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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3.8

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3.8	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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The Vatican Tapes

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: July 24, 2015 | PG-13

Starring: Djimon Hounsou, Dougray Scott, Michael Peña, Olivia Dudley, Peter Andersson

Summary: A priest and two Vatican exorcists must do battle with an ancient satanic force to save the soul of a young woman.

Director: Mark Neveldine

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 91 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Clayton Dillard

Jul 23, 2015

Like technological innovation itself, the film seems overwhelmed by the reach of all its techo-cultural parts. Read full review

Justin Chang

Jul 23, 2015

Silly, screechy and eminently watchable. Read full review

Matt Donato

Jun 28, 2017

The Vatican Tapes relies heavily on its third act, but if you can stomach its more generic beginnings, you'll be treated to an exorcism story with higher stakes than normal. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Jul 23, 2015

Another day, another exorcism…ho-hum. Read full review

Martin Tsai

Jul 26, 2015

Writers Christopher Borrelli and Michael C. Martin commit quite a handful of sins of contrivance that are difficult to absolve. Read full review

Noel Murray

Jul 22, 2015

In nearly every way—from how the movie’s being released to the way it approaches the whole satanic possession subgenre — The Vatican Tapes is dispiritingly ordinary. It’s the rote B-movie that Neveldine up to now has tried so hard not to make. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Jul 25, 2015

A tired, unscary, incoherent mess. Read full review

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User Reviews

SlyckNickChick

Jan 3, 2016

Great movie a MUST WATCH! Almost didn't watch this movie because of negative reviews and the trailer. For anyone out there reading negative reviews ignore them and judge for yourself, cuz if you don't you will be missing a great movie that is full of suspense, chilling anticipation andGreat movie a MUST WATCH! Almost didn't watch this movie because of negative reviews and the trailer. For anyone out there reading negative reviews ignore them and judge for yourself, cuz if you don't you will be missing a great movie that is full of suspense, chilling anticipation and pretty much none stop action. It takes a lot to scare me with exorcism movies, but this one had me on the edge of my seat biting my nails, a lil anxiety and even at some points gave me goose bumps. This one will be added to my horror movie collection and will most likely be watched five to ten times. Glad I decided to watch 'The Vatican Tapes' despite the negative reviews, the title and even the trailer. Keeping fingers crossed that there is a sequel or even a prequel just as long as the creators create something, they did an awesome job (actors too) as far as I'm concerned.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ebailme

Jul 24, 2015

I saw this movie last night and thought it was really cool. Keep in mind it is a exorcism film, but it is the most badass one I have seen in a while. Hope they make a sequel

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

horcrux2007

Jul 24, 2015

I haven't had such low expectations for a horror movie in a while. The trailer wasn't flattering at all and made it look like an incredibly generic found footage exorcism flick, and now that I've seen it, I can confirm that that is only half true. Despite the title, it's not a found footageI haven't had such low expectations for a horror movie in a while. The trailer wasn't flattering at all and made it look like an incredibly generic found footage exorcism flick, and now that I've seen it, I can confirm that that is only half true. Despite the title, it's not a found footage movie, but it is a generic possession movie. In The Vatican Tapes, 20-something year-old Angela (get it?) gets possessed by a demon, but it's not just any demon; it's the Anti-Christ himself. A priest and two Vatican exorcists team up to try to exorcise Angela before it wreaks havoc on humanity. Surprisingly, The Vatican Tapes is actually a movie that gets better as it progresses, although that's really not saying too much. The first act of the film is its worst. Every exorcism movie cliche you could possibly think of is stuffed into twenty excruciating minutes, and it definitely made me fear for the rest of the movie. After that, The Vatican Tapes does get more interesting ever so slightly and has a couple of decent scares because Angela is now in a mental hospital, but still nothing we haven't seen from other, better movies. A black raven has to announce the next "scary scene," which completely ruins any tension the film might have had because the audience is now going to expect the next big obnoxious jump scare. The plot eventually decides that there should be an exorcism scene, and after a particularly lazy attempt to say why Angela is discharged and sent back home, the audience finally gets what they paid for. The exorcism scene itself takes up the last 20 minutes of the movie. It's admittedly pretty cool to watch since there are a few creepy and intense parts, and the pace slows down a bit to allow some atmosphere to build up. There's still this inescapable feeling that everything is still all too familiar to anyone who's seen a good possession movie. Then the ending comes. The ending is actually the only part of The Vatican Tapes that I wholeheartedly enjoyed. It ended the movie in a rather dark and powerful way, so much so that I'd like to see a sequel just to see where they could go with that ending. Even with the surprisingly good ending, it's not enough to warrant a recommendation for The Vatican Tapes, a been-there-done-that exorcism movie that has about as much soul as the possessed Angela. Another day, another exorcism.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Sarcastic_Devis

Dec 5, 2021

Mi piace Neveldine, ma qui è proprio fuori posto.

Si vede che il film ha il suo stile impregnato un po' dovunque, ma non si intona assolutamente con il tono che questo Vatican Tapes vuole darsi. Poi non aiuta che la recitazione è perlopiù pessima, gli effetti cruenti sono notevolmenteMi piace Neveldine, ma qui è proprio fuori posto.

Si vede che il film ha il suo stile impregnato un po' dovunque, ma non si intona assolutamente con il tono che questo Vatican Tapes vuole darsi. Poi non aiuta che la recitazione è perlopiù pessima, gli effetti cruenti sono notevolmente limitati per appellarsi a un pubblico più giovane, rendendo il tutto poco credibile. Infine, la colpa più grande di tutte, non è assolutamente giustificabile quanto questo film sia noioso.

Consigliato? No.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Gumdrop

Apr 29, 2023

Of all the horror sub-genres, exorcism has probably been the most abused (second only to the haunted house sub-genre). It's one of the most overused horror devices and one of the most poorly done. My default assumption is that any movie with exorcism in will probably be bad. Vatican TapesOf all the horror sub-genres, exorcism has probably been the most abused (second only to the haunted house sub-genre). It's one of the most overused horror devices and one of the most poorly done. My default assumption is that any movie with exorcism in will probably be bad. Vatican Tapes isn't bad persay. It has the makings of a decent horror movie. The problem is that it's stupid. I could have enjoyed it if it was just a generic horror. It could have been an ok watch. But they decided to try to add a dumb spin to it. One that fails miserably. Sorry but if you found this at all scary then your fear bar must be on the floor. There's no suspense. Not a single jump scare and every single thing is predictable.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Sep 7, 2017

Weak, it is the general consensus for this film, because although it has a more technical quality, the script the same **** we've seen many time before, there is nothing new or exciting.
This movie looks like The Rite only that this one is under the precepts of found footage and the storyWeak, it is the general consensus for this film, because although it has a more technical quality, the script the same **** we've seen many time before, there is nothing new or exciting.
This movie looks like The Rite only that this one is under the precepts of found footage and the story focuses more on the young lady, The Vatican Tapes is just another generic horror movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

meydianarizki21

Oct 17, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is so boring and i do not understand the storyline in this movie. Well, in Islam If someone is possessed by a demon there are no complicated rituals. Just enough to read the verses of the Quran, and then the devil immediately came out.. But here I saw the story in this movie is very complicatef and overly… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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