VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. Okay, I will get off my soapbox now. That night, then-Father (later Monsignor) William Kerr was called in to administer Last Rites to the victims. It does the Faith no good if false stories are being circulated to promote the Faith. The story involves a series of murders associated with people in the catholic church, some laymen/laywomen while others are clergy. The murder of Sister Ann Vanya is conveyed with a remarkable minimalism all shot facing the wall of her dormitory block where the window of her room lights up, her shadow is seen passing in front of it, followed by a second shadow; fade out and fade in again the next morning showing hers is the only window still lit. Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer, James Murtaugh, John Danelle, Addison Powell, Kathleen Tolan, Janet Smith; D: Fred Walton; W: Fred Walton, Elmore Leonard; C: David Golia. Sutherland and Charles Durning are the main highlights. 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. 1987 R Thriller. And yet his monastic muttering and moral puttering holds your interest somehow. 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. The Rosary Murders is an interesting little mystery-thriller with a solid premise and some spine chilling moments. Part of the effectiveness here might well be the other surprise name on the credits Waltons co-writer Elmore Leonard. 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. Even after the deranged individual responsible for these crimes confesses in church, the priest remains determined to find out who he is and why he is leaving a black rosary wrapped around the hand of each victim. I contacted Bill Zlatos, the Pittsburgh reporter who wrote the profile on Monsignor William Kerr, who said he probably would have used the mysterious force part of the story if he had heard it from Monsignor Kerr. The second victim is a colleague of Father Bob Koesler. 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). Mobilesite. The story involves a series of murders associated with people in the catholic church, some laymen/laywomen while others are clergy. If Bundy did Monsignor Kerr about a mysterious force, it should be assumed he did so simply to mess with him. The Rosary Murders. The Rosary Murders is the sole film in Fred Waltons oeuvre that stands out as being extremely good. The Rosary Murders Trailer 1987Director: Fred WaltonStarring: Addison Powell, Belinda Bauer, Donald Sutherland, James Murtaugh, John Danelle, Josef SommerOff. The steps to praying the Rosary are: Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed". I understand there are another twenty books in the series and if I can find them, I will definitely read them. A great premise but ultimately a bit of a snooze. (February 24, 2023). He does this in most of his films. The Associated Press did not write about this story and to insinuate otherwise adds fuel to fire of the negative opinions of those on the Snopes forum. Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Josef Sommer Directed by: Fred Walton. 'The Rosary Murders' (R) By Rita Kempley Washington Post Staff Writer September 26, 1987 Donald Sutherland still seems to be suffering from his brush with the Body Snatchers in his role as the . I mean, really. I'm not catholic, but I know pastors aren't like that, and I thought by reputation Protestant pastors often come across as a flakier lot on average. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. An alright little murder mystery. The Rosary Murders R , 1h 44m Mystery & Thriller; Directed By: Fred Walton . A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him. Rent this movie and see if you agree. Spirituality & Practice. The 2009 blog did originally mention something to the effect of Bundy said he could not continue the attack. 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. While City of Angels is incredibly different tha In "The Rosary Murders" priests and nuns are getting knocked off and the only person who knows who the culprit is, is priest Donald Sutherland. But this flaw will not diminish your enjoyment of the film, as there is enough action to keep the murder mystery fan happy. He killed two girls and only one girl in the house was left unscathed. I strongly recommend skipping the last chapter all together. I recommend this any day of the week. Although convoluted the plot is an interesting premise. Let's not play with labels. 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. However, if it is not true, we need to be clear on the facts. When the killer explains why he did it I started laughing. A priest is killed during Lent and the killer leaves a plain black rosary behind. Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Everyone saw this charade for what it was, and the conversations ceased. R Genre. 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. priest, confession [criminal], serial-killer, investigation, killing, nun, amateur, detective, investigator, murder, victim. It's actually at its most interesting in the conflict between Charles Durning and Sutherland surrounding church orthodoxy and a more liberal approach. This is a Detroit set mystery series featuring the Catholic church. However, there was more than one survivor. I write for epicPew and have a masters degree in criminal justice. This will allow for a more in-depth discussion of the topic. "The Rosary Murders" is based on a neo-noir novel by William X. Kienzle who was a real catholic priest. Free. 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. You never get a sense that lives are on the line despite the escalating body count, and Donald Sutherland's does not seem to be going through the wringer. His interests include: Following hockey and Minnesota sports teams, Batman, detective stories, community theater, and improv. TMDb The story, based on . None of the other actors has much to do, and they all act accordingly, as though they really had better things to do. Entertaining enough. A Priest as the main character is a compelling idea, but this doesn't do anything with it that's really special. That is plausible, but what I cannot accept is the assertion that a mysterious force prevented him from continuing his rampage. In The Rosary Murders, Detroit priests and nuns are being methodically murdered; all are found with a plain black rosary entwined . 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. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. The making of the Rosary Murders with two original songs by Bobby Laurel. 518.210.3877. the rosary murders spoileranthony ryan patterson wife Northern Cross Vineyard 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. 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.Its plot follows a series of gruesome murders occurring within a Detroit Roman Catholic parish. This cozy mystery is fun, easily followed, and easily read. Walton's direction is slickly presented, but feels shapeless and dry. Subplot with a potential romantic interest for Sutherland is the worst. He is abrupt and even down right tactless when dealing with his parishioners. I tried, but there were several stumbling blocks. Walton favours a bloodless approach and the film is often more spookier than a dozen others that do not. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic. 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. Truthfully, the mystery angle is by far the least interesting part of the movie, and once it takes over the narrative my attention waned. So, as you can guess, Koesler is a very troubled man. He had no actual intention of clearing up his wrong doings. Explores the dark connection between guilt, sex, and Catholicism. 105m/C VHS . The late hour of the attack leads credibility to the assertion she fell asleep. I had found this story on a less-than-credible blog, so I decided to find a legitimate source to verify the story. The Rosary Murders (1987) 16 08/28/1987 (US) Crime, Mystery, Thriller 1h 45m User Score. However, Elmore Leonards script makes the film is far more than just a novelty detective story a la The Father Dowling Mysteries (1989-91). Watch in SD. I recommend this any day of the week. A priest cannot tell on a child rapist or a serial killer even if they confess. 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. 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. 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. Koznicki: Josef Sommer.. This was a re-read. This is the first in the Father Koesler series by the late William X. Kienzle. Tv shows. Donald Sutherland is good, but he can't make this film worth seeing all by himself. Get this album or track at: 2:25. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Based on the William X. Kienzle mystery about a serial killer preying on nuns and priests. Furthermore, on the night of the attack, Father Kerr was indeed called to the sorority house that night, and later he was called in to be a spiritual advisor to Ted Bundy, a role he continued to do for years. That is the premise of ''The Rosary Murders,'' a well-meaning but plodding thriller with a screenplay co-written by Elmore Leonard, who's ordinarily so much faster on his feet. MOTW-level yellow paged potboiler where Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning play Detroit priests facing a wild ethical quandary: a serial killer splattering clergy spills his crimes to Sutherlands casual collar during confession. Say the "Our Father". The Rosary Murders was made into a movie, starring Donald Sutherland, in 1987. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. But this flaw will not diminish your enjoyment of the film, as there is enough action to keep the murder mystery fan happy. The Rosary Murders. FAQ I truly enjoyed the whole plot to the story. Someone is murdering Detroits clergy. Filmed on location in Detroit. 7. With Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Belinda Bauer, Josef Sommer. William X. Kienzle was born in Detroit, Michigan. A small glimpse by Douglas A. Lessnau, this contains a song my Father wrote for my . | Note: when I first wrote out "serial killer" I accidentally wrote "cereal killer" and that made me chuckle. Play Trailer; God works in mysterious ways. 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? There were many websites that shared various versions of the story. The great surprise about the film is some of the names behind it. Josef Sommer and Belinda Bauer offer able support. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1954 and spent twenty years as a Roman Catholic parish priest. That's not to say it's bad film, but it doesn't exactly keep you on the edge of your seatwhich a mystery ought to. Soon a nun is killed and the hunt is on for a serial killer. Sem dvida, esta histria de detetive est entre as melhores que j li. There is no evidence to conclude thata mysterious force prevented Ted Bundy from continuing his slaughter that night. 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. There is one jump-scene that made me bolt up suddenly. Leonard is of course best known as a crime novelist and a number of his works have been adapted into popular films including 52 Pick-Up (1974), Get Shorty (1995), Quentin Tarantinos Jackie Brown (1997), Paul Schraders miracle-healer film Touch (1997), Steven Soderberghs Out of Sight (1998), 3:10 to Yuma (2007) and Life of Crime (2013). Father Koesler (Sutherland) must betray the confessional to stop him. 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. Directed by: Fred Walton. Donald Sutherland plays Father Robert Koesler, a priest in Detroit who hears the confession of a murderer who is going around offing various priests and nuns. Ultimately, I decided that, because Bundy is no longer alive to enjoy the attention and his name is mentioned in the articles I havelinked to in this post, there would be little point omitting his name. He listens as the killer talks about how the church let his sixteen year-old daughter die. However, in college a writing professor believed in him and helped him grow as a writer. Man works in the deadliest. The plot is excellent there are some amazing twists, albeit a slightly probability defying m.o. The Rosary Murders (1987) Watch Now Rent $3.99 PROMOTED Watch Now Filters Best Price Free SD HD 4K Stream Ads Subs Rent $3.99 HD $3.99 Buy $9.99 $14.99 HD Something wrong? If the rosary had stopped a serial killers rampage, how had I not heard that story before? 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. The fact that you could allow people to be killed because of some religious notion is just silly to me. Donald Sutherland plays Father Koesler, a sort of priest-turned-detective. Sign In. After just skimming through the book I found that the story takes place in Detroit, Michigan. So the author build up the story but then the ending was flat. He attacked four girls, killing two, Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, and leaving Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler severely injured. . 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. Born in Maple Grove, MN, Hey has lived in Sioux Falls, SD since 1995. However, he later retracted that part of the story, and the phrase mysterious force was never mentioned. See production, box office & company info. But he's bound by church law to say nothing. I couldn't be Bobby Laurels son and not know that. First of all, if it is true, we should be shouting it from the rooftops! 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. Duration. ." His book, Eugne de Mazenod: A Saint for Today, is available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and LeoninePublishers.com. The Rosary Murders Directed by Fred Walton. More at A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him. I could definitely relate to this because I'm a lifelong Catholic. I understood the references to Vatican II & how it changed the Church (especially in the late 1960s & 1970s). I am willing to accept that one of the survivors believes she survived because she fell asleep holding her rosary that night. Film data from TMDb. Co-written by Elmore Leonard and directed by Fred When A Stranger Calls Walton! 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. This inspired him to pursue writing and now he writes full-time. It was also made into a movie, with Donald Sutherland in the role of Father Koesler. 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. The biggest sit around and stare is when the real murderer kills two police officers and is wounded while our hero sits and stares into space as the killer finally gets up and runs away. 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. Encyclopedia.com. I can't believe that anybody has a good thing to say about this movie. But even Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning couldn't save this film. 36%. 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. Murder mysteries generally speaking are criminal fantasies, outside of those based on real-life or so-called true crime. 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