‘In the Name of God’ Screamfest 2024 Review: Serviceable Religious Horror
In covering this year’s Screamfest, I’ve been able to check out some exciting films of late. Amongst them is Ludvig Gür’s In the Name of God. I rather appreciate that Gür eschews certain religious horror conventions and paints the clergyman at the center of his narrative in a less-than-flattering light. That gives us plenty to unpack and interpret. Additionally, after a slow start, the film delivers an exciting second and third act, culminating in a harrowing denouement.
Father Theodor (Linus Wahlgren) is a priest with a nearly nonexistent congregation. Shortly after his wife falls terminally ill, he reconnects with his former mentor, Jonas (Thomas Hanzon). Jonas shows Theodor how to use a human blood sacrifice to perform lifesaving miracles. Theodor promptly takes what he’s learned and heals his wife. That hurls him into the spotlight, reenergizing his congregation. However, his newfound notoriety puts him under a high level of scrutiny. When a skeptical podcast host sets out to debunk Father Theodore’s miracles, matters take an even darker turn.
There are several ways to interpret the themes presented in In the Name of God.
What stands out from a thematic perspective is the way several of the core characters here are willing to perpetrate acts of violence (sometimes in a self-serving context) and justify them in the name of religion. I’m pretty sure the Bible, despite numerous ambiguities, is mostly clear that murder is a no-go. Isn’t that the sixth commandment? However, characters within the narrative still manage to rationalize their reprehensible actions using scripture.
What I found even more interesting is that within the context of this film, God seems to sanction the criminal misdeeds perpetrated by Father Theodor and company with little consequence. When God receives his blood offering, regardless of whether or not the sacrifice is an evildoer, God delivers a miracle in return. With that element factored in, the film appears as though it might be a condemnation of religion and the tendency of practitioners of Christianity to use their faith to justify their wickedness. With that said, there are several ways the film’s themes can be unpacked and interpreted, much like the Bible itself.
A well-rendered central character gives In the Name of God depth.
Messaging aside, the film benefits from strong showings all around, especially from Linus Wahlgren as Father Theodor. Wahlgren is plenty convincing as a conflicted man of faith. This role requires a lot of nuance and he recognizes that, bringing Father Theodor to life as a man deeply rooted in his convictions. Wahlgren effectively sells the jubilation he feels at healing the sick, but he’s just as convincing when he’s tormented by the evil he’s perpetrated to make those miraculous recoveries possible.
In addition to impressive performances from the key players, the film also succeeds at crafting tension in the second and third acts. The narrative really picks up steam when skeptical podcaster Erik (Vilhelm Blomgren) begins to investigate Father Theodor’s apparent miracles, threatening to expose the acts of violence he’s been committing in the name of faith. There’s a cat-and-mouse dynamic as Erik attempts to get to the root of Father Theodor’s newfound abilities.
The picture steadily builds to a satisfying conclusion and ends on a decidedly dark note, which assures the audience that these blood-soaked ‘miracles’ will surely continue in one form or another.
As for the film’s shortcomings…
If I must offer a criticism it’s that the first act of In the Name of God is a bit formulaic and predictable. There aren’t a lot of surprises at the onset. However, the film goes in a series of unexpected directions in the second and third acts.
My only other criticism is that this picture is largely absent of relatable characters. Father Theodor is a well-crafted lead. But he isn’t entirely likable and his arc doesn’t make him particularly easy to relate to. None of the other characters are especially well-developed, so I came away feeling somewhat detached.
Overall, In the Name of God is a thought-provoking effort with strong performances from a talented cast and a rousing conclusion.
-
‘In the Name of God'
Summary
‘In the Name of God’ offers some astute commentary on religion and a wild denouement.
Categorized:Reviews
