Brian's Review - Priest (2011)

Even if you pray for it, this movie doesn't get any better.

Released: 2011
Genre(s): Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

In a cinematic market saturated with cheeseball, romanticized vampire love-romps, it's nice to see a movie bring the fight back to these supernatural beings with all the bloody, balls-to-the-wall determination of 1998's "Blade." While "Priest" missteps many times in many directions, it's not the worst film I've seen, and I can't condone hating it as a whole. With that being said, it's also not a movie I can particularly like, and I can absolutely condone hating certain pieces of it.

While the film's visual style is a sleek, flashy, streamlined blend of commendable CGI and prop work, the world the characters inhabit lacks sufficient substance: the oppressive human city ruled by the church doesn't seem oppressive enough, the desert wasteland doesn't seem harsh enough, the vampire hives don't feel threatening enough. This could be overlooked if it wasn't for the fact that the main character and his companion(s) are constantly exploring new settings throughout their journey, bringing us back over and over again to locations that are not fleshed out in the least. It's an overlooked aspect that unfortunately damages the presentation of the movie, and prevents viewers from immersing themselves into this fantasy backdrop.

In fact, it may be hard for some viewers to invest themselves into this film at all due to a number of reasons. Continuity (or lack thereof) in regards to the original Korean comic aside, "Priest" has a story as interesting as a wet paper bag and as engaging as a Slinky without a staircase; it's practically nonexistent, and what is there is pretty ho-hum. Additionally, none of the characters seem to give a damn about anything, including each other. The interpersonal relationships here are sparse at most, and the "acting" seems to all be executed as a complete afterthought. Which is acceptable, to a degree - after all, this is an action flick.

And as an action flick, "Priest" shines: the vampires are hellish, vile, and savage creatures, making the fight scenes rapid and brutal, and blood is splashed liberally about the screen during the ensuing chaos. It's not some of the most fluid choreography out there, but it gets the job done in a quick, dirty, and fun manner that should satiate the appetites of most action fans. There are a couple moments here that stood out as completely badass, proving "Priest" as an enjoyably competent actioner.

In the end, "Priest" boils down to a mediocre concoction, unable to establish a profound sense of compassion, understanding, or urgency, while successfully utilizing action sequences to pump itself into a high-octane fight scene showcase. Without substance, the movie quickly crumbles under its own weight, forcing it to lean on its effects and set pieces to an almost crippling degree. Fortunately, if you're going in looking for an action film and nothing else, "Priest" will maintain your interest throughout, since it spends all of 15 minutes to explain any of the plot. This is great for adrenaline junkies, but bad for anyone looking for anything deeper. View at your own discretion.

Rating (out of 5): 2.5