Priest

Name: Priest
Genre: Action, Thriller, Horror
Released: May 13, 2011
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 41
Cast: Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Paul Bettany

2011

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 243 Ratings

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5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 243 Ratings

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Priest

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Movie Details & Credits

Screen Gems | Release Date: May 13, 2011 | PG-13

Starring: Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Paul Bettany

Summary: "Priest," a western-fused post-apocalyptic thriller, is set in an alternate world -- one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the"Priest," a western-fused post-apocalyptic thriller, is set in an alternate world -- one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church. When his niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on an obsessive quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece's boyfriend, a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.(Sony Screen Gems)
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Director: Scott Stewart

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

Movieline S.T. Vanairsdale

May 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

Boxoffice Magazine Todd Gilchrist

May 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

Joe Neumaier

May 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

Adam Markovitz

May 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

Marjorie Baumgarten

May 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

May 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

Nathan Rabin

May 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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User Reviews

xclusivedabest

Aug 21, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. i have to say that this movie actually surprised me. i thought this movie had decent dialogue (could've been much better) the action scenes were fantastic and the plot was decently put together. considering the fact that the producers had very low intentions for this movie anyway makes it even better. i believe if they had any real hope in this movie it could have been very much better. while watching it i though of countless scenarios to which priest 2 could be about(im actually trying to write a script for the second one just for fun) this movie has real potential. they could've tied in religion a little deeper into the action, etc.i also like the way they depicted the vampires. i like that they took the eyes away, considering that "vampires are soul-less creatures". the ending of the movie was a cliff hanger pretty much (they never found the queen). so they can work that into the sequel (which is one of the major stories of my script :-] ). there are many scenarios they can work into it to make the movie much better. so, this movie has real potential but nobody really believed it would do goo, so that's why it really didn't. the key to any movie is confidence.. with out that, you wont put much effort into the production and in the end have a disaster of a movie....… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Libra85

May 13, 2011

I had low expectations for this movie because Legion was so awful. But i was veryy surprised to see just how good this movie is. The plot, in a nutshell, are combat trained priest who kill vampires. One priest goes against his vows to save someone special from a mysterious enemy. I'm notI had low expectations for this movie because Legion was so awful. But i was veryy surprised to see just how good this movie is. The plot, in a nutshell, are combat trained priest who kill vampires. One priest goes against his vows to save someone special from a mysterious enemy. I'm not familiar with the source material but this was good enough for the style of movie. I first give my kudos to the directing style. The movie moves at a perfect pace by focusing on the action but slowing just enough to give the audience insight into the characters. Action sequences really stand out and pretty violent for PG-13. The characters aren't very deep but just right for this movie. Also the dialogue never gets preachy or sappy just for the sake of it. This film is just what it should be and i fully recomened it.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

LoRevisor

Jan 28, 2015

Priest é um filme razoavelmente bom,Paul Bettany,Cam Gigandet,Maggie Q,Karl Urban e a linda Lily Collins todos dão uma sólida performance. O Filme tem seus momentos,tem suas grandes cenas de ação uma boa de faroeste,mas Priest não passa de um bom filme.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BeK

Jul 11, 2011

Well, this movies isn't really what I expected from such an entertaining trailer. I really waited for this movies, a long time, and when it showed I was like, WTF ? Seriously. Not that impressive, I don't usually give bad marks to movies, but this one, really doesn't deserve more than aWell, this movies isn't really what I expected from such an entertaining trailer. I really waited for this movies, a long time, and when it showed I was like, WTF ? Seriously. Not that impressive, I don't usually give bad marks to movies, but this one, really doesn't deserve more than a solid 5, maybe not even that, I usually appreciate hard work and especially great actors, even though they were not at their best in this movie. Maybe wait for a better sequel, of course, I seriously doubt that. Mistakes, over mistakes, story-line wasn't that great, not really having that ground history, which people usually admire. Not much more to say, it's not completely a waste of time, but I have seen movies from that category, much much better. But if you are a movie addict and want to see something new, that will probably stun you at the end, when you're surprised what you did for the last hour and a half, watch this movie. Story-line beats special effects, in my opinion, and of course above all, a decent acting performance, even though I don't have much to complain about Paul Bettany, except the fact that he chooses his movies a little unwisely.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

smijatov

Jan 5, 2012

"Priest" is exactly what you'd expect it to be - a blood-infested, action-packed, testosterone-charged action fest. That does not necessarily mean it's bad, it's just typical. It follows a rather linear story, with bad dialogue (very machoist, many a times) and some bad visual effects. For a"Priest" is exactly what you'd expect it to be - a blood-infested, action-packed, testosterone-charged action fest. That does not necessarily mean it's bad, it's just typical. It follows a rather linear story, with bad dialogue (very machoist, many a times) and some bad visual effects. For a change, however, it does show vampires as not the over-sexualised, highly intelligent beings, but as brute alien like monsters, which was somewhat refreshing. The film is also surprisingly short with only 1 hour and 20 minutes - definitely could have been longer. Well, if it had been better, it could have been longer. The way it is now, though, 1:20 is perfectly fine. I don't even know what to say. Yes, it's entertaining, but it won't leave you with wanting any more than what you've been given. The ending does provide for a perfect (intentionally so) setup for a sequel, that due to horrible reviews and box office will never be made. The films biggest flaw is its poor screenplay, but that might be a fault of the original comic book too, which I have never read before. In general, the film was overly predictable and not very exciting, though reasonably entertaining. Going into it you won't find anything that you haven't seen in films like this before, but you won't be completely disappointed either. If you are looking for what I've described in the first sentence, you'll definitely get that. If you are looking for some genre changer, you will be severely disappointed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Khunter4382

Aug 29, 2011

Weak. I expected as much. There is nothing really new here and Bettany continues in these lackluster, apocalyptic films that have just become old-hat now. Is this his companion piece to Legion (which was a slightly better film)? I can't say I was thrilled, excited, or even mildly interestedWeak. I expected as much. There is nothing really new here and Bettany continues in these lackluster, apocalyptic films that have just become old-hat now. Is this his companion piece to Legion (which was a slightly better film)? I can't say I was thrilled, excited, or even mildly interested in what was going on on-screen. This film is just tired and and it tries too hard and I found myself asking, "Is it over yet?"… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wolfritz

Jun 15, 2011

This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The story isn't original. They chose the wrong actor for the main role. Why is whenever Hollywood makes a movie like this one, that they always choose the wrong actors. I mean really. To be perfectly honest, I think this movie was a waste ofThis is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The story isn't original. They chose the wrong actor for the main role. Why is whenever Hollywood makes a movie like this one, that they always choose the wrong actors. I mean really. To be perfectly honest, I think this movie was a waste of Hollywood's time and money.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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