On this day April 22, 1988, the supernatural horror film The Unholy premiered in theaters. Directed by Camilo Vila, the movie starred Ben Cross as a young priest assigned to a New Orleans parish where his predecessors have mysteriously died. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a dark, seductive force connected to a demonic entity that thrives in the church itself.
The film co starred Ned Beatty, Hal Holbrook, and Trevor Howard, and mixed religious horror with gothic atmosphere. Though it received mixed reviews, it managed to pull in 6.3 million dollars at the box office and later found a second life on VHS among fans of late 80s horror.
The Unholy stood out for its blend of Catholic imagery, eerie practical effects, and a genuinely creepy performance from its demonic antagonist.
Fun fact: The film’s final demonic creature had to be redesigned and reshot late in production after test audiences laughed at the original version.
Trivia question: What veteran actor in The Unholy previously portrayed Deep Throat in the film All the President’s Men?
The film co starred Ned Beatty, Hal Holbrook, and Trevor Howard, and mixed religious horror with gothic atmosphere. Though it received mixed reviews, it managed to pull in 6.3 million dollars at the box office and later found a second life on VHS among fans of late 80s horror.
The Unholy stood out for its blend of Catholic imagery, eerie practical effects, and a genuinely creepy performance from its demonic antagonist.
Fun fact: The film’s final demonic creature had to be redesigned and reshot late in production after test audiences laughed at the original version.
Trivia question: What veteran actor in The Unholy previously portrayed Deep Throat in the film All the President’s Men?
