If you are new to horror, this might be the right show. The spacing between each scare is far and between with distinct audio cues to have you better ready for the moment.
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Based on a true story, The Crucifixion follows investigative journalist Nicole Rawlins (Sophie Cookson) as she uncovers the truth following the new about a priest murdering a mentally ill nun. Despite bring convicted, the priest still maintains his innocence, blaming her death on a demonic possession. Nicole traces the story to a backwater Romanian village where she uncovers the truth behind the murder.
The story starts off with Nicole proposing a story in New York before flying to Romania where she interviews the convicted priest. The deliberate omission of subtitles when she first arrived in the country is an interest angle to include audiences in Nicole’s isolation and to add a layer of mystery to the narrative.
But how good is The Crucifixion is as a horror film?
The Crucifixion opens with the priest performing a blotched exorcism on the nun – at that time; we still don’t know whether she is one. However, that also sets the expectations for the audience. Whenever Nicole discovers a piece of evidence, the people she interacts would turn up unexpectedly to give us a scare and occasionally by the paranormal when we least expect it. Because the tone has already been established early in the movie, and most of its secrets out of the bag, there is only so much Director Xavier Gens do to keep the audience guessing when the real horror will strike.
What baffles me is the use of flashbacks to recount the story and horror. While there is good use of sound and imagery to convey the scenes, flashbacks are likely one of the least effective methods to build on the suspense that was established earlier in the movie.
Our Verdict
It is hard to pass The Crucifixion as a proper horror film. The start of the movie gave one too many secrets. The constant bright and sunny ambiance, even towards the climax of the show brought too much cheer for any horror. The movie is also one of the few in the genre with a happy and conclusive end. If you are new to horror, this might be the right show. The spacing between each scare is far and between with distinct audio cues to have you better ready for the moment.
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