The Rosary Murders **½ (1987, Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Josef Sommer, Belinda Bauer) – Classic Movie Review 11,850

Director Fred Walton’s 1987 American neo-noir mystery thriller The Rosary Murders is based on a novel by William X Kienzle, and stars Donald Sutherland, Charles Durning, Josef Sommer and Belinda Bauer.

A disturbed Detroit priest-and nun serial killer uses the confidentiality of the confessional booth to tell Father Robert Koesler (Donald Sutherland) of his wicked ways, but of course Koesler cannot break his vow of confession by informing the police. Each Roman Catholic priest or nun found murdered has a black rosary.

This is hardly an original hook, which comes as some surprise, since the co-scriptwriter is none other than the hard-boiled bad boy of American literature, Elmore Leonard, along with director Fred Walton (When a Stranger Calls), but then they are adapting a familiarly themed novel.

Sutherland gives yet another tight performance as the priest who sets off to solve the case when the cops are baffled, and Durning impresses as the father superior, both of them redeeming what is otherwise a disappointing misuse of talents. The problem is that the tension and thrills aren’t wound up and set off effectively.

The Rosary Murders is shot at Detroit Michigan’s century-old Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic church on the city’s Southwest side.

Musician Jack White appears uncredited as an altar boy who assists the celebrant in a liturgical service.

The cast are Donald Sutherland as Father Robert Koesler, Charles Durning as Father Ted Nabors, Josef Sommer as Lt. Walt Kosnicki, Belinda Bauer as Pat Lennon, James Murtaugh as Javison, Addison Powell as Father Killeen, Anita Barone as Irene Jimenez, Tom Mardirosian as Detective Fallon, Jihmi Kennedy, Mark Margolis, Rex Everhart, and Lupe Ontiveros as Sophie.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,850

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