The Penitent
Overview
The Penitent (1988) isn’t faith-affirming drama—it’s lurid exploitation mocking Catholic penitents. In a devout New Mexico/Mexico village reenacting Christ’s Passion (flagellation, crucifixion), jealous husband Ramon (Raúl Juliá) joins fanatical Penitentes while his virginal wife Celia falls for ex-con friend Juan (Armand Assante), sparking deadly love triangle amid rituals. Directed by Cliff Osmond, it sensationalizes "primitive brutal" self-mortification as barbaric cult, blending sex, betrayal, and gore—not exploring redemption or biblical penance. Secular gaze shames Hispanic Catholic traditions as repressed pathology. Cherry-picks extremism to caricature piety, ignoring healthy devotion. Obscure PG-13 thriller for grindhouse fans, not believers.
About The Penitent (1988)
The Penitent (1988) is a horror, drama and thriller movie produced by The Vista Organization in Mexico. It was directed by Cliff Osmond and written by Cliff Osmond. On screen you will see Raúl Juliá, Armand Assante, Martin LaSalle, Rona De Ricci and Julie Carmen. With a runtime of 1h 30m, the film averages 6.6/10 across 5 TMDB ratings.
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