‘Triumph Over Evil’ Documentary Highlights the Church’s Battles With Satan| National Catholic Register
Just as Halloween rolls around, along comes Triumph Over Evil: Battle of the Exorcists as a countermeasure. When so many people are focused on the ghoulish part of Halloween, this film about exorcism presents the reality that toying with evil is not at all fun and games, while assuring that there are unbeatable remedies at the ready.
The only feature documentary on exorcism approved and endorsed by the International Association of Exorcists (IAE), a pontifical association founded by Father Gabriele Amorth, Triumph Over Evil presents several exorcists who expose evil and explain exorcisms to clear up misconceptions, set records straight, and reveal the way everyone can be protected from falling into the devil’s wiles. And if they have, what can be done to free them.
The best known of the half-dozen priests and friars who make up this film is the late Father Amorth, who died in 2016. His sections were filmed in 2012; and after the interview, Father Amorth gave the filmmakers his blessing for the making of this film.
Each exorcist offers insights and examples to explain exorcisms while keeping the fright of a horror movie at bay. One of the exorcists, Father Benigno Palilla, brings up movies dealing with the subject. He makes clear, “Even that horror atmosphere that they try to create is not what we experience during an exorcism.”
What they do “experience, above all, is a great love of God and the power of his love that comes to the rescue of his suffering children. Certainly, there is a person who is suffering, but it is not a moment of sadness, but of joy, because exorcism is procuring the liberation of that person. … The light of God manifests itself through the intercession of Our Lady and also through the intercession of the saints.”
The format is a docudrama, with well-placed changes from one exorcist to the other. All are Italian and members of the exorcists’ association. Although filmed in Italian, the dubbing is flawless. That is no small point because in this particular case, subtitles could easily have been distractions. At the same time, the pacing of the film always keeps interest high. A bonus — filmed in English — features, among others, exorcist Msgr. Stephen Rossetti and Marian Father Chris Alar.
Engaging Explanations
The film also becomes more engaging because the priests look directly at viewers. The belief in what they reveal and advise becomes all the more personal and effective.
Despite how Hollywood has misrepresented exorcisms for dramatic effect, the exorcists share what the ritual is like. Viewers learn exorcists are appointed by the bishop and follow a particular ritual that is sacramental in form, solemn and public. The priests show and explain each step, plus convey in detail how in the Gospels, Jesus distinguishes very well between the sick and the possessed, and how the Lord’s attitude is very different when there is a disease and when there is a diabolical possession.
This riveting film visualizes all the explanations with a dramatization of an exorcism — dramatization because, as exorcist and university professor Father Paolo Morocutti explains, the rituals are conducted with secrecy, “not admitting in any way media items, media tools, recordings, videos or anything else other than prayer of the person for their privacy.” Dramatic and intense is this drama, but not in the Hollywood style.
The exorcists detail why the fascination with the occult is a danger and opens the door to the evil one. They explain the way the occult is promoted through comics, video games, novels, films, TV series and more, including how young people sometimes have a fascination with the occult and consider it as an amusement that does not involve any danger. But they are wrong. It is deadly serious.
What Happens
The exorcists also present steps to determine whether an exorcism is needed. Is it a possession? Diabolical obsession or diabolical infestation? A medical problem? A psychological problem? These possibilities are first to be examined. Viewers also learn that confession is more powerful than exorcism.
Thus far in the film, something should become very apparent to viewers: The exorcists are obviously humble, prayerful, compassionate, unruffled and peaceful. Yet they are no-nonsense in their role.
Our Lady’s Role
Even more apparent and comforting is the major revelation and solid assurance of what happens when our Blessed Mother shows up.
For instance, flanked by a large statue of Our Lady of Fatima on one side and a tall crucifix on the other and a statue of St. Michael in the background, Father Francesco Bamonte, president of the IAE, explains how the devil reacts. “When we see the devil raging because Our Lady is invoked, it is because he feels the presence of Our Lady. I am often struck by the experience I have when, during the exorcism, the devil complains that there is too much light. When I order him to tell me where that light comes from, he says, ‘It comes from her.’ Somehow, he is angry precisely because he notices that Our Lady is praying, and she is close to that son who is suffering, to that daughter who is suffering. For us exorcists, this is a great consolation because we see how truly Our Lady is a mother during this ministry.”
In this much never-before-seen footage, Father Amorth has this to say:
“The action is so noticeable that we exorcists feel the action, the protection, the direct action of Our Lady during exorcisms. Several times the devil had to say that Our Lady was present. ‘That’s her. That’s her. I can no longer do anything.’”
Father Amorth emphasizes, “The Rosary is stronger than the atomic bomb.” To prove it, he shares a story about what happened when a devil who refused to leave saw him pull out a rosary.
Another friar exorcist brings a chuckle with a similar story that is best for viewers to hear him tell. Likewise with another explanation from a different exorcist about his experiences with the Rosary driving the devil away quickly.
“Sometimes a simple Hail Mary is enough to make Satan flee like smoke for the wind,” says Father Amorth. “This is what spiritual fathers, masters of the spirit, and also the great ancient esthetics say.”
The exorcists also reveal why the devil is so infuriated and leaves at these times of Marian prayer. Father Amorth shares one reason related to Mary: “It is God’s will that she collaborates in all the work of redemption, therefore, and does so until the end of the world. That is why she collaborates with such intensity in every fight against Satan, in every personal effort that each of us makes to resist the temptations of the evil one and not fall into sin.”
“As soon as you call her, she comes,” Father Amorth tells the audience, along with more detail about the importance of Mary in protecting us, including consecration to her and praying the Rosary.
The same theme continues in the bonus featurette added to this film. In the quartet of Americans, two familiar faces are exorcist Msgr. Rosetti and EWTN host Father Alar, provincial superior of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. All share important thoughts and advice on exorcism and ways to close the door to the evil one.
Father Alar shares a story of a person in some ways in the path of newly canonized St. Bartolo Longo, who experienced a dramatic conversion. In this particular case, the Miraculous Metal played a major part, showing how sacramentals are powerful in the battle against Satan. Naturally and necessarily so, Father Alar brings in the importance of God’s mercy. It is truly a triumph over evil, as this powerful film brings to light.
Msgr. Rosetti says that the devil is only a speck of dust compared to God, while Father Amorth emphasizes for all, “As soon as you call her, she comes. What mother wouldn’t do the same? Like a mother when the child calls, she runs. Call her your Mom, and she will not resist, just as a mother cannot resist when she hears her child calling her — Mommy! And you can imagine how moved she is. Always invoke her because she protects us continually from all evil.”
WATCH
Triumph Over Evil: Battle of the Exorcists plays in U.S. theaters on Oct. 30 for one night only.
