Film
The Penitent
1988Directed by Cliff Osmond
Where to watch
No streaming, free, rental, or purchase options are currently listed in the United States.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
About The Penitent
- Horror
- Drama
- Thriller
- Crime
Synopsis
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.
- Director
- Cliff Osmond
- Writer
- Cliff Osmond
