The Confessional (II) (2009) User Reviews

Creepy! A truly unique & memorable thriller.

[morgan-226 · 8/10 · 21 September 2007]

I had the opportunity to see "The Confessional" at it's first screening; a real standout in the field of independently produced features, one that deserves to be seen. Cotton's vision of a troubled small-town priest is at first dark and brooding then explosive and bloody.

Overall, the acting was top-notch. Peter Quartaroli's performance as Leonard gave me a character that I've not seen before, and won't soon forget. While the Hitchcock style pacing can feel slow, it lured me deeper into Leonard's mind, and set up the surprises that come quickly later as the climax builds.

An independent psychological thriller that keeps you intrigued.

[heartinstone · 8/10 · 21 October 2012]

Once in awhile an independent film comes along where only some people have heard about it, and more people should. The Confessional is that film. Written and Directed by James Anthony Cotton, The Confessional is a psychological thriller that is both intriguing and creepy. Fans of Hitchcock horror will definitely appreciate it.

The cast includes Peter Quartaroli (The Scorpion King), Jane Longenecker, (JAG) Patrick Kilpatrick (Minority Report) and Victor Browne (Tremors), all of whom have some well-known acting gigs. Quartaroli plays Leonard, the main psycho who was abused by a priest as a child and seeks to find his own fulfillment. It is Quartaroli's performance that carries the whole story from beginning to end. The creepy factor is a high "10" on the Creepy Scoring Scale. His mannerisms, his voice and the pacing of his words all make your skin crawl up the back of your neck. It is his character that makes you want to know what happens next, and it is intrigue that keeps your eyes glued to the screen.

The entire cast of characters was very well done; each one had great chemistry on screen with the other. The script was well written, with great dialogue and scene setting, which brought the story to life. The twist at the end was a fantastic way to bring everything together.

So If you're looking for an independent thriller to watch, The Confessional is one you don't want to ignore.

Creepy!

[mmtheapes · 8/10 · 27 November 2007]

This film had everything I could hope for - creepiness, comedy, and crime! (Any film that has someone taking a shovel to the face is OK in my book...I hope this film gets picked up and goes into wide release soon - it takes a theme used in dramas in the past (childhood innocence subjected to the twisted motivations of a sick and demented authority figure - this time in the guise of a Catholic priest - and lets us, the viewers, see the fallout some 30 years later when we see the child as a man, trapped by motivations that are beyond his control (or are they??). Remember people, you are what you eat - "Soup is strength!" - and if you don't know what I'm talking about, that means you haven't seen the film yet - a situation that you must rectify upon the release of this film!

Liked the Movie and loved Bettina

[rdbikr2 · 24 September 2007]

I have seen Bettina Devin in several movies and on stage. Her stage and movie presence is, Not only brilliant and captivating but she has "That Thing", that draws you in and makes you sit up and take notice. That quality that makes you know that she should be a "STAR". She is such a believable character in this movie that you feel like you really know her and feel what she is thinking and doing and feeling through out the performance. Qudos to her on a great job. Lets hope we see a lot more of her. I felt the other characters did a very good job on there roles, however the lead may have over played his part a little but showed he also has a real talent.

Kip Mackey

Slow paced B-movie lacks thrills

[btheseira · 4/10 · 9 April 2018]

Disturbed killer escapes from asylum and assumes the identity of a priest. Sound premise boringly executed. Do yourself a favor and watch Night of the Hunter instead.

A really fun thriller of a film !

[TheX_factor · 10/10 · 17 September 2007]

A great film! The director creates a work that is full of suspense. I had an opportunity and sincere pleasure to view the film at the recent screening or premier. The director builds a strong dark thriller. The lead actor who plays Leonard provides a very exciting and sinister performance. He uses everything in his acting disposal in order to convey subtle variations on the dark, troubled character of Leonard.The film brings something new to the table. From it's dark plot filled with suspense to the smallest details of the film's sculptures- it solidifies its status as a modern film classic. Director James Anthony Cotton knows how fear of the unknown is the most potent fear of all, and he uses this as the driving central force. A really fun thriller of a film!

Good

[arfdawg-1 · 6/10 · 19 April 2014]

A disturbed sculptor assumes the identity of a small town priest.

He designs a game of divine madness for a unsuspecting town.

For the genre and the budget this is an effective movie.

Yes, a lot of the actors are not very good, it's true.

However it's relatively well paced.

And the story does a good job keeping your attention.

It's an interesting story that is not all blood for blood sake.

I'll admit it get a bit tedious about 3/4 in.

But it's still worth a look see.

You can catch it for free if you have Roku.

An excellent film

[padula007-1 · 9/10 · 23 November 2007]

I have been in the business for many more years than I would like to count on both sides of the camera. This film has a look many times higher than its actual budget. This film would do very well in the marketplace. The characters are well defined and the actors are of high quality. The story will keep you in suspense and the ending will be a surprise. I usually am able to guess the storyline in advance with ease but this film kept me guessing until the very end. The locations fit the story nicely and I understand the filmmakers had a lot of cooperation from the local town folk as well as enthusiasm from both the cast and crew. I think that the distributor that picks this film up will come out on top.

Intriguing film, with solid performances.

[creighton-jenkins · 7/10 · 12 September 2007]

"The Confessional" is a suspense thriller in the vein of Hitchcock. Character driven, the film relies on performance and plot rather than sex and gratuitous violence, a refreshing change. Peter Quartaroli delivers an amazingly nuanced and riveting performance as Leonard, a disturbed priest. He sends chills down your spine with the slightest turn of his head or smoldering smile. Much to his credit director James Anthony Cotton is able to capture these nuances and etch them in your mind where they dwell long after the movie is over. Mr. Cotton has stated that this is the first film in a trilogy. Here's to hoping that this film finds distribution and Mr. Cotton is able to get a budget worthy of his directorial abilities for the next two.

Was given an opportunity to see this movie and it's wonderful!

[ryanmercer · 10/10 · 1 March 2009]

We find that our villain Leonard is what Sylar (of Heroes) would be without powers. I first watched the trailer and a teaser for this on YouTube and was awed by it, I was then fortunate enough to be allowed to view the film in it's entirety. I have to say that I absolutely love it. It has a nice Hitchcock feel to it but at the same time brings something new to the screen. Peter Quartaroli does a phenomenal job playing a deranged man masquerading as a Catholic priest in a small town. At first some might be turned off by the character development that takes place the first hour, however any and all thriller fans will fall in love with the movie as it moves past the first hour... don't get me wrong the first hour is great too, I just know most today are accustomed to senseless violence in the first seconds of a film thanks to horrible creations such as the Saw movies. If you are a Hitchcock fan, then you will love this movie. It is my opinion that if Alfred were still alive, he'd commend James Anthony Cotton on making what hopefully will become a cult-classic that also takes the masses by storm.

James Anthony Cotton, give us more films like this.

Soup, Sins, and Suspense

[shorthobbit33 · 7/10 · 4 September 2012]

In order to fully love this movie, I recommend boiling a vat of your favorite soup, turning off the lights, and confess your sins the day before watching this movie. Oh, and having some clay is great as well. Unlike the typical blood and guts thrillers, this movie forces the audience to pay attention to details (believe me there are lots of small details). It's definitely a unique movie with the correct amount of suspense.

My favorite part is where creepy priest (played by Peter Quartaroli)fully shows how amazingly demented the main character is. The minute twitching and facial expression made me feel like he was truly insane. So, just don't forget to finish ALL your soup. There are consequences if for those who don't. *Insert Dramatic Music* If for no other reason, you should watch this movie because Peter Quartaroli plays a rather brilliant role.

I think my least favorite part was the lack of some common sense by certain characters (you will know when you see it). It is the typical, why didn't you do this or call that person. However, this lack of common sense is rather apparent in most thrillers and should be taken as entertainment value because it teaches the audience what not to do in said situation. Well, at least I hope so. If not, I will have at least finished all my soup.

Twisting and turning for the best

[holograms-519-512846 · 10/10 · 6 November 2012]

The Confessional is one of those movies that creeps up on you. The main actor, Peter Quartaroli plays creepy very very well in this movie. You could cut the tension with a knife in so many scenes. You really have to keep an eye on this guy, as you never know what is going to happen with him, and what could happen next! He has such a great performance in this movie, and he has the whole creepy thing nailed down perfectly. It would be great to meet this guy in real life, just to see the differences in how his everyday character is, and how different it is from what we see in this film. I like the direction and acing in this movie as well. It was great to see an actor (James Cotton) take on the huge responsibility of both writing AND directing, and pull them off so well. I wish him well on his future projects. I hope to see more great work from this man in the future! This movie has it all, and I encourage everyone reading this review to go check it out as soon as they can! I will definitely eat better now that I have seen this movie- Soup is strength!

Excitement and creepiness

[info-520-151337 · 9/10 · 5 November 2012]

In writing this review, I would just like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed James Anthony Cotton's THE CONFESSIONAL. It plays like one of the great Hitchcock movies of the past. It has a slow ramp up, and a slow boil with excellent pacing. You think it is going in one direction, then it switches and goes another. I like how it starts off slow, then as the preacher gets more and more integrated in the community, he can play different people off each other, and into his hands for what he wants. Everything is a game to this guy, and seeing what his end game is is truly terrifying. Everything comes together in the end to make THE CONFESSIONAL a timeless cult classic. I also think the shooting and editing were great, with a cool cast that is not a stranger to acting from their previous projects. It was cool to see a bunch of different talents come together. Also, it was fantastic to see that it was shot out here in the Bay Area, more films need to come out here and shoot! I hope this movie continues to do well, and I wish it luck in the future, hoping more and more audiences get to see it!