The Vatican Tapes (2015)

What makes The Vatican Tapes pop is its juicy hook: a supposedly “leaked” case file from a forbidden Vatican archive, which gives the whole movie a pulpy, clandestine chill even when it’s playing in broad, mainstream PG-13 territory. Mark Neveldine keeps the pace brisk and the tension ratcheting, while Olivia Taylor Dudley commits hard to a performance that sells the gradual unraveling without turning it into camp, and Michael Peña brings a grounded, human steadiness as the priest trying to keep up with the impossible. It’s not the most subtle possession film you’ll ever see, but it’s a slick, suspenseful ride with a few confidently nasty images and effects that land like a punch. If you like supernatural thrillers that feel like a dark rollercoaster rather than an art-house meditation, this one’s an easy evening recommendation.

The Vatican Tapes wants to be a slick, modern exorcism thriller with a “forbidden Vatican footage” hook, and you can feel it reaching for big, blasphemous stakes rather than small, creeping dread. The problem is it mostly plays the greatest hits of possession movies—familiar beats, thin character work, and a lot of noise where tension should be—so if you’re hoping for fresh mythology or genuinely escalating scares, you may end up checking your watch. Mark Neveldine brings some punchy, frantic energy and there are a few nasty, well-mounted set pieces (especially for a PG-13), but they’re not enough to cover the lack of momentum. If you’re an exorcism-subgenre completist or just want a serviceable late-night shocker, it might do; if you’re picky about atmosphere, originality, or emotional investment, this probably isn’t your tape.