The Unholy (2021)

The Unholy has the kind of deliciously pulpy hook horror fans crave: a small-town miracle that feels uplifting for just long enough to make the dread hit harder when the shadows start moving. It plays like a slick, commercial theological thriller, mixing mystery and faith with sharp, well-timed jump-scares that keep you leaning forward, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan sells the skeptical, bruised-journalist angle with a grounded charisma that makes the madness feel uncomfortably plausible. Cricket Brown brings an eerie sincerity that makes the “miracle” at the center genuinely compelling, not just a plot device, and the film knows how to build a crowd’s awe into something frightening. If you want subtle, slow-burn art-horror, this may feel too direct, but if you’re on the fence and want an entertaining, tightly paced scare ride with a wicked premise, it delivers.

The Unholy wants to mash up small-town religious mystery with a demonic horror twist, and on paper the “miracle or menace” setup is genuinely intriguing. In practice, it plays things painfully safe: the plot is predictable, the scares are thin, and the whole thing has a dated, cheap-looking sheen that undercuts any sense of dread. Jeffrey Dean Morgan brings some weary charm to the disgraced-journalist role, and a few moments flirt with eerie atmosphere, but the execution is mostly rote and tame. If you’re hoping for sharp theology-tinged tension or memorable horror set pieces, you’ll likely leave disappointed; if you just want a mild, easy-to-follow supernatural thriller, it might do the job.