The PenitentMovie
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.
About The Penitent
The Penitent is a 1988 horror, drama, thriller movie directed by Cliff Osmond.
The production information lists a runtime of 1h 30m, production credits from Mexico, United States of America, an original language code of EN.
The credited cast includes Raúl Juliá, Armand Assante, Martin LaSalle, Rona De Ricci. The synopsis above summarizes the central premise without adding details beyond the available title information.
