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The Penitent
The Penitent
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The Penitent

1988
Directed byCliff Osmond
1h 30m

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.

CAST
Raúl JuliáRamon GuerolaArmand Assante
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v3.3007 · CLOUD · code x168 sha 8cf7760 · rev forseentest-00345-hif

Juan Mateo
Martin LaSalleMiguel
Rona De RicciCelia Guerola
Julie CarmenCorina
Demián BichirRoberto
Tina RomeroSusana
Justo MartínezEnfermero
Enrique NoviJose
DETAILS
GENRES
HorrorDramaThrillerCrime
STATUSReleased
PRODUCTION
The Vista OrganizationIthaca
RATING
6.6

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