Last Rites

[1988, Movie]

Last Rites: Review

One of the worst films of 1988, LAST RITES is a nearly incoherent crime thriller that pits ruggedly handsome New York City parish priest Berenger against a local Mafia clan--which, we later learn, happens to be his own family. Berenger is forced to shelter a lusty young Mexican woman (Zuniga) who has witnessed one of the hits of the priest's estranged family and is now marked for death herself. As if that isn't bad enough, the sultry young woman has a yen for the good father, and he's having a hard time ignoring her advances. LAST RITES is about as dumb as they come. Bellisario's writing and directing are incoherent; the film as a whole is indecipherable. Berenger looks absolutely lost throughout and seems uncomfortable officiating at weddings saying masses. But Berenger is a veritable Olivier compared to the hapless Zuniga, who is utterly unconvincing as a Mexican. Her attempt at an ethnic accent sounds more like a speech impediment than Spanish, despite her Spanish name. Watching the illicit romance develop between Berenger and Zuniga is an unholy experience.