Father Ambrosio (Franco Nero) is so absorbed by his faith that he can't even tell the difference between a man and a woman. And clearly he is not alone, for none of the other monks seem to have noticed that Brother John is actually a beautiful woman, Mathilde (Nathalie Delon). When Mathilde reveals herself to Ambrosio, and declares her love for him, he quickly forgets about his vows of chastity and begins a clandestine affair with the woman. His urges fired up, Ambrosio finds himself drawn to beautiful fifteen-year-old Antonia (Eliana De Santis). Mathilde, actually an emissary of the devil sent to tempt Ambrosio, says that she can make the girl his, but to do so he must take part in a black magic ritual. Of course, Mathilde cannot be trusted, her ultimate goal being to claim Ambrosio's soul for her master.
The Monk is twisted tale of temptation and immorality that illustrates how men of the cloth can be corrupted just as easily as any other person, often using the cloak of Christianity/Catholicism to hide their deviancy. If that isn't enough to ruffle some feathers, the story also throws in a depraved Duke (in cahoots with Mathilde) who has a liking for underage girls and who might possibly be a cannibal. Towards the end of the film, the Inquisicion shows up (unexpectedly, of course) and arrests Ambrosia, condemning him to torture and death. His only way out... to make a deal with the devil. The final shot is a hilarious attack on the very heart of the Catholic church.
Fans of shocking cinema might feel like The Monk pulls its punches at times, and it is true that certain scenes could easily have been stronger in terms of sex, violence and general deviancy - one wonders what it might have been like in the hands of another, more daring director (Luis Buñuel was originally going to direct); that said, it is still a very worthwhile movie, and a must-see for anyone who likes their horror to tackle sensitive subjects.
