The Order (film)

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Because the giant pointy stake is surely a weapon for good.

The terrible thing about the truth is that sometimes you find it.

Alex Bernier is a priest. And not just any priest. He's a trained exorcist, raised in the Catholic Church by another priest and his mentor after his parents died. He is also hopelessly in love with Mara, a woman once tried to kill him. Bound by the oaths of his order, he dares not pursue her.

But she pursues him. All the way to Rome, where Alex is summoned after his mentor, Dominic, is found dead. Worse, though, Dominic was declared a heretic just before his death, and is to be ex-communicated. Alex refuses to let this happen, and is joined in Rome by another friend and fellow disciple of Dominic's, Father Thomas.

In Rome, Thomas and Alex encounter several demons Dominic apparently summoned before his death. It's apparent Dominic was attempting to atone for something, but they are at a loss for details until they are led to a mysterious man called William Eden.

Eden is eternal, not quite a demon but no longer just a man. He is a Sin Eater, the only person on Earth capable of forgiving men of their sins and allowing them entrance into Heaven...even after they have been ex-communicated. Thomas believes Eden is evil, a perversion against the Church, but Alex is torn. Eden convinces him to give up his order to pursue Mara.

For about a day, Alex experiences perfect, blissful happiness. But alas, it's not to be. After a session of love-making, Alex leaves Mara alone. While painting sunflowers, she's interrupted by Eden, who murders her while attempting to make it look like she took her own life. Alex arrives home and sees her. He performs the Sin Eater ritual that Eden showed him, and absolves her sin. But finding no mortal taint on her, he realizes what Eden must have done and seeks him out.

Alex and Thomas have in their possession in a special instrument and a set of instructions that seemingly describe how to kill an immortal like Eden. Blinded by his anger, Alex performs the ritual before Thomas can stop him. For Thomas has translated the instructions completely now, and they don't describe how to kill a Sin Eater. Yes, Eden is destroyed, but in his place Alex becomes what he sought to kill.

The movie stars Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, and Mark Addy...all of whom were in A Knight's Tale together, which was also directed by Brian Helgeland. The film bombed at the box office, with many critics saying it had several good ideas, but poor execution. Your Mileage May Vary.

Tropes used in The Order (film) include:
  • A God Am I - Eden seemed to feel this at first. Alex does, too, when he first absolves a sin.

Alex: I performed the ceremony. I found Mara dying. I did it to set her free.
Eden: How did it feel?
Alex: Like I was God.

  • Badass Preacher - Alex and Thomas both qualify
  • Non Sequitur Scene - Exactly what is going on with the guys in the sewers who can tell the future by hanging guys?
  • Broken Bird - Mara, who is seriously messed up, so much so she once tried to kill Alex

Detective: Is says here she tried to kill you at an - exercise class?
Alex: She tried to kill me at an exorcism.

  • The Call Has Bad Reception - Alex is a nice guy and a trained exorcist who believes he's being tasked to destroy the Sin Eater. Unfortunately, the manual he's using is actually on how to become a Sin Eater.
  • The Chessmaster - Eden, full stop. He manipulates Dominic into raising Alex, going so far as to plan Alex's parents' deaths. He then manipulates Alex into doing everything he wants of him.
  • Christianity Is Catholic - justified in that it's about a sect within the Catholic Church
  • Creepy Child - we get two, in the form of the two demons haunting Alex
  • Death Seeker - Eden
  • Embarrassing Tattoo - Thomas has one on his ankle. Which allows Alex to identify him at a crucial moment.
  • The Heretic - Dominic is called this, and thus ex-communicated
  • Heroic BSOD - Alex has one after Mara dies
  • Ho Yay - Alex/Eden, not helped by the fact that both actors are so pretty.
  • Inner Monologue - Alex gets one towards the end of the film

And now it is I. I have been blessed and cursed... for now I possess the keys to the kingdom of heaven. I will forgive those who deserve freedom. I will damn those who have damned themselves. I will learn to live after love has died. I am the sin eater.

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