From Indie Gem to Marvel Icon: Unveiling Paul Bettany's Unexpected Journey!

Many talented performers who contribute their work to Marvel's cultural dominance often find themselves trapped in their iconic characters, potentially depriving the world of witnessing their other remarkable performances. For instance, would Paul Bettany, known for his roles in multiple Avengers films and Wandavision, still consider taking on a project like Priest in the present day?

In the realm of horror or action storytelling, when exploring the boundaries of good taste and delving into taboo themes, it is a common strategy to incorporate religious elements. While knights and hunters can battle monsters endlessly, the inclusion of Christian symbolism serves as a signal to the audience that the creator is venturing into transgressive territory. Spawn serves as a classic example, but director Scott Stewart truly embraced this concept during the late 2000s.

What is Priest About?

In an alternate 20th century, the world has been drastically transformed by a long-standing war between humans and vampires. Unlike the typical Dracula-like creatures, vampires in this film possess immense physical strength. In response, humans have developed advanced technology to combat them. However, as the conflict intensifies, humans are forced to seek refuge within walled cities. The last line of defense against the vampiric threat comes in the form of the Priests, a group of warriors who are trained from birth to study the Bible and eradicate vampires. Through their efforts, the tide of the war eventually turns, leading to a period of relative peace. The majority of vampires are eliminated, and those that remain are confined to reservations.

Despite their role in saving the world, the clergy seizes the opportunity to exert control, disbanding the priesthood and integrating the Priests back into society. The church assumes a watchful authority over humanity, although many individuals choose to escape the confines of the walled cities in search of freedom.

Years after the war against vampires, specifically in 1929, an unnamed Priest (referred to frustratingly as "Priest" throughout the film) is compelled to pick up his weapons once again. His brother and sister-in-law have been killed by vampires, and his niece has been abducted. The Priest is approached by his niece's boyfriend, who happens to be a local sheriff, seeking his assistance. However, the church opposes the idea of alerting the public to the continued existence of vampires. Thus, the Priest and his newfound friend, the sheriff, must defy the will of the clergy and embark on a perilous journey to save the innocent young lady. Along the way, they stumble upon a horrifying new threat that poses a grave danger to humanity.

What is Priest Based On?

Priest is supposedly based on Hyung Min-woo's Korean comic series with the same title. However, there is very little resemblance between the two works. Interestingly, the comic itself is actually inspired by the 1997 Build Engine shooter Blood. Similar to the game, Priest follows the journey of a gunslinger who has been betrayed by a fallen angel. The main character, Ivan, is a vengeful revenant who relentlessly kills his way through the American frontier. While the film is set in a distant future, it incorporates elements from the comic as well as tropes from cyberpunk and post-apocalyptic sci-fi genres. Although Hyung Min-woo approved of the film, it lacks the philosophical depth found in the original work. Those who enjoyed Priest should consider delving into the comic, as it offers a much more captivating exploration of the story.

Priest and Legion

Paul Bettany didn't just star in one edgy religious horror action film. He starred in two consecutive ones. Director Scott Stewart's 2010 film Legion once again cast Paul Bettany as a religious figure defending innocent civilians from the forces of darkness, this time as the fallen archangel Michael. Both Legion and Priest failed to perform well at the box office and were heavily criticized by reviewers. Despite not sharing the same source material, both films exhibit similar flaws in Stewart's direction. Although visually captivating, the narratives of both films are lacking in coherence and the writing falls far below the standards of a typical blockbuster. The inclusion of religious elements adds little substance to the overall storyline. Angel wings and crosses may be visually appealing in an action-packed setting, but that seems to be the extent of their significance in both films. In 2013, Stewart tried to merge significant portions of both stories in his television series Dominion, as a second attempt at creating the impact he desired in Legion. Since then, Stewart has not directed another feature film, suggesting that he may have fulfilled his specific creative vision with these projects.

The film Priest is an intriguing and unique experience that caters to a specific audience. Its appeal lies in the connection between the visual elements and the viewer's perception. However, if this connection is not established, the film lacks any other noteworthy aspects. While there are commendable action scenes, the comic aspects of the film are undeniably better crafted. Paul Bettany's career has since progressed to more significant and superior projects. Perhaps Scott Stewart's inclination towards creating generic action movies with religious undertones is limiting his potential. It is worth noting that films of this nature are becoming increasingly rare. Could it be that the audience is searching for an alternative to the abundance of superhero movies? Maybe it is time for Bettany to shed the superhero cape and embrace his character with wings once again.