Le moine 2011

Manohla Dargis, New York Times: What repulsed Coleridge in the novel clearly amuses the French director Dominik Moll in his diverting if somewhat thin adaptation. Read more

Soren Anderson, Seattle Times: By the end, "The Monk" has revealed itself to be a too- predictable potboiler, served piping hot. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: A beautiful-looking film that portends disaster. And disaster arrives, eventually. It just takes its time getting there. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: Not bad for a robe-ripper along the lines of The Thorn Birds, but Diary of a Country Priest it ain't. Read more

Bernard Besserglik, Hollywood Reporter: Adaptation of gothic classic pleases the eye but ultimately disappoints. Read more

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: A work whose elegant atmospherics ultimately overwhelm the story, even with the terrific Vincent Cassel in the title role. Read more

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, Chicago Sun-Times: "The Monk" is, first and foremost, a classy B-movie, keen to offer Gothic atmosphere, nudity, and mild shocks. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: If only director Dominik Moll (who has clearly studied his Luis Bunuel) had not staged this bitter psychological horror story at half speed. Read more

Dave Calhoun, Time Out: The photography and design are high points, with a night-time religious procession that is very freaky indeed. Read more

Michael Atkinson, Time Out: There's always room for another adaptation of Matthew Lewis's 1795 scandal-igniting ur-Gothic novel, and this lavish French turn positively seethes with the strain of Christian sex-dread and debauchery. Read more

Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice: The finale, in which godly rites are juxtaposed against the vilest of sins, builds to an unholy power. Read more