The Unholy (2021), directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos and based on the novel Shrine by James Herbert, is a supernatural horror film that explores the thin line between faith and deception. Set in a quiet New England town, the story unravels slowly—before plunging into a full-blown battle between good and evil cloaked in religious wonder.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan stars as Gerry Fenn, a disgraced journalist chasing sensational stories. When he investigates a supposedly miraculous event involving a mute girl named Alice, who suddenly begins to speak and heal the sick, the town explodes with faith-driven frenzy. Alice claims she’s channeling the Virgin Mary—but something far older and darker may be answering her prayers.
As Fenn digs deeper, he uncovers a long-buried history of persecution, heresy, and a vengeful spirit masquerading as divine light. The "miracles" become more disturbing. The faithful become pawns. And salvation might come at the price of damnation.
The Unholy taps into classic religious horror tropes—crumbling churches, whispering shadows, and faith tested under pressure. While its jump scares are familiar, its strength lies in the eerie atmosphere and the central mystery: can you trust what feels holy when it’s born from guilt and death?
Morgan delivers a grounded, cynical performance, making Fenn a reluctant hero who slowly rediscovers a moral center. The visuals are moody and unsettling, with ghostly apparitions and symbolic imagery woven throughout.
At its core, The Unholy is a cautionary tale: not all miracles are blessings—and blind faith can open the door to something unholy.
Because when belief replaces truth,
Even the sacred
Can become a curse.
