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The Penitent

1519881h 30mCliff Osmond
IMDb 6.5

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Synopsis

The Penitent (1988) isn’t faith-affirming drama—it’s lurid exploitation mocking Catholic penitents. In a devout New Mexico/Mexico village reenacting Christ’s Passion (flagellation, crucifixion), jealous husband Ramon (Raúl Juliá) joins fanatical Penitentes while his virginal wife Celia falls for ex-con friend Juan (Armand Assante), sparking deadly love triangle amid rituals. Directed by Cliff Osmond, it sensationalizes "primitive brutal" self-mortification as barbaric cult, blending sex, betrayal, and gore—not exploring redemption or biblical penance. Secular gaze shames Hispanic Catholic traditions as repressed pathology. Cherry-picks extremism to caricature piety, ignoring healthy devotion. Obscure PG-13 thriller for grindhouse fans, not believers.

HorrorDramaThrillerCrime
BlasphemyPassion PlayMocking Faith

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Frequently asked questions

What is The Penitent (1988) about?

The Penitent (1988) isn’t faith-affirming drama—it’s lurid exploitation mocking Catholic penitents. In a devout New Mexico/Mexico village reenacting Christ’s Passion (flagellation, crucifixion), jealous husband Ramon (Raúl Juliá) joins fanatical Penitentes while his virginal wife Celia falls for ex-con friend Juan (Armand Assante), sparking deadly love triangle amid rituals. Directed by Cliff…

Who stars in The Penitent?

The Penitent stars Raúl Juliá (Ramon Guerola), Armand Assante (Juan Mateo), Martin LaSalle (Miguel), Rona De Ricci (Celia Guerola), Julie Carmen (Corina). The film was directed by Cliff Osmond.

How long is The Penitent?

The Penitent has a runtime of 1 min and premiered in 1988. It is rated 15.

Is The Penitent worth watching?

The Penitent holds an IMDb rating of 6.5/10. Fans of Horror, Drama, Thriller are most likely to enjoy it — TasteRay can tell you how well it matches your personal taste.

Where can I watch The Penitent?

Streaming availability for The Penitent changes by country and service. TasteRay tracks where it is available across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+ and 50+ other platforms — the current options for your country are shown on this page.