Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Under Satan's Sun

Play trailer Under Satan's Sun 1987 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
78% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Satan tempts Father Dossignan, who is trying to save the soul of a young girl who killed one of her lovers.

Where to Watch

Under Satan's Sun

Critics Reviews

View More
Adam Nayman The Ringer 04/06/2020
There's a fine line between searing seriousness and po-faced self-parody, and Under the Sun of Satan walks it bravely, turning Depardieu into a vessel for pious pessimism opposite Sandrine Bonnaire... Go to Full Review
Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com 10/08/2020
4.5/5
Pialat's treatment does seem to belong to another period of filmmaking, where subject matters such as these where more readily acceptable, from European masters like Bunuel and Bresson. But revisiting it now reveals it to be an unsung arthouse masterwork. Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia 08/19/2020
6/10
A drama that addresses interesting concepts about asceticism, theology and the moral decline of the faith, but somehow its narrative lacks emotional strength with the journey of the tormented priest. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Nathanael Hood Unseen Films 05/23/2020
4/10
A film that glazes the eyes and numbs the mind despite its ravishing beauty. Go to Full Review
Hilary Mantel The Spectator 08/30/2018
The film is absorbing, and Depardieu is as good as ever. Go to Full Review
Laura Clifford Reeling Reviews 06/14/2016
A-
...mysterious and powerful. Pialat, an atheist, has made a deeply spiritual film in the canon of Dreyer and Bresson, Bruno Dumont's "Hors Satan" surely influenced by it. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
09/30/2020 A real one man show to some degree. Depardieu delivers as always. Bonaire plays does nail the flightiness of youth. Gorgeous scenes of the rolling sprawling hills of the French countryside. You do feel pity for the Depardieu character. With that said, this movie just drags in too many parts for a movie that is an hour and a half long. Really felt like two and a half at times. Additionally there were clunky cut scenes that took me out of the movie a touch. See more William L 04/04/2020 Conceptually interesting but dense, and unengaging for the most part. It gives the impression of a precursor to the modern horror of Eggers or Aster (especially the latter, given the overt religious themes), but lacking much of the impact or relatability. (3/5) See more 02/27/2019 Great Movie! Very challenging especially for a person with rigid religious beliefs. See more 10/04/2014 Slow,slow,slow,slow and so boring. See more 08/22/2014 A challenging, cerebral and disturbing film which will either enthrall you or leave you totally cold. Pialat has created a quietly complex meditation on faith and good vs. evil. Without any grand effects or violence, the film manages to be both jarring and oddly calm. For me, this is a powerful film that builds in power with a couple of repeated viewings. There is much more going on here than what one sees on the surface. A masterful and provocative cinematic work. See more 06/26/2014 Mysticism, religious quests, religious uncertainty, saint-like resuscitation. No, Sous Le Soleil de Satan is definitely not my type of film. Although Gérard Depardieu gave a very good performance. See more Read all reviews
Under Satan's Sun

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Movie Info

Synopsis Satan tempts Father Dossignan, who is trying to save the soul of a young girl who killed one of her lovers.
Director
Maurice Pialat
Screenwriter
Sylvie Pialat, Georges Bernanos
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 35m
Most Popular at Home Now