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‘The Vatican Tapes’ – Hazy and convoluted

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Film: “The Vatican Tapes”; Language: English; Cast: Michael Pena, Kathleen Robertson, Dougray Scott, Peter Andersson, Djimon Hounsou, John Patrick Amedori, Olivia Taylor Dudley and Michael Pare; Director: Mark Neveldine; Rating: *1/2

“The Vatican Tapes” is an exorcism film about a Miracle Woman who is believed to be the Anti-Christ. The story is unfortunately narrated in a rather convoluted manner. It underlines the fact that the end is near.

At the very onset we are reminded that over the past 2000 years, the Church has been witnessing paranormal activities, but the records have been documented only for the past 1900 years.

Revealed in cinema-verite with documented footage, supposedly secured from the hospital’s security camera that are now in the Church’s top-secret archives, is what gives the film its name, “Vatican Tapes.”

The narration begins with Cardinal Mattais Bruun (Peter Andersson) revealing his experience of performing exorcism on Angela Holmes (Olivia Taylor Dudley), a 25-year-old girl living in the US with her live-in boyfriend, Pete (John Patrick Amedori) and her religious father, Roger (Dougray Scott).

On her 25th birthday party, Angela accidentally cuts herself and thereafter for some inexplicable reason, she breaks into erratic behaviour which leads to a major car accident, leading to her being in comatose for 40 days.

After she miraculously recovers, unwittingly with telekinetic powers, she begins to eliminate people around her in the most gruesome manner.

Upon realising that they can’t help her any further, the hospital discharges Angela. It is then that the local priest, Father Lozano (Michael Pena), assures Pete and Roger that he would help them. He informs the Vatican and Cardinal Bruun is despatched to perform the exorcism. How he goes about it forms the crux of the story.

The script by writers Christopher Borrelli and Michael C. Martin is shoddy and confusing. The plot lacks expositions and thus it is perplexing for the audience to decipher the tale. With minimalistic horror tropes, the graph of the narration is flat in the first two acts. The account picks up momentum in the last 30 minutes of the 90 minute narrative, which is rather late.

The performances are perfunctory and the characters do not touch you emotionally. You don’t connect with them at all.

With moderate production quality, the found footage technique is acceptable.

While the conclusion of the film isn’t original by any stretch of the imagination, for a film of this genre, this twist is intriguing and elevates the end on an allegorical note. Quoting the Book of Revelations 19:20 from the Bible, it says, “One will come to mimic Christ and that will be the end of the world”.

You will leave the theatres on a disappointed note.

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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