The Monk

The Book

This amazing masterpiece of Gothic romance was written in 1796 by a 19 year old. Pre-dating Edgar Allan Poe, it conjurs a dark world of catacombs, shrouded figures and death. The language and style of the period may take a bit of getting used to, but it is well worth sticking with.
There are several stories incorporated into the main thread - that of the gradual temptation of the Monk and his descent into rape, murder and finally selling his soul to the devil. The ghostly tale of the Bleeding Nun and the exorcism by the Wandering Jew stands up to anything in a script from Supernatural and the final prolonged death of the Monk involving insects is pure schlock horror.

It must have been truly shocking in its day to the sensibilities of the genteel reader and some of it is pretty toe curling today.

The Film

The design and cinematography of the French film conjure the Gothic genre superbly. Valerio's mask is particularily effective, as are the use of gargoyles and disconcerting faceless statues.
The narrative sticks to the one story and concentrates on the Monk's gradual temptation and descent into sin. Vincent Cassel is fairly unemotional in his portrayal, but his gradual sexual awakening and love for Antonia make the selling of his soul to the devil more of a selfless act in exchange for her sanity, rather than the book, which is purely to save his life from the torture and death sentence awaiting him.

It would have perhaps been a step too far to see the devil sweep the Monk up and hurl him to his death but the ending we get is slightly disappointing having led up to this point.
Overall a valiant adaptation of a brilliant classic. The film could never really do justice to the book, but I am glad it introduced me to reading it.
 The soundtrack by Alberto Iglesias is wonderfully eerie and makes good use of Gregorian chant choral voices - a good soundtrack to help immerse yourself in the novel.

If you enjoyed the book, try The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, or stories by Edgar Allan Poe or M.R. James.
If you enjoyed the film, try the Name of the Rose or Mary Shelley's Frankenstein