At a Catholic boys' school, domineering disciplinarian Father Goddard rules over his pupils with an iron hand. When one of his teenage charges confesses to murder, the dogmatic but deeply repressed Goddard finds his faith challenged and his life spiralling dangerously out of control.
Acting
Burton's volcanic self-loathing—possibly his most underrated performance.
Writing
Anthony Shaffer's script weaponizes the confessional booth brilliantly.
Director
Anthony Page
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shelved for years after a legal dispute; Burton was reportedly furious it didn't get a proper release during his lifetime.
The film eerily prefigured real Catholic abuse scandals—so much so that modern viewers often misread Goddard's specific sin.
GB
