It is an adaptation of Matthew Lewis's 1796 gothic novel of the same name, and chronicles the story and downfall of a Capucin Ambrosio (Vincent Cassel), a well-respected monk in Spain.
An international co-production between France and Spain, it was partially shot in the barri vell of the city of Girona in Catalonia.
The film begins with the titular Monk, Ambrosio, listening with blank passivity to a nameless man who confesses horrific sexual sins, including the rape of his niece.
After the credits, the film flashes back to show Ambrosio’s past in December 1595, on Saint Ambrose’s night.
He grows and learns about the scripture, joining the monastery at 18 and quickly becomes a respected head of the community and renowned preacher.
The young Antonia faints and is carried to a separate room by the charming Lorenzo, who introduces himself as being from the wealthy Medina family.
Ambrosio visits Father Miguel to check on his ailing health and inform him of the odd dream he had in which he sees but cannot touch an unknown woman dressed in crimson, praying, although he feels like he knows her.
Don Lorenzo comes to visit Antonia at her home and meets with her mother who forbids him to marry her daughter until he gets his uncle’s approval.
She reveals that she was married to the wealthy Las Cisternas despite her poor origins, which caused her husband to be disinherited and become regretful and spiteful, after being forced to move to Caracaras.
To punish her for breaking her vows in the convent garden, she is sentenced to die of hunger and thirst in the abbey dungeon.
Ambrosio is shown sitting in front of a painting of the Madonna while reflecting on his assistance with the exorcism of the shepherd mentioned to Father Miguel earlier.
A funeral is held for Father Miguel and Agnes is shown begging for mercy for her child, then cursing Ambrosio again.
While waiting for her to return, Ambrosio sees Agnes’s ghost, who accuses him of having sinned in the flesh, and being responsible for her and her son’s death.
While heading back to his room, the accusatory monk avoids certain dark areas of the monastery and is hit by a falling gargoyle in the rose garden.
The next morning, the dead monk is found, and while investigating the fallen gargoyle on the roof, Ambrosio sees the woman in crimson from his dream.
He agrees and goes to her, where Elvire confesses that she had a son before Antonia named Mateo, but that she left him behind when she fled from Madrid and the Marquis killed him out of spite.
While Father Andres is cleaning his head injuries after, Ambrosio asks if his sermon was as persuasive as usual, and his friend insists that it was more so.
During the procession of Saint Mary, Ambrosio sneaks into Antonia’s room, where after smelling the flower she wakes up and they engage in sexual intercourse.
While awaiting his sentence in prison, Valerio appears to him adorned in a gown and jewels, revealing herself as an instrument of Satan in female form and she states that someone wants to meet Ambrosio.
While lying down in the sun, the confessor from the first scene of the film approaches him and congratulates him on his intense sins and reveals his identity as the Devil.
Its consensus reads, "Visually sharp but only occasionally gripping, The Monk is still watchable thanks in part to Vincent Cassel's charismatic performance.
[7] Screen Daily praised the leading man, "Cassel exudes otherworldly gravitas and his singular looks are perfect for the role."
The review continued to note that "Moll uses quaint touches like iris in/iris out and, via painterly photography, makes the most of the contrast between the cool inner sanctum and the sun-baked landscape."