Patricia Arquette doesn't fare quite as well. It's not her fault, though. Somehow it just seems funny whenever she talks and a demonic voice comes out. It was creepy as hell when Linda Blair did the same thing almost twenty years ago, but here it almost seems ludicrous. But whenever Byrne is on screen, he somehow lends a credibility to the proceedings that they otherwise would have lacked.
Stigmata does pose some interesting questions, and the plot moves along a refreshing pace.
It has something intriguing to say, but strict Catholics are warned that it portrays the higher-ups of the Catholic Church as deceitful bastards. The message Stigmata sends is beautiful on some level, and Gabriel Byrne's performance alone may merit this one a quick peek. I think Stigmata is one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking films ever made. The love that develops between the Priest and Frankie is moving, and illustrates the unfairness of priests not being able to love a woman. It raises some very interesting questions about the church and the whole of society.