the order start in rome where the head of a special order of priest who deal in ghost and demon name brother dominic ( francesco carnelutti ) be find dead and cut to new york city where one of his order alex bernier ( heath ledger ) be contact by top brass cardinal driscoll ( peter weller ) who ask him to investigate the mysterious circumstance surround dominic death . along with his girlfriend mara willims ( shannyn sossamon ) and fellow priest thomas garrett ( mark addy ) alex travel to italy to delve into his mentor death and a the truth begin to emerge it appear that dominic be a sin eater someone who absorb other sin and live with the burden of them so they could die peacefully and that the church wasn not happy about his activity . alex must do what right even if it go against what he believe . also know under the title the sin eater this american german co production be write and produce and direct by bian helgeland and do not really do that much for me if i be honest and i usually be and honest that be . anyway let start with the mess of a script that have some ok idea but it throughly predictable and excruciatingly dull and boring and really silly at time and it take itself far too seriously . the whole concept be daft and while it think it clever with it oh so neat twist end that tie everything up and bring the story full circle i think it be the most obvious and lazy way to end thing . there the usual religious theme here and morality and sin and forgiveness and faith and belief and prophecy and blah and blah and blah you know the sort of thing . then there the twist which aren not hard to see come and there the abuse of power by high rank clergyman and corruption and greed and evil and etc . you know the sort of clichéd hollywood ideal and theme that get reuse every time it deal with the church . the order have nothing new to say and a a serious piece of film make it suck and a lot . i be not too sure who the order be mean to appeal to and a a die hard horror fan i do not see much horror in this at all and a a thriller it less than thrill and a a mystery it too predictable and there nothing here to really grip or maintain one interest and for some reason i can not figure out the imdb also list the order a an action film which be absurd a it a excite and action pack a the average episode of sesame street ( 1969 present ) and harsh maybe but it what i think . director helgeland do an ok job and the film seem to have a very soft light scheme and it all look a bit drab and grayish and dull . for a suppose horror film the order be very light on scare or horror element and in fact there aren not any of either apart from two evil kid who can turn into a flock of bird for no apparent reason and do not ask . forget about any gore or violence a there isn not any which be fine but it would have help at least make the order somewhat watchable . accord the imdb trivia section the release date of the order be put back so some of the special effect could be improve because they look unintentionally funny and all i can say be judge by the finish film the effect must have be really bad to start with because they aren not exactly brilliant a it stand now . i be amaze to see the order have a budget of about $ 28 and 000 and 000 which be a hell of a lot of money and i just can not see where it all go apart from the set and production design which be good . the whole film look and feel very average and utterly forgettable . the acting be ok although the annoy fat guy who seem to be some sort of foul mouth comic relief irritates and a good actor such a peter weller deserve good than this . the order and i prefer the title the sin eater actually not that it matter too much and miss all of it intend target by the proverbial mile as far a i be concern and be a pretty dull way to waste 100 odd minute of your life so do not do it . not recommend .