The film is set in a world where humans and vampires have been engaged in a long war. The Church, led by a theocratic government, developed a group of warrior priests with enhanced abilities to combat the vampire threat. After the war, the priests were disbanded, and society is now controlled by the Church.
The climax of the film occurs when a former warrior priest (Paul Bettany) receives information that his niece, Lucy Pace (Lily Collins), has been kidnapped by a group of vampires led by a powerful vampire leader known as Black Hat (Karl Urban). The Church, skeptical of the threat, denies the priest’s request for assistance.
Undeterred, the priest defies the Church’s orders and embarks on a mission to rescue his niece. He is joined by a Priestess (Maggie Q) and a sheriff (Cam Gigandet) on his quest. As they traverse the desolate landscape and encounter various dangers, including mutated creatures and vampire hordes, the priest uncovers a sinister plot involving the vampires.
The movie explores themes of faith, betrayal, and the consequences of a world at war with supernatural forces. The priest’s journey becomes a personal battle as he confronts not only the vampires but also the Church’s resistance to acknowledging the ongoing threat.
The film climaxes with a final confrontation between the priest and Black Hat, where long-buried secrets are revealed. The priest must make sacrifices to save his niece and protect humanity from a new vampire menace.
“Priest” received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its visual style and action sequences but criticism for its thin plot and character development. Despite the mixed reception, the film found some appreciation among audiences who enjoyed its dark, post-apocalyptic setting and supernatural elements.