Touch

Released 1997
Stars Bridget Fonda, Christopher Walken, Skeet Ulrich, Tom Arnold, Gina Gershon, Lolita Davidovich, Paul Mazursky, Janeane Garofalo
Directed by Paul Schrader

"Touch" is a very funny satire about organized religion and a few people on the fringe of show business. It centers around a quiet, unassuming, young man named Juvenal, who has the power to heal. He's a former Franciscan monk, who bleeds stigmata blood (from the five wounds of Christ) when he heals someone. Bill Hill is a former televangelist, and he sees Juvenal as a way to resurrect his career. There's also the leader of the (fictional) fanatical Catholic group called OUTRAGE, named August Murray.

"Touch" is different than most religious satires in that it takes its main character seriously. He truly has the power to heal, and that's not ridiculed. The satire is about the way in which Bill Hill tries to exploit Juvenal. The deals and finagling are quite funny without taking this standard character over the top. That makes it work. August, on the other hand, is way over the top, and that's why his character works until the end. He's fanatically religious, but he's not interested in helping people. When discussing how he would shoot to kill to protect his store from burglary: "If God wants to take mercy on their souls, that's his business. Me--I shoot to kill."
 
Summary by Bill Alward