Conclave (2024) – Secrets, Power, and a New Pope

Conclave is one of those slow-burn political thrillers that sneaks up on you. Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), it’s based on Robert Harris’s novel and stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, who gets caught in the web of Vatican politics after the Pope dies unexpectedly.

At first, I thought it was going to be all dialogue and no tension, but the movie builds suspense in a clever, almost claustrophobic way. The cardinals are literally locked in the Sistine Chapel to vote for a new pope, and the film does a great job of showing how power games and personal secrets come into play even in such a sacred space. There’s also a pretty wild twist near the end that totally reshapes the story.

Visually, it’s not flashy, but the atmosphere is rich, lots of candlelight, shadowy halls, and close-up facial drama. Fiennes carries the film with a calm intensity, and I found myself surprisingly invested.

If you’re into dramas like The Two Popes or even something like House of Cards but with more incense and Latin, you’ll probably enjoy this.

Here’s a good book review of Conclave if you’re curious about the original source material.