Angels & Demons (2009)

Angels & Demons (2009) is an American mystery thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman and David Koepp, adapted from Dan Brown’s novel of the same name. Following the sudden death of Pope Pius XVI, the Catholic Church prepares for the papal conclave to elect his successor in Vatican City. During this time, Father Patrick McKenna serves as temporary ruler of the Vatican as Camerlengo. Meanwhile, scientists Father Silvano Bentivoglio and Dr. Vittoria Vetra successfully create three canisters of antimatter at CERN. However, upon inspecting their experiment, Vetra discovers that Silvano has been murdered and one canister has been stolen. In addition, a man claiming to represent the Illuminati kidnaps four of the preferred candidates for pope, threatening to harm them one by one every hour from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The culprit also warns that he has hidden the stolen antimatter somewhere within the city and it will explode at midnight, causing widespread destruction. Professor Robert Langdon is enlisted by the Vatican to assist with the case due to his connections with the Priory of Sion in Paris and London. After analyzing the killer’s message, he concludes that the four cardinals will be killed at locations linked to the classical elements, referred to as the ‘Path of Illumination’. Despite Commander Richter’s objections, McKenna allows Langdon access to the Vatican Secret Archives in order to research these altars. With the help of Dr. Vetra, they study Galileo Galilei’s forbidden book and uncover clues leading them to believe that the first altar is located at the Pantheon. However, they eventually realize that it is actually situated in the Chigi Chapel.