Conspiracy of Silence

An issue-of-the-week drama in thriller drag, writer-director John Deery's look at the Catholic church's penchant for divisive scandals is ploddingly earnest. A journalist (Barry) investigates a priest's suicide and uncovers is a covert "don't ask, don't tell" policy that shields priests who surreptitiously break their vows. Deery credits his Catholic faith with compelling him to tackle this controversial issue, but clunky expositional dialogue and a climactic Perry Mason–style revelation suggests the product of his soul-searching is alternately pedantic and clichéd.