Hollywood loves concise movie plot summaries. But the two words being used to describe the new movie “Conclaveare rather unusual: papal thriller.

The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Robert Harris and it opens in theaters this coming Friday.

Like the book, the movie unfolds inside the Vatican soon after a pope with more than a passing resemblance to the current pontiff has died. Scores of cardinals are summoned from around the world to cast their ballots for his successor. And what unfolds inside the Holy See is filled with betrayals, blackmail, bombings and a blindsiding twist at the film’s conclusion.

1A’s Entertainment Correspondent, John Horn, sat down with the film’s director, Edward Berger, at the Telluride Film Festival where it debuted. And he joins us to talk about it.

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