KEVIN SMITH - KEVIN SMITH QUESTIONS REASONS BEHIND PASSION'S SUCCESS

Hollywood film-maker KEVIN SMITH believes the bloody nature of MEL GIBSON's controversial movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST has helped make it a massive success.

While Gibson's movie has attracted phenomenal box office figures since its release last month (FEB04), Smith remembers how his religious-themed 1999 comedy DOGMA - which featured a much happier JESUS CHRIST - was slammed by critics and struggled to recoup its $10 million (GBP5.5 million) budget.

He says of Passion's success, "It's an audience of people who really want to be punished, maybe.

"I should have had a bloody Christ instead of a buddy Christ."