Former senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum called the film industry "the devil's playground" as he sought to promote his own film, The Christmas Candle.

Santorum, Republican senator for Pennsylvania between 1995 and 2007 attempted to gain the presidential nomination in 2012 but was defeated by Mitt Romney. He is now CEO of EchoLight Studios, who specifically aim to make family-oriented faith films, and The Christmas Candle, starring Clash of the Titans' Hans Matheson, is their latest release.

Santorum, a devout Catholic, was speaking on the Christian-oriented Trinity Broadcasting Network about the film, and said: "This is a tough business, this is something that we're stepping out ... and the devil, for a long, long time, has had this, these screens, for his playground. And he isn't going to give it up easily."

Santorum also issued a call for the faithful to put their hands in their pockets and pay to see the film and help his business. He said: "I ask for your prayers for me, for our company, for TBN, for all of those involved in The Christmas Candle, and we just want to thank you in advance for everything that you are going to do to help in making this a successful venture."

The Christmas Candle, set in the fictional English village of Gladbury and billed as "a timeless holiday film for the entire family", is released in the US on 22 November.

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