The Rite – Review

Reviews, Theatrical Reviews, Top Story

A possession film that doesn’t quite exorcise the demons.

The Exorcist ruined everything. When it was released more than thirty years ago it transcended the horror genre and in the process gave those that preceded it and followed a very clever subgenre which to be labeled: possession-based horror. Every few years another exorcism tale will come out and every few years it is always weighed, measured and compared to William Friedkin’s 1973 classic. And even if it is rated good, it’s usually followed with …but not as good as The Exorcist.

The Rite doesn’t come close to equaling the greatness of its predecessor, but to its credit it does aim to emphasize atmosphere over cheap thrills. Though the tone deviates during the final act, the film offers a few new ideas and in its own way feels reminiscent of The X-Files, particularly the mindset of its two main characters, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.

Relative newcomer Colin O’Donoghue plays Michael Kovak, the son of a mortician who decides to enter priesthood as a means to escape the bad fluorescent lighting and cold confines of the family business. Near the end of his seminary training, Michael, feeling he doesn’t have the committed faith to be a priest, resigns but not before his mentor, Father Matthew (Toby Jones), recommends to him a study-abroad program in Italy, where he’ll learn the necessary skills to be an exorcist. Michael’s lack of faith in God and the Devil and his many minions allows him to be more contemptuous to the practice of exorcism much to the chagrin of Father Xavier (Ciaran Hinds), the priest who is the lead instructor of the program. So Father Xavier sends Michael to see Master Exorcist Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins) as a means for Michael to witness the practice firsthand and see if his own preconceived notions are correct – that it is all a bunch of hooey – or if these victims are indeed possessed.

The first half of The Rite is an engaging affair strictly from a philosophical perspective. The debate between the rational and the supernatural is spurred by Michael’s atheism, which favors science and medicine over religion and theology. Even as he assists Father Lucas in performing an exorcism, Michael logically confounds him by offering logical answers on why it would appear on the surface that a person would be possessed as opposed to being psychologically damaged. As Michael continues to help Father Lucas in exorcising demons, though, his clearheaded opinions begin to sway and his subconscious begins to take over.

Per usual, skepticism gives way to belief and we are left with a would-be exorcist trying to get the upperhand in a duel with a demon. Such a confrontation is typical of this subgenre, so it makes for a more generic resolution instead of something that makes the audience go “you know I’ve never seen that before.” It doesn’t kill the enjoyment overall, but it does deflate the two-thirds spent building up the story.

The Rite does so many things well that it’s disappointing that it ends in such a conventional way. Director Mikael Håfström, who some will remember filmed the Stephen King adaptation 1408 with John Cusack, gives the film a sense of atmosphere which is lacking in most horror releases nowadays. The film also goes as far as to acknowledge The Exorcist in a subtle exchange between Father Lucas and Michael after Michael witnesses his first exorcism.

The cast that Håfström has amassed isn’t bad at all. Anthony Hopkins, who continues to coast in his twilight years after winning his Oscar for Silence of the Lambs twenty years ago, is rather subdued for a majority of the film. Colin O’Donaghue is pretty much an enigma at this point his career, having spent a majority on Irish television shows. But in the role of Michael he is able to hold his own in scenes where he’s paired with the legendary thesp. The rest of the cast is littered with character actors in Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds plus Rutger Hauer, a B-movie star who seems to provide the right amount of color to any genre picture.  The best performance of all may be Maria Gastini, the possessed pregnant teen that Michael and Father Lucas are treating.

The Rite is a clever little thriller, for the most part, that makes strides to differentiate itself from the rest of the possessed-based horror genre, but resorts to the familiar when reaching its conclusion. Like they say, the devil’s in the details. Unfortunately, the filmmakers didn’t believe enough in the material to see it.

Director: Mikael Håfström
Notable Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O’Donoghue, Alice Braga, Ciaran Hinds, Toby Jones, Rutger Hauer
Writer(s): Michael Petroni, suggested by the book by Matt Baglio

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!