The Rite

source: The Rite

I had high expectations for "The Rite", which according to the poster stars Anthony Hopkins as an exorcist. Mikael Hafstrom (who guided 1408 and DeRailed remarkably well) directs, and the horror element with these two masters intrigued me even more. But this isn't The Silence of the Lambs by any means, nor is it The Exorcist. The real star is Colin O'Donaghue's Michael Kovac, a young man from Chicago who runs a mortuary with his father (in a great performance by Rutger Hauer). The younger Kovac makes his way to a monestary headed by a Priest played by Toby Jones, who by a movie-coincidental turn of events suggests Kovac head to Rome to study the art of Exorcism. Kovac arrives and meets the character of Father Xavier (Ciaran Hinds), who quickly realizes that his new pupil is losing his faith. Seeing a bright mind that stands to be lost, Xavier suggests the hermit-seeming Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins, finally). Lucas quickly performs an exorcism, then another. And another. And pretty soon we can't help but ask ourselves if Rome has more exorcisms than Panera bread. "The Rite" is a good movie that doesn't seem to know what to do with itself. Anthony Hopkins doesn't show up til a fourth of the way into the movie and still he is not at all the main character. O'Donaghue, who has to shoulder the burden of being the film as well as trying to hold a candle to Hopkins, does quite well. He is believable and no matter how clichéd his story is we want to see the best for him in the end. Alice Braga is your typical horror movie heroine. She plays "Angelina", no last name, and is a ballsy reporter doing a story on exorcisms. The plot plays around with a romance for a bit before Kovac decides to become a priest. Rutger Hauer does a fine job in his bit part as the older Kovac. Likewise Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds. Cinematography is also excellent. The shots of Rome and the interiors of the Vatican, Father Lucas' home, and the exorcisms themselves are filmed very well. The script is my main problem. In the middle of one of these exorcisms, Hopkins answers his phone and expects O'Donaghue to continue on. Badly used comic effect that not even Hopkins can save. This is a mediocre film that doesn't take itself too, too seriously and made an enjoyable two hours or so. It's very much like so many movies coming out nowadays, however, in that it's just to forgettable.

I have no belief in the supernatural but when it comes to movies there is nothing I like better than a good horror. If the movie is sufficiently well-made, then there is no problem suspending disbelief for cursed video tapes, cannibal zombies, giant monsters, vengeful ghosts or pretty much anything else. 'The Possession of Emily Rose' was a fairly good movie about demonic possession, but I can't think of another one. The problem with possession-based horror movies is that one either has to be a religious person who is already well-versed in such notions (and scared by them), or else the movie itself has to be very good at conveying a persuasive atmosphere of the dread and otherworldly malevolence that earthly manifestations of such beliefs should inspire. As with 'The Exorcist', 'The Rite' relies almost entirely on Christian (and specifically Catholic) beliefs for its horror value, and also as with 'The Exorcist', too bad if you're a non-believer because there's not much left over for you. In fact, the more seriously and obsessively both movies take their religious doctrines, the sillier they look. 'Tell me your name!' shouts would-be exorcist Michael Kovak repeatedly at the demon inhabiting Anthony Hopkins' character. 'Dave! Jeff! Sid Vicious! Punkinpuss!' one shouts back at the movie. Then there's the director's apparent belief that slapping a 'dungeon echo' soundtrack sound effect on everything from doors closing to people opening their eyes equals 'scary'. Question: How is a roomful of small frogs 'demonic'? Answer: I don't know; I was laughing too much at Muffin the Satanic Mule (yes, there's actually a satanic mule) to think straight. And the ultimate question as to why a demon might want to make its possess-ee swear, argue, crack their knuckles and contort their limbs (and how this activity might further the cause of Satan) is never addressed, much less how Biblical 'free will' might work with unwilling demonic possession. Kovak the conflicted 'atheist priest' is (surprise, surprise) a weak and insipid character, whilst the hardcore religious stuff is corny and embarrassing enough to have both believers and skeptics face-palming in unison. Throw in a couple of those cheap pop-up 'scares' (like a cat at a window. Argh! A cat at a window! Be still my beating heart!), and you have a lazy, stupid movie which wouldn't give a ten-year-old the heebie-jeebies. Acting-wise, Anthony Hopkins isn't too bad (when he's not pointlessly covered in 'scar' makeup and ranting hammily), but then any acting is wasted in a movie where the goings-on are so ridiculous. Neither scary nor profound, 'The Rite' is patronising and insulting to its audience, whether you're a firm believer or not. If you must rent it, then treat it like a comedy and that way you won't feel like your money was spirited away.

this i believe is one of Anthony Hopkins best horror movies. i know he has been trying to get back into horror and he tried with the wolf man which was bad. horrible. but this was very good. in fact it was so good after the movie i was afraid to go to sleep. thats never happened to me before. even more scary that it was inspired by true events. also it had its funny moments to. like when Hopkins was giving an exorcism to a woman and speaking a prayer in a different language. of course because they are in Rome anyway his phone rang as he was trying to get a demon out of her body and then he asked the person with him that was a priest and turned atheist to finish as he talked on the phone. funny moment. great acting by Anthony Hopkins. he spoke roman language fluently. what i didn't get about the film was the kid who was to become a priest but turned atheist Michael was targeted by the demon. however they went after Hopkins character father Lucas. i thin i know why but i don't want to spoil that for you. so my recommendation. see it.

Why is the Rite so awful? 1.) Anthony Hopkins is hammier than anything you'll find at a Goy deli. 2.) The lead looks like Jason Patric's younger brother but acts like his pet rock. 3.) The script is absolutely embarrassing. When not garnering unintentional laughs (anything the movie wants you to take seriously), you're groaning where you should be laughing (cue the stereotypical frowning nun, Hopkins' jolly, nonchalant exorcism style (oh, those eccentric exorcists, always joking around). 4.) Hopkins says early in the film (paraphrasing) "exorcisms aren't all pea soup and spinning heads". Excuse me but, minus the pea soup, that's the exorcisms of "The Rite" in a nutshell. In fact, nothing in this film is original - NOTHING. 5.) Note to Hollywood - if you're making a scary movie, less scary music = more. There isn't one tense or disturbing moment in the whole film, and the music is one of the reason. We never feel vulnerable spiritually or psychologically because we're forever aware of being in front of a Hollywood film. The Exorcist worked because it took an ultra-realist approach. Pea soup and spinning heads aside, it was a hundred times more believable than this piece of turd (let the record show that while I like the exorcist I do not deem it flawless). 6.) No one will really love this movie. People will see it and say either "It was pretty good" or "it was pretty cliché" or Anthony Hopkins was good. None of these answers are acceptable when coming from a cinephile, but all expose the Rite for the intense mediocrity which it is. I'll go one step further - since it's mediocrity is underscored by pretensions of greatness, it is awful. And since it's not enjoyable, it is not even good awful.

Supernatural thriller based on Matt Baglio's «The Modern Day Exorcist», which is inspired by true events. After the recent "The last exorcism" another movie with similar style comes to the big screen with more epic proportions and interesting cast. The frightening scenes, the screams and the fast shots impress viewers who they keep out their eyes on the screen. The script however,at the middle of the film, starts to become annoying with naive quotes that cause laughter. Anthony Hopkins reminds (again) Hannibal Lecter but now he is more old and tired. The young Colin O'Donoghue is good in the role of student, giving a freshness to the old-fashioned story and we will probably see him in several films in the future.Michael Hafstrom's direction does not show anything special and does not add something new in a story that we have seen many times in cinema with better direction, for example by Roman Polanski in the Ninth gate. It is definitely a movie that will entertain fans of that kind of movie, with interest ... surprises until the end. Advice: don' t eat before you go to cinema to see The Rite! Add to positive music and depressing atmosphere.

They should have called this another word which rhymes with Rite but begins with S. This seemed like the follow up to Hannibal where the cannibal killer becomes a priest and has some adventures. But I was shocked to discover it wasn't and was a far more dangerous piece of religious propaganda where good and evil battle for supremacy over the stupid. It seemed odd that nobody seemed too concerned that a pregnant girl was being brainwashed by a religious organisation or Cult to believe she was a vessel for evil. I was disturbed even more when she was dying in hospital that the first person through the door of her room was a priest not a nurse. Tony Hopkins must have had some bills to pay as this advert for religious lunacy scraped a barrel too far. I enjoy a good horror film and don't mind a bit of religion thrown in as it's a useful device for getting to the right outcome. But this was dangerous nonsense and it simply showed how easily gullible people are sucked into this religious craziness. It was not even well acted dangerous nonsense and the story was boring but it's purpose was to promote the God Squad not entertain or educate in any way. Avoid like the plague for religion is a dangerous plague.

The atheist American Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) works as a mortician in the Funeral Home of his father Istvan Kovak (Rutger Hauer). Michael sees the chance to leave home as a seminary student in the Vatican, and he travels to Italy. After a period, Michael decides to quit due to his lack of faith, and tells Father Xavier (Ciarán Hinds) about his decision. However, Father Matthew (Toby Jones) tells him that he will be charged for the course and offers him to have an exorcism training, where he meets the journalist Angelina Vargas (Alice Braga). When Michael meets the exorcist Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins), he witnesses his unsuccessful attempt to exorcize the pregnant Italian girl Rosaria (Marta Gastini). Then Michael experiences weird events including the death of his father. When Father Lucas is possessed, Michael has a test of his faith trying to help his mentor. "The Rite" is a deceptive film of exorcism and despite the reference that the story is based on true event, it is boring and uninteresting. The acting of the lead actor is awful, and Colin O'Donoghue has a wooden performance keeping his insipid and emotionless face along the film. Anthony Hopkins is absolutely histrionic, overacting in many moments. The unknown Italian Marta Gastini and the Brazilian Alice Braga have good performances and save the film in minor roles. The possession seems to be transmitted like influenza and this film seems to source of inspiration to viewers that write supporting reviews in IMDb for the first time. My vote is four. Title (Brazil): "O Ritual" ("The Rite")

From what I could see on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes, the critical consensus was not too favorable. Yet Roger Ebert thought it was a decent little film. After seeing it, so did I. The scenario of this film was tailor-made for Anthony Hopkins. Could you imagine a better excuse for scenery-chewing and over-the-top carrying-on, other than demonic possession? So you can't complain about the overacting: the Devil made him do it. The demonically-possessed cannot be expected to turn in a subtle performance. Hopkins did a perfectly fine job with the set up. And the rest of the cast was equally suitable for what they had to do. It was good to see Rutger Hauer again, a totally remarkable and outstanding actor. He had a very limited role (maybe five minutes screen time total), enough to make me wish he worked more in current films. I miss him. I have not read the book this film is supposedly based on. But I would assume that fidelity to it is not a major point. There was a lot of humanity and recognizable human emotions evident in this film, and I saw no indications that the film was intended to convert unbelievers. And it worked up to some very suspenseful situations. Which is just what a thriller should do. This was another instance of Roman Catholic exorcism. There were seven "orders" or steps in becoming a priest. In that order, from minor to major: porter, lector, exorcist, acolyte, subdeacon, deacon and priest. This set of orders supposedly was instituted a millennium ago, or more. In more recent times, the "exorcist" order is virtually ceremonial. The actual current exorcists are specially appointed priests. But it makes you wonder: back in the Early Ages, the next step after reading the Bible at church services (being a "lector") was to cast out demons (being an "exorcist"). Was there a special need way back then? Such that the faithful could not wait for an ordained priest to intervene? We've also seen Protestant exorcism recently, in The Last Exorcism. I have no reason to believe that casting out demons is limited in any way to Roman Catholics. I think the next film begging to be made is a Jewish exorcism. Perhaps there is a Muslim equivalent as well. I am not saying that you have to go out and see "The Rite" rite now in the cinema. I don't regret seeing it there. But when it becomes available in a form that you can enjoy at home, it would definitely be something worth while to watch.

Here's a modern-day "exorcist movie" that is "without the head-turning and pea soup," as Father Lucas Trevant" (Anthony Hopkins) puts it early in the movie. Without the gross stuff - although there are some scary and not-so-pleasant sights and scenes - it makes for a more intelligent look at the subject matter. Hopkins, no surprise, is excellent in his role at the veteran cleric who has been through many exorcisms. His antagonist, so to speak, is a young seminary student who extremely skeptical. (In fact, in real life, a guy with that little belief in God would never be in a seminary.). Anyway, Colin O'Donoghue is good, too, in that role as "Michael Kovak." Set mostly in Florence, Italy, the photography is nice and the story flows smoothly, building in intensity as it goes. It was very entertaining and is recommended.