The Ritual (2025)

This is the story of the 1928 excorcism of Emma Schmidt by Father Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino) and Father Joseph Steiger (Dan Stevens).  The event is considered the one that resulted in the most detailed account of an exorcism and was used as the basis for films like THE EXORCIST.

This film is destined to split audiences. Those wanting a shocking movie with monsters and insane effects are bound to be disappointed. While things most certainly happen, this is another sort of film, its film that wants to, largely, stick to reality. There is  strong battle to figure out if Emma is mentally ill or if it is the work of demons. For most of the running time things don't stray  too far from being questionable. On the other  hand if you want a more realistic film with a discussion of faith and belief tossed in then this film is for you. (And when I say belief this isn't one where everyone is pius and believing, most of the characters have doubts.)

The film is not a whole accounting of the case. The story actually started in 1912 when Reisinger first tried to cast demons out of Emma. It partially worked. And while it's referenced in the film we aren't told all the details. The film also compresses the 1928 events  and tweaks things. While I know why, the film does suffer from a sense that this was a much longer film at one point.

The cast is good, even if some of the characters aren't given a great deal to do. Stevens is fine with his role as a priest walking the line between science and religon. I know people are going to hate me saying this but Pacino gives one of his best performances as Reisinger. He's low key and in control, and it's one of the rare times when Pacino doesn't resort to mugging or Pacino-isms. He is a person other than himself.

The film is tense all the way through. Even if it isn't bone chillingly scary, the film is creepy and suspenseful all the way to the end. It held me tighter than most thrillers and horror films I've seen this year.

My one dislike for the film is that I hate the camera work early on. It's all handheld and the camera is never still. The edits seem to be rapid not for need of story but to hide something. By the time we were about a half an hour in I stopped caring because the story hooked me, but that first bit of the film annoyed me.  

Overall, I really liked this film. It kept me watching all the way to the end. I did not get up to go to the bathroom because I couldn't miss what happened.  I highly recommend it anyone who wants a film that is more than blood and jump scares.