The Rite Review

By Jeremy Brickner, Cyclonemovies.com

The Rite takes place primarily in Italy. The cast is made from Anthony Hopkins is Father Lucas Trevant, Colin O'Donoghue is Michael Kovak, Alice Braga is journalist named Angeline, Toby Jones as Father Matthew, and Ciarán Hinds as Father Xavier. The movie is a dramatic thriller.

There is a rather shallow series of events to follow. Michael Kovak is brought up in the world of a mortician and takes the role in his young life helping his father. He is skeptical of religion and the afterlife, but ends up in a seminary studying to become a minister. Father Matthew wishes to enroll him in an exorcism course at the Vatican, and sends him off to start his studies abroad. There he is guided by Father Xavier and given more interpersonal experience from Mather Lucas Trevant. They dabble in lies, truths, and hands on practice. Michael’s father passes away from a stroke while he is studying in Italy. The series of encounters, hallucinations, imagery and exorcisms continues for another hour of movie.

There was good scenery in the movie. The events are easy to follow. The effects needed for the story were provided. We are told at the opening of the movie that the film is based on true events. This helps keep viewers focused and hoping to get some insight into the matters on the screen. “The Rite” could have been called “The Exorcist: Part ½” and left the viewers to decide from there. This would have been more helpful than tricking us with some quality actors such as Hopkins to get our hopes up. The only thing I left enjoying about the movie was the free “The Rite” t-shirt from CycloneMovies.com and a belly full of popcorn. The zealot out in front of the theatre with the “Anti-Rite” sign was more memorable that the film itself.

Those with strong feeling about the subject of exorcisms may get more out of the film than other viewers. If you enjoyed “The Exorcist” movies, “Angels and Demons,” or slow thriller films, then maybe you can get more out of “The Rite.” The movie has a “PG-13” rating for violence, frightening images and language. This is an accurate rating. As for a critic rating on this film, “The Rite” will receive a generous 1 out of 5 Cyclones.