Directed by Mikael Håfström
I wasn’t expecting to be affected by The Rite. Years spent watching chainsaw madmen ruthlessly hunt teenagers through corn fields, and dream demons invading the sleep of supple young women made me feel invincible to the terrors of the supernatural. Like a lot of people my age, I found The Exorcist hilarious (there are so many moments in that film that are pure comic genius), so I had nothing to fear from what I expected to be yet another modern spin on the classic formula of “old priest meets young priest, priests meet troubled young girl possessed by demon, priests exorcise demon, old priest may or may not pass away in the process.” The Exorcist didn’t scare me. The Rite did.
Like all good exorcist films, this one was inspired by true events – but then, they all are so that’s no guarantee of quality. What does make this film stand head and shoulders above the rest of them is the story surrounding the events. I’d even go so far as to say it surpasses The Exorcist in terms of plot, characterisation and good ole’ fashioned scares.
Colin O’Donoghue (The Tudors) plays seminary student Michael Kovak who seems to be suffering a crisis of faith. He doesn’t really feel the calling of the priesthood, and has enrolled in the college to take advantage of the free education and escape the life his father (Rutger Hauer – Blade Runner) has planned for him – namely taking over the family run mortuary business. Just after his final exams, and before he takes his holy orders, he decides to resign from the priesthood so he can carry on with his life elsewhere. His mentor, Father Matthew (Toby Jones – The Mist), has always suspected that Michael’s faith has been cause for concern – while his student has aced subjects like psychology, he seems to be failing subjects like theology on purpose to convince his teachers that he’d make a terrible priest. On the night Michael attempts to resign from the college, there’s a road accident in front of the college, and Michael is left with no choice but to carry out one of the last rites on one of the victims while mentor Matthew watches on. Seeing potential in his student, Matthew refuses the students resignation, and begins to tell him about the Vatican’s new drive to train priests in the art of exorcism.
Michael decides to head over to Rome to enrol in the Exorcism course- at the very least, he’s getting a holiday in Europe. As you can imagine, being an ace at psychology, he proves to be quite the cynic, explaining away the phenomenon’s associated with possession with case studies of mental illness. His new teacher (Ciaran Hinds) decides the only way to open the priest’s eyes by putting him in the capable hands of seasoned Exorcist, and Jesuit priest, Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins – Silence Of The Lambs). Cue lots of creepy exorcism.
Having been raised Catholic (until a brief period studying philosophy set me on the road to Atheism) I feel this film may have tapped into my subconscious. I’ve always been fascinated by the darker aspects of the catholic church, and it’s relation to occult practices. The Rite doesn’t just focus on the exorcism’s themselves, but documents a non-believers descent into the darkest recesses of the human soul while he battles with his own faith and the inexplicable events that he witnesses during the course of his education. Hopkin’s performance in this film is a return to form. In a film this dark, he provides most, if not all, of the comic relief which contrasts beautifully with his more terrifying moments.
The special effects in this film are exceptionally well done. A lot of the actor’s are noticeably augmented by CGI during exorcism scenes, and the result is truly terrifying, with skin turning to cinder, bloating and bones twisting at impossible angles.
The score, composed by Alex Heffes has you on the edge of your seat, throughout the whole film and when put together with stunning the shots of Rome (and Budapest – funnily enough, The Vatican isn’t too keen on letting camera crews shoot horror films in their buildings) you’ll find your heart lodged permanently in your throat.
In Summary
The Rite did something I didn’t think a film could do anymore – it scared me witless. The journey home from the screening was a nightmare, as I carried the movie with me all the way. I even considered going back to church the following Sunday, until some quiet reflection convinced me that I was probably over reacting. The film’s pacing has been masterfully set out, as it never seems to slow down long enough to lose your interest – there’s always another marvellous set piece waiting in the wings to make the hair on the back your neck stand up. It’s a lot of fun, and a great way to spend the evening.
4/5
The Rite is released in cinemas nationwide 25 February by Warner Bros
