The Rite - A Review

Having just screened The Rite I must disagree with a lot of the critics out there who compared it unfavourably to The Exorcist. In that context their criticisms are true; it's dull, it's slow, not enough supernatural sfx. They're right. The Rite doesn't use a bunch of crazy visuals to convince you of the reality of possession. They don't need to. The story is convincing enough. It's based on a book written by Matt Baglio who apprenticed an american priest in Rome learning how to perform exorcisms. He was a passive witness to over twenty exorcisms and based the book on his experiences. Baglio called the film, "very accurate". Odd that the filmmakers didn't include a 'Based on a true story' title in the opening credits. But then, as Baglio also notes, the filmmakers "took licence".

THE POOP: Michael (newcomer Colin O'Donoghue) has entered the seminary and soon finds he has doubts about his faith. A lifelong atheist, he throws himself into religion to honour his dead mother and get a free college education, rather than follow the family business of becoming a mortician like his defeated father. Although he excels in his studies he ultimately decides to quit, until a respected priest at the school convinces him that studying exorcism in Rome will shore up his faith. Reluctantly Michael accepts and he's off to Rome. Being forewarned that "the american" is a reluctant believer Michael is introduced to Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), a seasoned exorcist and (as is often pointed out) unorthodox priest. He tries to show Michael the reality of exorcism and it's importance to the church, but Michael remains a skeptic. Then, in a true test of his beliefs, Michael is forced to confront his own belief system: god or science.

THE REVIEW: Despite his lacklustre reviews (due, I think, to the low general opinion of the film) lead Colin O'Donoghue is very effective as the doubting priest wanna-or-not-wannabe. He brings a solemn and thoughtful air to the otherwise fantastic subject matter. Anthony Hopkins is typically brilliant whether he's performing an exorcism or shooing away cats. "Rome", he tells us, "is overrun with cats". Supporting actors are all fine, with an interesting cameo by an aging Rutger Hauer as Michael's father and a solid supporting job by Alice Braga as Angelina. The film itself is beautiful to look at. Directed by Mikael Hafstrom (of 1408), you can tell he chose his crew well. All in all it's a good exercise in scary religious movie. I think part of the reason it didn't do well at the box office is that it was marketed as a horror and audiences (and critics) were disappointed. This is the story of a young man deciding his life path. It just so happens that his life path involves demons and devils. Think about this film as if it was about an accountant. Accountants are important in our society. Arguably more important than exorcists. But if someone made a movie about an accountant who didn't know if accounting was his true calling would you watch it? His struggle over whether he was a 'numbers guy' or would rather just not know how it all happened? Michael is like that with exorcisms, and he learns a big lesson. And that's waaaay more fun to watch. I like this film, despite the reviews of many, except for my man Roger Ebert, who said "I found myself drawn in. It is sincere. It is not exploitative; a certain amount of screaming, frothing and thrashing comes with the territory". It IS sincere. Maybe too much so. I can think of a few directions it could've gone to be more interesting but ultimately it's a good, solid religious thriller; NOT a horror film.

The Rite is currently in theatres. It will be available for rent or sale on May 17.