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      The Rite

      PG-13 Released Jan 28, 2011 1 hr. 54 min. Horror Mystery & Thriller List
      22% 174 Reviews Tomatometer 40% 50,000+ Ratings Audience Score Though he is filled with doubt about the subject, seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) finds he must attend a Vatican school of exorcism. Believing possession to be the work of a troubled mind rather than actual demons, hel urges his superiors to look for answers in psychiatry. Then Michael becomes the apprentice of Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), a veteran exorcist, and encounters a terrifying force that causes him to question everything he believes. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Apr 16 Buy Now

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      The Rite

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      Critics Consensus

      Anthony Hopkins is as excellent as ever, but he's no match for The Rite's dawdling pace and lack of chills -- or Colin O'Donoghue's tentative performance in the leading role.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Dick C It's an excellent motion picture, The Rite, 2011...I like this Genre of film and I am a Catholic... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/31/23 Full Review Glitched G We love Anthony Hopkins but The Rite fails to keep audiences invested thanks to sluggish pacing & bad writing. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/04/23 Full Review J Q Eu gostei... Filme bem feito e com uma boa atuação de Anthony Hopkins Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/14/23 Full Review Raven D Although Colin O'Donoghue's performance is so-so, it is *the* Sir Anthony Hopkins who pulls this off. Aside from the actors, the plot was great. It was gripping especially in the film's second half, in which Hopkins's acting shined the brightest. Did it break new ground in the exorcism genre? Perhaps no. But is it a decent watch? Certainly. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/24 Full Review Joo Luiz I The best of this movie is that it's based on real facts. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/05/23 Full Review matthew d A fascinating look into The Vatican's clergy training and exorcism rites. Director Mikael Håfström's supernatural horror drama The Rite (2011) is very entertaining with a young priest recounting his experiences training to be a Vatican ordained exorcist to perform exorcisms alongside his unorthodox mentor expert. Having the main priest in training be atheist, then agnostic, then a believer is intriguing like Jason Miller's famous doubting priest Father Damien Karras in The Exorcist (1973). I feel like The Rite wants you to believe in God and The Devil with a healthy understanding of skeptics. Mikael's direction is unnerving and empathetic towards the two priests as well as the unimaginable suffering of the possessed. I really liked seeing Rome and how The Vatican trains priests in exorcism knowledge to prepare them to face off against demonic possession as they join this secretive sect of the clergy. It's pretty interesting that The Vatican approved of exorcists being ordained again in modern times by direct order of The Pope. Writer Michael Petroni's faith based writing feels sincere and contemplative about how these particular priests must cling to God in order to combat The Devil on a spiritual level to save possessed victims' lives. I found The Rite to be very eerie and informative with a slightly refreshing perspective on exorcists and demonic possession. You get the usual prayers, crucifixes, holy water, demonic naming, and demon banishing for the classic exorcism rites. The Rite is unique among exorcism horror pictures as it is originally based on facts and first hand accounts as far as you are willing to believe in the supernatural that is, of course. Writer Petroni creates a compelling narrative based on Matt Baglio's book. The spiritual conversations about belief, God, the clergy, and exorcisms are intriguing. I was enthralled during the sequences in The Vatican about how exorcists must stave off demons and be steadfast in their faith in God. It's quite interesting how we get insight from a real priest's life and experiences in his own words. From all his doubts over God's existence. The Rite is interesting and creepy with a couple decently scary exorcism scenes. Sir Anthony Hopkins is excellent and entertaining as the blunt and strange exorcist Father Lucas Trevant. His casual manner of speaking feels genuine and likable. He can be naturally creepy as Hopkins has a chilling demeanor about him, but he's also touching when he fails an exorcism. Hopkins pulls out all the stops in the final exorcism, but I wish it kept the serious tone of the first two thirds in lieu of the campier ending. Colin O'Donoghue is pretty sympathetic as the skeptical young priest Father Michael Kovak. I found his loss of faith sad and interesting as he tries desperately to find God and purpose in life. He's got a fascinating dynamic with Hopkins' devout priest. Alice Braga is lovely and intriguing as a journalist interested in the validity of exorcisms named Angelina Vargas. Ciarán Hinds is very stern as the devout Father Xavier at The Vatican. Toby Jones is very patient and considerate as Father Matthew, who supports Kovak's journey into the clergy, especially after the divine intervention scene. Rutger Hauer is eerie as Istvan Kovak, Michael's mortician father. Marta Gastini is creepy and empathetic as the possessed victim Rosaria. I liked all the cute cats around Hopkins' home in Rome too. Editor David Rosenbloom gives stark cuts during the scary scenes and a gentle conversational pace for the drama to allow for more nuance. The Rite doesn't feel like 114 minutes to me. Ben Davis' cinematography has striking shots like the wide shots of The Vatican to close-ups of nails in the rain that are gorgeous. Andrew Laws' production recreates The Vatican's schools and Roman homes among actual Rome. Marc Kolbe's visual effects are pretty fake and distracting, but some of the exorcism sequences have creepy visuals that work no matter how bad the CGI looks. Composer Alex Heffes' score is ominous and foreboding. I could have used even more dark Gothic songs. Carlo Poggioli and Serena Fiumi's costumes come up with realistic priest robes and collars that are fun. In short, The Rite is somber and thoughtful until it devolves into a more generic exorcism film. Hopkins is worth watching The Rite for as I've seen it twice and it still hits me hard even without faith. The Exorcist is the best exorcism film, but The Rite is worth a watch. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Rite

      (L-R) Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas and Colin O'Donoghue as Michael Kovak in "The Rite." Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas in "The Rite."' (Top-Bottom) Colin O'Donoghue as Michael Kovak and Marja Karan as Sandra in "The Rite." Colin O'Donoghue as Michael Kovak in "The Rite." Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas in "The Rite." (L-R) Colin O'Donoghue as Michael Kovak and Alice Braga as Angeline in "The Rite." Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas in "The Rite." Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas in "The Rite." Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas in "The Rite." (L-R) Colin O'Donoghue as Michael Kovak and Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas in "The Rite."' View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Shubhra Gupta The Indian Express What makes this film old is Anthony Hopkins and his laboured transformation into a tortured being, who needs to be tied up hand and foot, there to snarl and growl.We've seen this Hopkins before, better done in his man-eating Hannibal Lecter role. Rated: 2/5 Apr 3, 2019 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: C Feb 18, 2012 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Parades about with a self-seriousness at odds with a second-half dominated by veiny-faced, limb-contorting special effects and screaming, screaming, screaming. Rated: C- Jun 5, 2011 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Much like Håfström’s last film, 1408, a promising and even impressive opening gives way to a final act that squanders everything that came before. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 3, 2023 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) The Rite arrives too late to its infernal circle. [Full review in Spanish] Oct 6, 2022 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com By the film's mid-point Hafstrom has lost control of the film. Rated: 2.5/4.0 Sep 21, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Though he is filled with doubt about the subject, seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) finds he must attend a Vatican school of exorcism. Believing possession to be the work of a troubled mind rather than actual demons, hel urges his superiors to look for answers in psychiatry. Then Michael becomes the apprentice of Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), a veteran exorcist, and encounters a terrifying force that causes him to question everything he believes.
      Director
      Mikael Håfström
      Executive Producer
      Richard Brener, Merideth Finn, Robert Bernacchi
      Screenwriter
      Michael Petroni
      Distributor
      Warner Bros. Pictures
      Production Co
      Contrafilm
      Rating
      PG-13 (Frightening Images|Disturbing Thematic Material|Language|Sexual References|Violence)
      Genre
      Horror, Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 28, 2011, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 17, 2013
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $33.0M
      Sound Mix
      SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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