Think exorcism and you just can't look beyond William Friedkin's The Exorcist. To imagine any other film that will come remotely close to the classic is an uphill task but having said that Mikael Hafstrom's The Rite does manage to stand a little bit of ground as far as films on exorcism go.
The Rite Plot
Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) can either run the family business by becoming an undertaker or he can become a priest for those are the only two options available to a Kovak. He joins the seminary and shows great promise but gives up just before his final vows for he loses his faith. In order to help him overcome his doubts Father Matthew (Toby Jones) sends him to the Vatican to undertake an exorcist training program. A man of science Michael has great problems in accepting the church's methods but agrees to meet up with Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins) when his professor sees him struggling in class. Lucas is an unorthodoxly orthodox and much like Michael had a phase where he didn't believe. Michael observes Lucas as he deals with his possessed patients and soon becomes a pawn in the hands of the devil who talks to him through Lucas' patients. While in the Vatican Michael's father, Istvan (Rutger Hauer) dies and he has to overcome the demons of not only his past but also help save Lucas from going over to the other side.
Based on true events The Rite is neatly divided into two parts one where it questions traditionalism and rationality and the other where it becomes a nuts and bolts exorcism film where faith will ultimately triumph. Directed by Swede Mikael Hafstrom's, The Rite is blessed with a wonderful atmosphere thanks to cinematographer Ben Davis, that transports you right into the heart of the fight between good and evil but sadly with each step forward the film plummets. Written by Michael Petroni The Rite takes a long look at faith and tests that one has to undergo in order to preserve it or even discover it but after by the end the entire thing looks highly orchestrated.
To its credit The Rite tries to be more than a horror film that it might be though of. There is a substantial amount of talk that helps it rise above many films post The Exorcist that have the eternal fight for faith.
Anthony Hopkins acting in The Rite
Anthony Hopkins brings a certain degree of panache to Father Lucas and does his level best to avoid the trappings of such a character. He, nevertheless, plays Lucas like a cool old hand who has seen it all and knows everything will eventually fall into its right order. The thing with Hopkins is that he knows he's a star and so even if he tries to act it looks like he is 'playing' a character. But there are places in the film where he shows traces of yesteryear's when he managed to convince you of the character he played and not himself. This is best seen where his Lucas is losing it and slaps a young girl when she asks the priest to bless her doll. Toby Jones as Kovak's senior is fun and as usual it's great to see Rutger Hauer in any form or role. Colin O'Donoghue brings enough Yang to counter Hopkin's Ying and there's a decent camaraderie between the two but the last twenty odd minutes of the film fails in almost all departments.
Final Words about The Rite
Could the film have been any different? Yes and no. Towards the end as Lucas becomes the Devil's latest victim and it's up to Kovak, the non-believer, to save his mentor's soul everything becomes highly predictable. The climax is as straight as any film on exorcism but that's not the thing that will trouble you the most. The biggest problem with The Rite is that it ends up looking like a highly contrived endeavor to make Kovak believe in god. For all it's eerie mood in the beginning The Rite finishes up being a highly unbelievable exercise where the good and the evil and just about everyone will conspire to go to unimaginable lengths in order to help Kovak find his faith.
The Rite RATING: 2.5 / 5
The Rite Genre: Horror / Drama
The Rite Star Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O Donoghue, Rutger Hauer, Toby Jones
The Rite Director(s): Mikael Hafstrom
The Rite Certification: A
I am a Delhi-based author who writes for Buzzintown.com, while I also wear the hat of a documentary film maker. To know more about Bollywood updates gossip or to read latest movie reviews please visit Buzzintown.com
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