Supernatural thrillers are an interesting lot. On the one had they can be a very effective way to create a thrill ride film, but on the other had they have a very obvious handicap; if you don’t believe the subject matter, the film will usually fall flat.
The Rite seems to embrace this handicap without any regard for what the general DVD watching audience might believe, and in doing so does limit it’s appeal quite considerably. If you don’t believe in possession and exorcism then even the power of Anthony Hopkins isn’t going to cut the mustard, and if you’re keen to see yet another lets bash the Catholics story-line you’re going to be similarly disappointed.
But if you have an open mind or are fascinated by the spiritual, then you’re in for a treat.
The story, which is very loosely based on a true story, centers on Michael (a sadly miscast Colin O’Donoghue), a young man who goes to seminary to escape his prison like existence of living with his dad and working in the family funeral home. At the end of his studies he deliberately flunks his theology paper in the hopes that he won’t be pressured into becoming a priest, but this backfires when he’s sent to Rome to study exorcism. In Rome he is encouraged to visit Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), an experienced exorcist with some unorthodox measures. Read the rest of this entry »
