The Ritual Review – Excellent Story Driven Performances, Heightened Suspense

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Category: Film

Published on Wednesday, 04 June 2025 12:53

Written by Janet Walker

The Ritual, from XYZ Films, brings to the screen a powerful depiction of the most infamous demonic exorcism in history, as an all-star cast deliver unforgettable performances in this riveting and gripping supernatural horror thriller.

The film begins with, Father Joseph Steiger, played by Dan Stevens, escaping a room, and before the door is shut, we see the figure of a woman crawling up the wall. He closes the door, and we revert to the beginning as he looks over his congregation, a typical Sunday service, a thankful parish, he stands outside the church and shakes hands as they exits. His life, dedicated to serving Christ and the church, is quiet with few interruptions. As we learn, his brother recently committed suicide, and his inability to save him, weighs heavily causing a crisis in his faith.

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On this Sunday, Bishop Edwards, played by Patrick Fabian, arrives and he explains Father Theophilus Riesinger, played by Al Pacino, has requested the exorcism of Emma, played by Abigail Cowen, be held at this church. As Father Joseph objects, Bishop Edwards explains it is already agreed. It will happen, it will happen here, and you will take notes and chronicle the events.

Emma arrives alone. Her mother we find out has passed, and Father Theophilus, is the only person who ever cared for her. When Father Theophilus arrives, and we see, an older, Jesuit looking priest, who appears mild, and not up for the task of exorcism. He explains clearly, and with authority, how the process will work, and then the ritual begins.

Father Joseph explains he would prefer no restraints, and as Father Theophilus is a guest in his church he agrees. During the first ritual, Emma, whose soul has been conquered by dark forces, is overcome by the holder of her soul, and lifts a Sister Rose played by Ashley Greene, off her feet, refuses to let her go, and holds her in the air, finally ripping her hair from scalp.

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For the Mother Superior, played by Patricia Heaton and the sisters at this quiet parish, witnessing the manifestation of demonic possession, and hearing Father Theophilus, demanding the release of this woman's soul and seeing the fight, in the spiritual realm, not only for her, but for everyone in the room, is challenging. Soon, we see the demons of lust begin to infiltrate those who have been praying during the exorcism for protection, and we understand, Satan roams like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

Each night a ritual begins, and during each the hold is slowly broken, and each time we see a clear sign of demonic possession, excessive strength, black vomit, guttural sounds, and speaking in Latin, while Father Theophilus, challenges the demons through the word of God, which causes battles in the unseen world.

As the film progresses, Father Theophilus is visited by demon and threatens him with death if he continues to fight them for this soul. We understand in the unseen realm, the soul captured for Satan is meaningless to him, but he will fight to the death to keep it to mock the power of Christ.   

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As demonic possession films usually have particular elements and once the ritual of exorcism started, those elements are expected to appear. However, The Ritual weaves into the narrative, which is based on a true story, the unexpected, and adds just enough fright to keep the audience in suspense as to the next manifestation.

With all the pop-ups one would expect in this type of thriller film, The Ritual, an excellent spellbinding and fascinating supernatural film, delivers heightened suspense and fright.

Al Pacino leads an all-star cast, including Dan Stevens, Patrick Fabian, Asley Greene, Patricia Heaton, and Abigail Cowen, in this true story of one of the most shocking exorcism in American history. The original account chronicled in the 1935 book Begone Satan!, has influenced countless horror stories, exorcism films, and theological debates for nearly a century

With bold performances, the cast captures the essence of the religious beliefs. They each embody their characters with authenticity. Al Pacino and Dan Stevens portray a realism, with strength and genuineness. Abigail Cowan delivers an astonishing performance.

A must see supernatural thriller, The Ritual will be released exclusively in theaters nationwide on June 6, 2025. See it.

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Country: US.

Language: English, Latin, Spanish with subtitles.

Release Date: June 6, 2025.

Runtime: 98 minutes.

Director: David Midell.

Producer: Ross Kagan Marks, Enrico Natale, Andrew stevens, Mitchell Welch.

Executive Producer: Lee Broda, Jeff Holland, Walter Josten, Chris Paladino, Luke Taylor Jordan Wagner.

Writers: David Midell, Enrico Natale.

Cast: Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Asley Greene, Abigail Cowen, Emma Schmidt, Patrick Fabian, Patricia Heaton, Maria Camila Giraldo, Meadow Williams, Enrico Natale, Ritchie Montgomery.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade.  A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays, "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She is completing the non-fiction narrative, "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," which is expected to be released in early 2025. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a former member of the International Federation of Journalists.