The Ritual is yet another exorcism film — but this one features Dan Stevens and Al Pacino. Set to hit cinemas on June 6, the movie draws inspiration from a purportedly true case from 1928.
Hollywood has long been enamoured with possession narratives, dating back to The Exorcist, the quintessential film that set the benchmark for all demon-related tales. Over the past 50 years, numerous imitators have emerged, each varying in quality. At first glance, The Ritual appears to follow the familiar formula (it’s based on true events and includes the classic old priest/young priest dynamic, complete with a “dark past” and “crisis of faith”), but the star power of Stevens and Pacino sets it apart.
The first teaser showcases Pacino adopting a gruff accent while discussing his role in “the Lord’s army,” while Stevens, wide-eyed and anxious, manages to make a priest’s collar look rather stylish. However, the trailer also features the usual tropes, including a woman contorting in the throes of evil and the exaggerated bone-cracking sound effects that accompany demonic possession.
According to a press release, The Ritual is based on “the most thoroughly documented and widely publicised exorcism in American history,” which took place in a small Iowa town in 1928. The afflicted individual was 46-year-old Emma Schmidt, who had suffered for years. Whether her troubles stemmed from a lack of understanding of mental health issues at the time or something more sinister remains uncertain. Nonetheless, the Catholic Church did sanction the exorcism, which garnered sensational headlines.
Alongside Stevens and Pacino, the cast features Ashley Greene, Abigail Cowen, Maria Camila Giraldo, Meadow Williams, Patrick Fabian, and Patricia Heaton. Directed and co-written by David Midell, The Ritual promises to delve into this historical narrative.
