To my knowledge "Rite of the Shaman" is the sophomore feature film from the young independent Zepstone Media. I review it with that lens, not in comparison to big-budget productions. Think of it like a local band that's so good it starts getting gigs in venues bigger and more prestigious than local pubs.
Sure, the film has flaws. Sometimes the music overpowers the dialogue. In one scene where the audience views a computer conversation, the text is framed too far to the right and left of screen, making it difficult to read. The bullying scenes could have been more dramatic. The lead character's climatic transformation is powerful, but it left me starving for information about the beings who catalyzed it. (Please, please, please make a sequel!)
Emphatically, to dwell on "Rite's" relatively few technical flaws is absurdly shallow.
For one, this ORIGINAL film is a refreshing reprieve from Hollywood's incessant obsession with vampires, Vikings, zombies and mediocre remakes of great films. Zepstone got more right than wrong in its technically execution.
Most importantly, "Rite's" message brings fresh hope at a time when the news and social media are full of anger, fear and hatred. Any viewer; regardless of age, economic status, religion, politics, or social passion; who looks for the similarities rather than the differences; will be moved to tears and inspired to become the change they want to see.
Yeah, just go see it. It's that important.
