Exorcismo: El Ritual

I know the reviews aren't great but I like Pacino and Dan Stevens, plus I'm usually overly forgiving with these type of movies, so I would have got some enjoyment from it.

I said would have because I couldn't get very far into it.

The reason was the camera which was so distracting. It was shaking with random zooms and unnecessary camera angles. I don't think I've experienced anything like this before, and hopefully nobody will attempt it ever again.

Baffling choice for such a movie. I guess if the director didn't want anyone to focus on his movie for a split second, then mission accomplished.

As I'm almost 30 minutes into this movie, I'd like to say that I probably won't get through it. Not because it's too scary, but the cameraman is obviously crapping him/herself. The shaky shots are doing me 'ed in as they say. Plus Pacino is sleep walking through it too.

Ok. Longer review required. So I'll watch a bit more.

Every bloody angle is skewed. Is that supposed to add something? Every scene is plagued by the notion that this somehow makes the viewing experience more "authentic". Yeah really. I was an alter boy once upon a time and since then I've always wanted to ask someone, anyone, when was the last miracle amongst the faithful. Maybe the fact checkers are a more scary prospect. Peace.

The film is about satanic rituals. We can say it's based on cliché themes. A young girl gets possessed by a demon. There are two priests in the film. These priests try to save the girl from this situation by performing satanic rituals. And the whole film goes on like this... From a technical point of view, the first thing that caught my attention was the camera movements. There were a lot of unnecessary camera moves. I guess the camera was constantly moved to add some action. Even in a random scene, the camera moves in a strange way, it shakes. We saw unnecessary zooms. This was disturbing.

Let's move on to the second point. The script was a total fiasco. Maybe the story could have been expanded, the background of the female character could have been explored. The script felt very incomplete, and the events were presented to the audience in a very narrow way. There's almost no depth in the screenplay.

The theme of suspense was kept in the foreground, while horror was pushed to the background. They say it's based on true events. Maybe that's why they avoided exaggeration, I don't know. This looks like a horror movie, but it's not. Actually, it's not even suspense. It creates tension in a few moments but doesn't lead to anything. It's not what you expect. For me, it was a disappointment...

Many of the negative reviews have clearly missed the point of this movie. It's subtextual goal was not to instill fear, but to showcase a reality--the reality of the spiritual world and the warfare thereof. Sure, there are cinematic embellishments, and indeed, the shaky camera style was NOT the move for this type of movie. I believe a majority of still shots would've given this movie more grounding, focus, and realism.

HOWEVER, the message is genuine, and real. I think what people disliked so much was how the movie portrayed genuine people of faith, both weak and strong, acting in this scenario. The prayers, the passion, the fear, the confusion, the sin, the repentance, and the love was all there. It wasn't overdone, or corny, but transparent.

This movie merely attempts to showcase both the reality of evil and the reality of the Church's fight against it, to include the Church's imperfections in her members.

Exorcisms, or any extraordinary demonic activity in real life does not have the dramatic lighting, or the shaky camera, or the acting. And the faithful of the Church fight that evil foremost with faith, hope, love, and prayer. This movie is about that.

It's not meant to be a new and novel installment in the horror genre. It's meant to convey a reality that stays true to how Emma's ACTUAL exorcism went and those involved as attested to by Father Joseph Stieger.

I think people disliked this movie so much not because of its questionable camera work, but because it's about true faith. It actually exposes the nonglamorous and disparaging nature of a human being who's succumbed and enraptured by the diabolical. It's not cool, it's not pretty, it's not a spectacle, it's a human soul being tormented who's in need of compassion and love, and of course the prayers of the Church, to deliver them.

This movie dared an attempt at being theologically sound regarding demonology and spiritual warfare, and that's not what the masses want. They want a contrived fantastical story full of shock, adrenaline, and spookiness, but not reality.

So, sorry this account of genuine Christian faith in the light of evil didn't tickle your horror itch, but perhaps it could enlighten in you some sort of sense to the reality of primary evil, and therefore the realization of the Light which overcomes it.

Here we are again-another film about demonic possession, another "based on a true story" tagline, another exorcism. But The Ritual, which dramatizes the infamous 1928 exorcism of Emma Schmidt, had something more in its grasp: a chilling historical case, a legendary priest, and the potential to stand out in a saturated subgenre. Unfortunately, while the bones of a compelling and terrifying film are here, the execution undercuts itself at nearly every turn.

The source material is potent. The real-life exorcism of Emma Schmidt is one of the most detailed and disturbing accounts in American history. But while the story had me hooked, the mockumentary-style camerawork took me right out of it. It's a baffling creative choice that feels like it belongs in an entirely different film. We're not watching a found-footage horror film here, but the cinematography seems to think we are. Jarring close-ups, erratic shaky cam, and a lack of visual clarity not only disrupt the pacing, they often hide the horror instead of revealing it.

Pacino, even in his late career, still commands the screen. His Father Riesinger is a worn man with a quiet intensity, bringing grit to the role. Dan Stevens matches his performance, injecting skepticism and emotional weight into a character. Abigail Cowen gives a physically demanding and emotionally performance as Emma. She doesn't overplay the possession, instead grounding it in fear, confusion, and exhaustion. Her portrayal makes you believe she's both victim and battlefield.

The Ritual isn't without merit. The performances are strong, the story is there, and there are moments that hint at something deeper and more terrifying. But the disjointed visual style does it no favors. It's a film that constantly reminded me of what it could have been something chilling, thought provoking, and unforgettable. Instead, it's a promising exorcism tale that exorcises itself of its own potential.