THE RITUAL movie poster | ©2025 XYZ Films

Rating: Not Rated
Stars: Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, Abigail Cowen, Patricia Heaton, Patrick Fabian
Writer: David Midell, story by Enrico Natale & David Midell
Director: David Midell
Distributor: XYZ Films
Release Date: June 6, 2025

THE RITUAL begins with this statement: “The following is based on true events. The events depicted were transcribed by Father Joseph Steiger. This story represents the most thoroughly documented case of demonic possession in American history.”

This may well be true, but it’s a situation where documentation doesn’t equal credibility. As exorcism stories go, THE RITUAL has the basics, but lacks not only elements to make it distinctive, but sometimes even common logic.

We begin, promisingly, with a jump scare, then flash back to a month earlier. We’re in Earling, Iowa, in 1928. Father Joseph Steiger (played by Dan Stevens) has just returned to his parish, following an absence due to the death of his brother. Father Steiger thanks his flock for their outpouring of concern and support.

The parish church that Father Steiger presides over is home to a convent of mostly young nuns, supervised by their Mother Superior (Patricia Heaton). Father Steiger is surprised when Bishop Edwards (Patrick Fabian) informs him that this church has been chosen to be the site of an exorcism.

Even in 1928, apparently people were skeptical of the rite. Without even seeing the ostensible victim of possession, Emma Schmidt (Abigail Cowen), Father Steiger thinks she would be better off receiving medical and psychiatric care. The Bishop, however, says it’s all been authorized.

Father Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino), an experienced exorcist, arrives at the parish. He is humble but certain in his beliefs. Father Steiger is to assist and write down what happens. The nuns are also involved.

What follows is pretty standard, except for some elements that have us raising our eyebrows. While we may agree with the sentiment, “You are entitled to your feelings” doesn’t sound like something a person would say in 1928.

Likewise, while we may heartily sympathize with Mother Superior’s exasperation by being continually told what to do by men, her attempt to put her foot down with Father Steiger seems incongruous. He is acting on orders from the Bishop and the Holy See, both of which far outrank the two of them.

Director David Midell, who wrote the screenplay from a story he crafted with Enrico Natale, crafts a couple of frightening moments, but there’s not much in the way of build.

The reasons that this situation should be significant for Father Steiger (beyond the way they would be for anyone) don’t carry sufficient weight, and although some strange things happen, we don’t get a sense of mounting jeopardy.

Having several religious characters show more confidence in medicine and science than in faith provides some dramatic conflict, but feels anachronistic, especially when they don’t have a background for their opinions.

Pacino projects real kindness and conviction. Stevens plays Father Steiger with sincerity, although he’s not given much to work with. Cowen does a fine job embodying a tormented soul, and Ashley Greene is good as a nun who has reason to be alarmed.

For those who have a strong fondness for the exorcism subgenre, THE RITUAL technically fills the bill. For those who want something more, it maintains a generally ominous mood and a bit of horror, but overall it is more of a ritual than a singular engaging creation.

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