The Rite-Review

Is there really such a thing as demons and faith? That’s what Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue) always ask himself to the point where he doesn’t believe in either. Growing up in a mortuary wasn’t the best place to answer his questions. He decides to enter in a school to become a priest. After spending some time there, he proves his lack of beliefs and plans to drop out. One of the teachers at the school sees promise in him and asks for him to study abroad in Rome to find his answers studying exorcisms. He meets Monsignor Luca (Anthony Hopkins) there, a priest who has performed hundreds of successful exorcisms. During Michael’s viewing of Luca’s performing his next exorcism on a pregnant teenager, an unfortunate incident later happens that leaves Luca in depression. This depression brings doubt in Luca’s faith which brought in the demon that possesses him. Now that Michael sees that demons are real, he must find the faith he never truly had to exorcise the demon out. Will Michael find that faith? Will the demon kill Luca? Will the demon acknowledge Michael’s lack of faith and enter him next? Review:I enjoyed all of the actor’s performances. Anthony, who is legendary, was a joy to watch. I liked his sarcasm and mild jokes, which lasted until he was possessed. His role as a possessed demon was great, I really bought that an evil spirit did enter him. In some demon possession movies, the actors like to either over act or use a lot of special effects. Kudos to Anthony on doing the acting alone and properly. Colin was a joy to watch as well, I saw and felt the internal struggle for clarity of faith and purpose. His hair style looks similar to the priest from the Exorcist, maybe a coincidence. The reporter in the movie was a necessity as the public has to know what happened during the exorcism. To think that this movie was based on true events is no surprise to me. I again appreciate the limited use of special effects and more of the use of realism. All in all, good movie, I will view this film again.