David Midell directs what feels like a third movie in the Russell Crowe Exorcism franchise without Russell Crowe for a plethora of reasons but one of the biggest reasons is how it is directed and framed. Every single choice that goes into how this movie is presented and shot feels like the audience is watching an episode of The Office (US version) and every pan/focus on an actor is Jim looking down the camera. It is such a weird and baffling choice that is so inherently distracting because nothing about The Ritual is funny, but if it’s trying to be part of the aforementioned universe it is so meta and over the top insane as a stylistic choice that you eventually just embrace it and realize you’re in for a ride. Similarly, once you embrace the fact that this is another past their prime former A lister and a solid co-star exorcism movie you’re in for a devilishly good time of just sheer insanity that is a popcorn flick and will inevitably become a hidden classic that borders the B-movie line so effectively.
The movie focuses on Mother Superior (Patricia Heaton) telling Father Joseph Steiger (Dan Stevens) that they’re bringing a girl Emma (Abigail Cowen) to their church for an exorcism as all other options have been exhausted. Hesitant at first, as Father Joseph doesn’t believe in exorcisms or their effectiveness, he finds out that he will not in fact be the one carrying out the exorcism but will be there to take notes for Father Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino). While Father Theophilus at first humours the concerns of Father Joseph and agrees to not take proper measures, and ensure everyone’s safety including that of the sisters – specifically Sister Rose (Ashley Greene) when things start to go sideways they enact proper protocols and the exorcism rituals are on their way – in a race against time to ensure that the demon possessing Emma doesn’t win and consumes her for evil.
The Ritual – once you get over how absurdly outlandish the framing and directional choices are is your typical exorcism movie, its never going to be Friedkin’s The Exorcist and honestly nothing should try to be that. Instead it’s at worst another exorcism movie in a non modern setting to try and create a more tense world and create a world for the audience to be terrified of. What is at no harm here are Dan Stevens, Patricia Heaton and Ashley Greene as they’re all great and do the best with what they have. They bring forth performances that hold the movie together, partnered with Abigail Cowen’s excellent ability to be possessed. The weakest part of the movie is the most veteran actor of them all – Al Pacino. He seems so clocked out and uninterested in not only what is happening but also the role he is taking on. If he embraced it with some comedy and levity because that is clearly what the movie is trying to do with its direction – maybe he wouldn’t have felt so out of place but his presence here feels more like a chore than a want.
