✅ “The Ritual (2025)” plunges audiences into the harrowing world of demonic possession, drawing from what is claimed to be one of America’s most documented exorcism cases. Released on June 6, 2025, this horror drama, directed by David Midell, attempts to deliver a grounded and serious portrayal of a young woman’s torment and the two priests tasked with saving her soul. While it boasts a strong cast, including the legendary Al Pacino and the talented Dan Stevens, early critical reception suggests a film that, despite its earnest performances, struggles to transcend genre clichés and deliver the profound dread it aims for. It’s a somber exploration of faith, doubt, and the fight against a force beyond comprehension, but one that ultimately leaves many viewers wanting more impactful scares and a less predictable narrative.

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5.8/10

The Ritual

Director: David Midell

Writers: David Midell

Stars: Dan Stevens, Abigail Cowen, Al Pacino

Country: United States of America

Genres: Horror, Drama, Thriller

Languages: English

Overview: Two priests, one in crisis with his faith and the other confronting a turbulent past, must overcome their differences to perform a risky exorcism.

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The Ritual (2025) – Movie Overview & Analysis-BollyFlix

Movie Details 

• Full Name: The Ritual (2025)
• Language: English
• Budget: Not Disclosed
• Revenue: Approx. $2.34 Million (Worldwide Gross)
• Runtime: 98 Minutes (1 Hour 38 Minutes)
• Release Date: June 6, 2025 (United States)
• Genres: Horror, Drama, Supernatural
• Cast: Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Abigail Cowen, Ashley Greene, Patricia Heaton, Maria Camila Giraldo, Ritchie Montgomery, Meadow Williams, Patrick Fabian, Enrico Natale
• Directors: David Midell
• Screenplay: David Midell (Story by David Midell & Enrico Natale)
• Studios & Producers: CineMachine, Andrew Stevens Entertainment, Redbird Entertainment, MetaFilms, Baweja Studios Ltd., Bondit Media Capital, ISRO Productions, I Feel You Films, LB Entertainment, Jeff Rice Films, Eyevox Entertainment (Producers: Ross Marks, Enrico Natale, Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch)
• Voice Cast: Not Applicable
• Animation & Style: Live Action

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Plot Summary

“The Ritual” delves into the chilling and purportedly true story of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession became one of the most thoroughly documented cases in American history. Set in the 1920s, the film centers on two Catholic priests with contrasting backgrounds and personal struggles. Father Steiger (Dan Stevens) is a young priest grappling with a profound crisis of faith, deeply shaken by the horrors he has witnessed. He is joined by the controversial but experienced friar, Father Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino), who is reckoning with a troubled past of his own.

The two men, divided by their differing perspectives and doubts, are brought together by the Church to perform a series of difficult and dangerous exorcisms on Emma (Abigail Cowen), a young woman tormented by a malevolent demonic entity. As the exorcisms unfold over a grueling 72-hour period, the priests must set aside their personal differences and confront a force that defies comprehension, pushing them to the limits of their faith, sanity, and understanding of good versus evil. The film aims for an authentic portrayal of the harrowing ordeal, focusing on the psychological and spiritual toll on both the possessed and the exorcists, while exploring themes of belief, skepticism, and the enduring battle between divine and demonic forces.

Cast & Crew

“The Ritual” features a compelling cast led by cinematic heavyweights and rising talents. At the forefront is the legendary Al Pacino as Father Theophilus Riesinger, an experienced but controversial friar. Pacino’s performance is widely considered the film’s anchor, bringing a gravitas and nuanced intensity to his portrayal of a priest battling both external evil and internal demons. Sharing the lead is Dan Stevens as Father Steiger, a younger priest grappling with a crisis of faith. Stevens delivers an earnest performance, conveying the emotional and spiritual turmoil of a man pushed to his limits. Their dynamic, though sometimes lacking a strong rapport in critics’ eyes, is central to the narrative.

Abigail Cowen takes on the challenging role of Emma Schmidt, the young woman at the center of the possession. Her portrayal requires intense physical and emotional commitment, depicting the harrowing experience of demonic torment. The supporting cast includes veteran actress Patricia Heaton as the Mother Superior, lending a sense of authenticity to the convent setting, along with Ashley Greene and Enrico Natale (who also has a story credit for the screenplay).

Behind the camera, David Midell directs and pens the screenplay, aiming for a serious and realistic approach to the exorcism genre. His vision focuses on the psychological toll and the human element within the supernatural horror. Cinematographer Adam Biddle creates a somber and grim atmosphere, though some critics noted a visual style that sometimes detracts from immersion. The score, composed by Joseph Trapanese and Jason Lazarus, seeks to enhance the film’s tension and dramatic weight. Editor Enrico Natale (also a cast member) is tasked with maintaining the film’s rhythm and building its slow-burn dread.

Critical & Audience Response

Upon its release on June 6, 2025, “The Ritual” garnered a **mixed to largely negative critical reception**. While the film’s serious tone and commitment to a “true story” premise were noted, many critics found it to be a **clichéd and largely uninspired entry** in the saturated exorcism subgenre. The consensus highlighted that despite strong performances, particularly from Al Pacino, the film struggled to generate genuine scares or psychological unease. Reviewers frequently pointed to a **monotonous narrative structure**, with repetitive exorcism sequences that lacked escalation and often led to boredom. Some criticisms were directed at the **cinematography**, which was described by some as “tacky” or resembling a “cheap episode,” undermining the intended grim atmosphere.

Audiences, while perhaps drawn by the star power, also shared some of these sentiments. While the film avoids overt melodrama and attempts a more restrained aesthetic, this often resulted in a lack of compelling horror payoff. Fans of religious horror might find some elements rewarding due to the film’s commitment to the purported true story, but many felt it failed to deliver the dread and intensity expected from the genre. Overall, “The Ritual” is seen as a film with good intentions and solid acting, but ultimately hampered by a predictable script and a failure to break new ground in a very well-trodden horror landscape.

Direction & Cinematography

David Midell’s direction in “The Ritual” is characterized by a serious and grounded approach to the exorcism genre, aiming for an authentic portrayal rather than sensationalism. Midell consciously steers away from excessive jump scares or over-the-top special effects, instead focusing on the psychological and spiritual torment of the possessed and the moral dilemmas faced by the priests. His background in directing non-genre works, which include character-driven dramas, is evident in his emphasis on the performances, particularly those of Pacino and Stevens, to carry the narrative’s weight. However, this restraint, while intentional, was often perceived by critics as a lack of intensity and escalation, contributing to a sense of monotony rather than building dread.

The cinematography by Adam Biddle plays a significant role in establishing the film’s grim and somber atmosphere. Biddle employs a visual style that aims for realism, often utilizing handheld shots and a muted color palette to create a sense of immediacy and confinement within the exorcism settings. While intended to immerse the audience, some critics found the “faux-documentarian” style, with frequent zooms and shaky cam, to be distracting and even detrimental to immersion, making the film look less polished and at times, “cheap.” This stylistic choice, coupled with the film’s often dark and claustrophobic settings, creates a pervasive sense of gloom, but its execution drew mixed reactions regarding its effectiveness in truly terrifying the audience.

Music & Background Score

The music and background score for “The Ritual” are a collaborative effort by Joseph Trapanese and Jason Lazarus. Their composition aims to underscore the film’s dark and somber tone, emphasizing the spiritual gravity and psychological tension inherent in the exorcism narrative. Unlike many contemporary horror scores that rely on dissonant jumps or sudden bursts of sound, Trapanese and Lazarus’s work tends towards a more subdued and atmospheric approach.

The score likely uses orchestral elements combined with subtle electronic textures to build a pervasive sense of unease rather than outright terror. It supports the film’s grounded approach, providing a mournful or menacing backdrop to the priests’ struggle with the demonic entity. However, in line with the overall critical reception, the score, while competent, often fails to elevate the film’s emotional intensity or provide the much-needed escalation in frights. It contributes to the grim mood but rarely breaks through to create truly memorable or terrifying musical moments, reflecting the film’s overall struggle to transcend its genre clichés.

Visuals & Special Effects

“The Ritual” takes a largely restrained approach to its visuals and special effects, aligning with its aim for a more grounded and “true story” depiction of exorcism. Rather than relying on elaborate CGI spectacles or exaggerated body horror, the film focuses on subtle, unsettling phenomena and the psychological impact of possession. Visual effects are primarily used to manifest the more overt signs of demonic influence, such as levitation, distorted vocalizations, and the physical degradation of the possessed individual. However, these effects are often presented without significant build-up or impact, sometimes leading to a less terrifying outcome than intended.

The film’s visual style, overseen by cinematographer Adam Biddle, emphasizes a muted color palette and dim lighting, creating a perpetually grim and claustrophobic atmosphere. This aesthetic is intended to reflect the oppressive nature of the demonic presence and the bleakness of the situation. While practical effects are utilized for certain aspects of Emma’s torment, the overall visual execution has been noted by some critics as being somewhat unpolished, at times resembling a lower-budget production due to certain stylistic choices. The film prioritizes character performance and psychological dread over visual extravagance, which, for some viewers, might result in a less visceral or memorable horror experience compared to more visually aggressive entries in the genre.

Editing & Screenplay

The editing for “The Ritual,” handled by Enrico Natale, contributes to the film’s slow-burn pacing, which, while intentional, proved to be a divisive aspect among viewers. The film’s structure alternates between intense exorcism sessions and the quieter, introspective moments of the priests grappling with their faith and the grim reality of their mission. While this approach aims to build psychological dread, critics often found the repetition and lack of significant escalation between these sequences led to a monotonous narrative. The editing emphasizes a sense of confinement and the grueling nature of the 72-hour ordeal, but it often fails to inject the necessary tension or dynamic rhythm required to sustain high levels of suspense throughout its runtime.

The screenplay, written by David Midell (with story credits to Midell and Enrico Natale), attempts to ground the supernatural horror in a human drama of faith, doubt, and redemption. Based on the purported true story of Emma Schmidt, the script meticulously details the exorcism process and the internal struggles of the two priests. However, a common critique is that the screenplay relies heavily on **exorcism clichés**, failing to offer fresh perspectives or surprising twists. The character development, particularly for Father Steiger’s crisis of faith, feels somewhat broad and familiar. While the dialogue attempts to be serious and thought-provoking, the overall narrative arc is predictable, lacking the bite or psychological depth needed to truly distinguish it within the crowded horror genre. The commitment to realism sometimes comes at the expense of genuine scares and narrative propulsion.

Positives / What Works

“The Ritual” finds its primary strength in the **performances of its lead actors**. Al Pacino delivers a compelling and surprisingly understated portrayal of Father Riesinger, providing the film with much-needed gravitas and a sense of authority. Dan Stevens, as the conflicted Father Steiger, also gives an earnest performance, effectively conveying his character’s internal turmoil and crisis of faith. The film’s commitment to portraying a **serious and grounded exorcism narrative**, based on a purported true story, offers a refreshing departure from more sensationalized entries in the genre. It attempts to delve into the psychological and spiritual aspects of possession, which can be appealing to viewers looking for less explicit, more character-driven horror. The **grim and somber atmosphere** created through cinematography contributes to a pervasive sense of dread, even if it doesn’t always translate into overt scares.

Negatives / What Doesn’t Work

Despite its aspirations, “The Ritual” suffers from several significant drawbacks. Its most prominent weakness is its **overreliance on genre clichés**, offering little new to the well-trodden exorcism subgenre. The narrative is often **monotonous and repetitive**, with a lack of escalation in scares or plot development that leads to a slow and often boring viewing experience. Critics frequently noted the film’s **failure to deliver genuine scares or sustained psychological tension**, despite its grim atmosphere. The cinematography, while aiming for realism, sometimes results in a **visually unpolished aesthetic** with distracting shaky cam and zoom effects. The script, while attempting to be profound, often feels **predictable** and the dialogue can be dry. The **chemistry between the lead actors**, though individually strong, was sometimes cited as lacking, hindering the impact of their dynamic. Overall, the film struggles to leave a lasting impression or distinguish itself from the multitude of similar horror entries.

Final Verdict / Conclusion

“The Ritual” arrives as a serious, character-driven entry into the exorcism horror genre, bolstered by the gravitas of Al Pacino and the earnest performance of Dan Stevens. It aims to offer a more grounded and realistic portrayal of demonic possession, focusing on faith, doubt, and the harrowing ordeal faced by both the possessed and her spiritual saviors. However, the film ultimately struggles to transcend its conventional trappings. Despite its strong lead performances, the narrative often falls into repetitive patterns, lacks genuine scares, and fails to build the necessary tension or escalation that such a subject demands. While fans of religious horror and those curious about the “true story” aspect might find elements to appreciate, “The Ritual” is likely to leave many viewers with a sense of déjà vu and a desire for more impactful dread. It’s a somber and well-acted piece, but one that ultimately plays it too safe to truly terrify or innovate.

Movie Rating

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