There's One Horror You Shouldn't Watch This Halloween – It's This 9%-Rated Flick With Al Pacino
This is a prime example of how even the most promising idea can fail (even with Al Pacino in the cast).
As Halloween approaches, everyone is looking for a truly scary movie. However, don't even consider The Ritual – this flick proves that even a star-studded cast led by Al Pacino can't save a bad movie.
David Midell's film claims to be a serious horror work about exorcism but turns out to be a dull and lifeless spectacle.
What Is 'The Ritual' About?
The plot is based on one of the most famous cases of demonic possession – the 1928 Emma Schmidt case.
An experienced exorcist named Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino), a German priest, is called to St. Joseph's Monastery in Iowa to perform an exorcism on a young girl.
To assist Riesinger, local priest Joseph Steiger (Dan Stevens) is assigned to the case. Steiger is skeptical of demonic possession and believes the patient needs medical, not spiritual, help.
'The Ritual' Has a Stellar Cast, Including Al Pacino, but That Doesn't Save the Movie
The presence of actors like Al Pacino and Dan Stevens seem to guarantee quality, but their efforts are totally wasted.
Stevens portrays the skeptic's inner torment diligently, but his character is so vague that he evokes more confusion than empathy.
Pacino comes across as lackluster and unconvincing as the exorcist, struggling with a German accent. The confrontation between the two actors, which could have been an engaging drama about faith and doubt, fails to deliver any emotional tension.
'The Ritual' Is One of the Most Clichéd and Boring Horror Movies About Exorcisms Ever
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The main problem with The Ritual is its utter derivative nature. The movie offers neither a fresh perspective on the subject nor an engaging historical context.
Instead, viewers are treated to a checklist of tired clichés: a girl speaking dead languages, vomiting black liquid, and contorting herself into unnatural poses.
Director David Midell, who had previously worked on social dramas, failed to master the horror genre, creating a movie that neither frightens nor engages.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Ritual'?
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The Ritual has 9% from critics and 48% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 4.5/10.
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On Letterboxd, The Ritual is scored 1.9/5.0.
Where to Watch 'The Ritual'?
You can buy or rent The Ritual on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
