(2/2011) Movie Review: The Rite

3 Stars

Review By James R. Holland   

Anthony Hopkins Saves This Horror!

This 112-minute, PG-13 Rated exorcism tale is technically well done, provides Anthony Hopkins another marvelous opportunity to show his acting ability, but in the end, the audience may be left with the feeling of “So What?” It’s like a multi-course dinner that tastes delicious as it is consumed, but doesn’t leave the diner very satisfied.

The basic story is about a young Seminary student who decides not to take his final vows to become a priest because he doubts his own devotion to and belief in God. Michael Kovak, the young would-be priest is played well by Colin O’Conoghue. He has grown up living in a Funeral Parlor with his widowed undertaker Father Istvan Kovak played well by Rutger Hauer. Death is no stranger to the young man who has learned the mortician trade from his Dad while living in a modern day house of the dead.

Toby Jones plays Father Mathew who refuses to pass on his resignation from the seminary until Michael takes a two-month trip to the Vatican to take a special course the Church is offering on exorcism offered by Father Xavier who is played by Claran Hinds. As Father Mathews explains to his seminary student if nothing else he will be able to enjoy two months visiting Rome before making a final decision.

Once in class, he meets a fellow student Angeline played realistically by Alice Braga. In other words, Michael, think Archangel, meets Angeline, think Angel. Obviously a match made in heaven, or is it Hell?

Father Xavier realizes that one of his exorcism students is having issues with his faith and sends him to meet and observe the legendary Jesuit Priest and exorcist extraordinaire Father Lucas Trevant, played brilliantly by Anthony Hopkins. The no-nonsense Trevant immediately involves his “Doubting Michael” in an actual exorcism of a young pregnant (by her father), single woman Rosaria, played by Marta Gastini. This particular exorcism involves more than a single treatment because the evil sprit is particularly strong.

Rather than be a spoiler by giving away too much of the plot, several interesting exorcisms take place. Angeline witnesses the climatic one. None of the exorcisms are on a special effects par with the genre classic “The Exorcist.” In fact there are almost no special effects in this movie. The exorcisms in this film seem like they might actually be real. Michael even believes some of the patients are really only suffering from various forms of mental illness.

One of the subplots of this movie, supposedly based (loosely) on true events, is to recruit much-needed new priests and exorcists for the Catholic Church. The hidden plot is not done with a heavy hand, but it’s still too obvious.

The filming took place in Chicago, Budapest, Hungary and Rome, Lazio, Italy. For audiences seeing this film during this brutal winter season, Rome looked very so, so inviting.

James R. Holland is a film editor, producer, and author–most recently of Adventure Photographer (A Bit of Boston Books/ 2009).  He reviews movies exclusively for Basil & Spice.  Visit James R. Holland’s Writer’s Page.

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