The Ritual is a film full of contradictions: a throwback to vintage exorcism tales wrapped in handheld documentary realism, anchored by a cast so bizarrely assembled it could pass for a Hollywood fever dream. From Oscar-winner Al Pacino to Twilight alum Ashley Greene, and Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens to relative newcomer Abigail Cowan, this movie doesn’t lack for star power—though what it does with that power is a bit of a mixed bag.
In 1928, a young woman named Emma is brought to a remote parish after multiple failed exorcisms—attempts that could only continue within the sanctity of holy ground.
Father Joseph (Dan Stevens), the reluctant parish priest, is blindsided when Church authorities volunteer his parish for the ritual.
A skeptic by nature, Father Joseph believes Emma’s affliction is medical or psychological—not supernatural. But as he witnesses increasingly disturbing phenomena, his certainty begins to crack. The Church brings in seasoned exorcist Father Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino), whose faith is as formidable as his past is mysterious. Alongside them, Sister Rose (Ashley Greene) observes with quiet compassion—and growing concern.
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Emma’s possession turns savage, feeding on the repressed guilt, fear, and buried desires of her so-called saviors. This makes it clear that the demon is not just inside Emma—it’s inside all of them.
As the rituals intensify, the line between the sacred and the profane begins to blur. What began as a test of faith becomes a brutal battle for the soul of everyone involved.
Synopsis aside, let’s start with the good: Pacino, in particular, seems almost out of place. As Father Theophilus Riesinger, the seasoned exorcist at the center of the story, he dials down his trademark bravado and delivers a surprisingly restrained performance. Whether that restraint feels intentional or uninterested will depend on the viewer, but it’s fascinating to watch him in this setting, nonetheless.
Dan Stevens, known for his tendency to overplay his roles, does surprisingly nuanced work as a disoriented priest struggling with faith and fear. Ashley Greene delivers one of her strongest performances to date, portraying Sister Rose with quiet intensity and a depth that we haven’t often seen from her. And Abigail Cowan throws herself into the archetype of the possessed woman with fierce commitment—she’s compelling, even if the film doesn’t give her character much to do beyond suffer. (Oh, and TV mom Patricia Heaton shows up as a no-nonsense nun.)
The biggest challenge The Ritual faces is its script by director David Midell and Enrico Natale. Set in 1928, the film feels oddly modern, save for a carriage and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it period crowd scene. There’s little in the way of immersive world-building or historical context, and the story unfolds in an episodic fashion—ritual after ritual, with minimal buildup and little payoff. The character development is paper-thin, offering fleeting hints of past trauma or suppressed desires, but never delving deeply enough to make those details land emotionally. It would have made a better limited series, offering more psychological invasions that bring weight to the characters. I also wonder if the film was the victim of studio intervention and cutting.
Director Midell deserves credit for keeping the effects mostly practical, grounding the horror in a more believable, raw atmosphere. His choice to shoot documentary-style brings an unsettling intimacy to the exorcism scenes, even if the film lacks the escalation or climactic terror audiences might expect from a story so boldly marketed.
Speaking of marketing, the claim that this case inspired The Exorcist is misleading at best. That novel and film were famously based on the possession of Ronald Hunkeler in 1949, not the events The Ritual explores here. It’s a questionable attempt to lend more weight to a film that often feels like it’s standing on borrowed legacy.
Ultimately, The Ritual isn’t without merit—it’s well-acted, occasionally chilling, and visually distinct. However, with a muddled script and underdeveloped characters, it never quite reaches the potential promised by its cast or premise.
The Ritual opens in theaters on June 6, 2025.
