Another year, another Catholic horror. The smoke and mirrors of the Vatican have been purged from every cinematic angle, so what ground could possibly be left for THE RITE to cover? Well, apparently theres a gap in the market for a pious film about exorcism, so long as none of us were alive in 1973 or have access to isohunt. The occult mystery behind demonic possession is one carefully concealed by the Catholic church, yet few films in the genre ever challenge the ethics or credibility of this practice. THE RITE makes a feeble attempt to balance belief with science, but 30 mins in, it reeks of insence and indoctrination.
THE RITE follows the standard setup for the clerical stooges:
1. The skeptic pretty-boy priest (Michael Kovak-played by Colin O’Donoghue)
2. The solemn man of the cloth (Father Xaviar-Played by Ciaran Hinds)
3. The Padre-an eccentric exorcist living on the fringes (Father Lucas-played by Anthony Hopkins)
Like all good possession yarns, the film begins with malevolant music and ‘based on a true events’ fading onto screen in a fancy font. The plot rolls back mythological era of…2007, a time when the Vatican were headhunting richeous young priests for a crash course in demon ousting. The course itself was real but the inevitable nail scraping, eye rolling and growly Latin are pure affect. The main character, Michael (Colin O’Donoghue, is the son of a mortician (a character shown as a near necrophile as he lovingly blows on his dead-wife’s nails). And for some unknown reason, this good-looking far from virginal male with an ambiguous attitude to god joins the priesthood. Supposedly he joins for his father, or the director-whatever works.
Before even a hint of head spinning possession, the lack of realism is beyond repair. As always, the cynical protagonist is emobdied with some unknown gift and so, Michael is specially selected to learn the art of the exorcism. His character serves to fuel the debate between science and religion with his doubting ways. Is it demonic possession or schizophrenia? Is the church endorsing a fictious affliction to preserve it’s own importance? For a moment, it feels like we’re treading new ground.
Then along comes Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas and suddenly, the real agenda arrives. He’s a renegade priest sent to curb Michael’s naive ways. On their first encounter, the director insists on using Lucas as a vehicle for clumsily injected humour-that quirky Catholic geezer, answering his mobile mid-exorcism! What a larf. Doubt is soon shattered as Michael meets a 16 year old girl tormented by ‘possession’. The first exorcism scene feels all to farmilar as she spreads her legs and vomits the nails of Christ. If there is a debate, it’s clear which side director Mikael Hafstrom has taken.
A relative novice to the film world, actress Marta Gastini gives a ferocious performance as the possessed Rosaria. In her key scene, she utterly outshines Colin O’donoghue who seems uncomfortable in his own cloth. Even more distracting tentative American accent and repellant use of ‘cool’ to show his innocent modern ways. They are two spectacular actors, thrown into an unbearably ‘safe’ context. When will there be an exorcism film that sees science prevail, one that uses psychiatry over rosary beads? You don’t have to be a mudslinging atheiest to explore the flipside of an argument. But, according to THE RITE, you need a crucifix to win one.
THE RITE is in cinemas Friday February 25.
