Does The Rite hit the right mark? Or does it miss completely?

Exorcism has been a fascination with Hollywood for years. The most successful film showcasing this unnatural and explained phenomenon was the 1973 Oscar nominated picture "The Exorcist." Although very outdated now, (I mean it can be sorta seen as a comedy these days, pea soup, spinning head, crawling lobster like downstairs brings a bit of a chuckle when viewing now) the movie spawned the whole exorcism, demon battle, good vs evil, man vs the devil etc. It has just been lately though that we have bombarded with exorcism movies. In the last five years we have seen, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Last Exorcism, and The Haunting in Connecticut. Although, interesting in their depiction of this evil force, exorcism movies have never drawn the audience to flock to the cinema to check it out. They are usually more popular on DVD for that late night viewing. So with Anthony Hopkins new movie, "The Rite" out now, does it have the right ingredients to make this one exorcism you should witness? Read on to find out.

Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) is a young man who either has the option of becoming a mortician like his father (Rutgur Hauer) or join a seminary school and become a priest. At a young age Michael has lost his mother and is left to live with his father. Their relationship is icey and a way to escape and to test his faith in all that he believes in is to leave behind his father's life and become a priest. Four years later, Michael is doubting much of the Lords work and thinks about giving it all up, even though his grades are at the top of the game. With the added pressure of his superior Father Matthew (Toby Jones) and a bit of guilt and bargaining, Michael is selected as the perfect candidate to fly over to Italy and learn the ways of exorcism. Apparently, the Vatican teaches courses on exorcism and Michael is teamed up with the greatest of them all, Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins) It is here we witness the trials that these men face, when several people emerge in the story to be possessed by the demon know as the devil. But what happens when you don't believe? Have these people or psychological problems, or does evil truly possess people? But the true test Michael will have to face is what will happen if his teacher becomes the possessed?

Where to begin with this film. At the start of the film, we are told that these events are inspired by true stories. But of course this is Hollywood, and they love to over extend the truth. Like all exorcism movies, special effects create the perfect amount of horror to make the viewer feel like they are watching a true exorcism. The sound effects in this movie are awesome, and bring to life the true evil that these innocent people are suffering through. What lifts the material above B grade schlock is of course Anthony Hopkins. This is a role he could have slept through. The man is talented. He looks like he is enjoying the role as the priest and really he doesn't put a foot wrong. He gives the performance of a man who has been doing this for 30 years, who has seen it all, and for him it is just like the sun rising and setting, it is a normal everyday occurrence. But where he steps the movie up is the last 20 minutes. I'm not going to tell you why, but special effects, or no special effects, he gives many spine chilling moments just by the use of his acting skills.

Directed by Mikael Hafstrom, who also directed the creepy thriller 1408 (very cool movie check it out) Hafstrom knows how to direct spine tingling films. He knows how to not bring on the over the top porn gore (I'm looking at you Hostel 2) but uses sound and performances from his actors to get the theme of the movie just right. The man knows his genre and like 1408, does not need to use revolting images to make the audience uneasy. The only gripe I have with the director and writers is that the ending wraps up too clean. I'm not going to tell you what happens, but it kinda just ends perfectly and leaves no questions unanswered, which makes you wonder if the whole movie was just a load of garbage.

The one huge problem I had with this movie is the casting of Colin O'Donoghue as Michael. The dude does not do a very good job at all, and really looks like he is bored all the way through. He looks like he is working for the pay check and looks like he is thinking "why am I doing this film?" With another actor in the role this movie could have been so much better. I think if Anthony Hopkins was not in this movie as mentioned before, I would have left. It would have been boring, and really would be more likely to have been straight to DVD.

Let me put it this way. Exorcism movies have been around for years. Yes it might be real, it might not. But I feel films like The Rite, are made to entertain the audience and really not to explain the phenomenon no matter what they say is based on truth (it seems all exorcism movies, if you watch the start, explaine they are all based on a true story). Although, this movie hasn't set the box office on fire, it does have enough ingredients for any person interested in this religious following and a great performance by Anthony Hopkins to lure you. Otherwise, I can't really see a mass audience enjoying this film. Although The Rite did put it's best cross forward at the end of the day I haven't thought much about it. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, it's more saying that it's a preferred genre film that really didn't hit the right mark with me. 2.5/5