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Inspired by author Matt Baglio's nonfiction book of the same name, director Mikael Håfström's supernatural thriller traces the experiences of a young seminary student who discovers the true power of faith after being drafted into the Vatican's Exorcism School and confronted by the forces of darkness.Anthony Hopkins is a veteran exorcist who shows a novice the tricks of the trade, so to speak, in The Rite, a decidedly sober supernatural thriller about demonic possession that stands in stark contrast to the gymnastic pyrotechnics of The Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Last Exorcism. Colin O'Donoghue is the new-minted priest with a truckload of familial baggage (as a boy, father Rutger Hauer showed him his mother's corpse shortly before preparation in the family's funeral business) and a sincere crisis of faith. His adviser (Ciarán Hinds) ships him off to Rome, where he studies under Hopkins, who treats the dismissal of evil forces like a not particularly strenuous therapy session. But when a young pregnant woman turns up with a nasty case of the Devil inside, the tables are quickly turned, and O'Donoghue is forced to ply his training in an actual confrontation with demonic forces. Director Mikael Håfström has an extraordinary visual eye for malevolence in architecture, and his pacing and restraint in delivering full-bore shocks are admirable. Unfortunately, the result is somewhat stillborn, never quite fulfilling its promise as a thinking person's exorcism film, and instead hoping that meaningful glances and mounting shadows will suffice as atmosphere. Hopkins is also restrained in his performance, which works in its early stages--his post-Silence of the Lambs roles have hinged so often on operatic rages that one forgets what a subtle actor he can be--but falters in his later scenes, which require him to deliver the film's central chills. The Rite is a notable effort that simply doesn't translate beyond the page.
Synopsis: Despite his conviction that demonic possession is just so much supersitious mumbo jumbo, Catholic priest-in-training Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) journeys to Rome to attend a special exorcism school being taught at the Vatican. Before long, true-believer Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins) introduces the young cleric to the devil's power firsthand. Director Mikael Håfström helms this graphic supernatural thriller inspired by a true story.
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
Crew :
Mikael Håfström (Director)
Cast:
Anthony Hopkins
Alice Braga
Ciarán Hinds
Rutger Hauer
Toby Jones
Chris Marquette
Colin O'Donoghue
Marta Gastini
Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Arianna Veronesi
Scene Index
Disc #1 -- The Rite
1. Chapter 1 [10:13]
2. Chapter 2 [8:09]
3. Chapter 3 [10:52]
4. Chapter 4 [11:18]
5. Chapter 5 [9:40]
6. Chapter 6 [10:54]
7. Chapter 7 [10:02]
8. Chapter 8 [9:36]
9. Chapter 9 [6:22]
10. Chapter 10 [9:54]
11. Chapter 11 [7:53]
12. Chapter 12 [4:38]
DVD MENU
Disc #1 -- The Rite
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Languages
Spoken Languages: English
Subtitles: English (for the Hearing Impaired)
Subtitles: Français
Subtitles: Español
Subtitles: Off
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