The Rite

A skeptical seminary student named Michael (Colin O’Donoghue) is sent to Rome to learn the rites of Exorcism. While in Rome Michael is sent to meet with Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins)To prove the existence of demons and the devil. Steadfast Michael refuses to believe in God or the Devil until it appears that Father Lucas himself is possessed. Now in a struggle to save Father Lucas’s life and soul Michael must face his own demons and find something to believe in, but is he too late? For what starts out so promising it’s unfortunate The Rite quickly devolves into standard faire religious horror; contorted bodies, spooky voices, a few minor demon challenges until finally a showdown with the big boss. Oh how I hunger for a horror that breaks this pattern because this ain’t it. Sure there are creepy moments, and it’s not as though Hopkins is ever really off his game as an actor; but, as a game changer that makes us really question the supernatural it’s as though the screenplay gets torn attempting to flesh out subplots that really aren’t that interesting or crucial to the plot overall. For the second time this week I find myself saying Ho hum…More of a rental, The Rite is rated PG-13.