The Rite

I always get scared when I see a young woman act possessed. Fortunately, I have only seen this on the movie screen, I think. Bizarre languages, contortionist-like movements, and the hollow eyed, pale skinned, twitchy possessed woman leaves me frightened almost every time. I find myself watching movies with squinted eyes, hoping that having my eyes half open will allow me to close them faster at the scary moments. And lucky for me, I think movies are great when they can draw this type of fear from just a group of actors and film crew trying to portray what the writers were hoping would  scare us. The Rite does a great job creating as much realism as possible as to what an exorcism, an exorcist, and the possessed might really look like and deal with…. Viewers beware. 

Another demonic possession movie to keep me up at night…. Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs) and  Colin O’Donoghue (The Tudors) star as priests commissioned to exorcise the escalating amount of demons from unknowing people throughout Europe. Hopkins plays Father Lucas Trevant, a priest with years of experience freeing people from their demons. O’Donoghue stars as Michael Kovak, a priest still in school but considering leaving and walking away from his faith. He believes  that evil is “not real” and becomes oblivious to fear of the devil’s tricks. Considering all the demonic happenings are psychological issues needing a therapist allows him to assist in the exorcisms without the fear that so many other priests were avoiding. Lo and Behold, Father Lucas (Hopkins) becomes the possessed and Hopkins does what he does best…..scaring the crap out of us…..

Elementary Grading Scale: Progressing Satisfactorily

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