Skip to main content

The Ritual (2025)


The Ritual follows a remote convent where demonic possession grips a young girl and forces the clergy to face their darkest fears.

Directed by David Midell, known for The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, the film sticks closer to traditional horror structure but benefits from a strong atmosphere and a serious tone. The pacing is steady, and while it doesn’t break new ground, it’s well-shot and doesn’t waste time on fluff. It keeps its focus tight and lets the actors do the heavy lifting.

Al Pacino, best known for The Godfather and Heat, plays the veteran exorcist brought in for one last case. He gives a weary, grounded performance that doesn’t feel like he's trying to reclaim old glory. He’s calm, serious, and believable. A solid presence from start to finish.

Dan Stevens, known for Legion and The Guest, plays a skeptical academic observer. He’s improving with every role and brings just enough tension to scenes without overshadowing others. His character works best when reacting, and he handles it well.

Abigail Cowen, best known for Redeeming Love and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, has the largest role as the possessed girl. Her performance is fully committed, physical, and emotionally raw. She sells the possession and manages to keep the character's human side intact. It's her best work yet.

Patricia Heaton, from Everybody Loves Raymond, plays Mother Superior. The script occasionally leans into awkward feminist lines that feel out of place, but Heaton still delivers a good performance. She plays stern and protective without turning it into parody.

Ashley Greene, known for Twilight, plays a younger nun and doesn’t get much screen time, but she’s memorable in every scene she’s in. She brings beauty and poise to a role that could’ve been forgettable. She stands out even when silent.

I expected worse from the promotion of this film. What we got was a focused, well-acted horror film that plays it safe but does the basics right. Result: B+

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (2026)

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is another cookie-cutter entry in the Paw Patrol franchise, so there isn't much to say about the story itself. This time, the focus is on Marshall, the team's resident firefighter, or perhaps "firedog" in this case. The movie is wholesome and delivers exactly what you'd expect from a Paw Patrol film, even if it doesn't do much to distinguish itself from the previous entries. Mckenna Grace voices Skye, although you would never know it from the performance. Her voice is so normal for the character that Grace's usual presence is virtually unrecognizable. Terry Crews , on the other hand, voices Alistair Stonewall, and you can definitely tell it's him. His recognizable voice and personality come through clearly and make the character more memorable. Snoop Dogg also makes a fun cameo as Dave, the owner of a yacht who enjoys fishing. It's a small role, but his recognizable voice and personality make it a welcome surprise. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sleepwalker (2026)

Sleepwalker is a horror thriller written and directed by Brandon Auman , who quickly reminds us why his career has primarily been in television rather than feature films. Writing for children's television can sometimes get away with simplistic dialogue and storytelling, but those weaknesses become glaring when stretched into a feature-length horror movie. The screenplay is filled with clunky dialogue and predictable horror beats, while the jump scares rarely land. Instead of creating tension, the film repeatedly left me sighing in boredom. Hayden Panettiere delivers a strong performance despite the material she's been given. It's clear that many of her lines weren't written with much care, but she does what she can to make the character feel believable. Knowing this is her final film makes the performance bittersweet, especially because she deserved a much better script to go out on. Fortunately, her performance here doesn't diminish the work she's done in bet...
Post a Comment
Read more

The End of Oak Street (2026)

The End of Oak Street starts with Anne Hathaway immediately establishing herself as the film's strongest performer, especially when compared to the wooden performance from Ewan McGregor . The premise of a writer struggling with an unsupportive spouse hits close to home for me. The split-focus direction from David Robert Mitchell isn't particularly new or uniquely executed. Instead, it often feels disorienting without accomplishing what I assume was the intention. Mitchell also struggles with the screenplay, as the dialogue can be atrocious at times and boring the rest of the time. This isn't his first failed attempt at writing interesting characters, which makes it understandable why he hasn't written or directed anything in eight years. Anne Hathaway is easily the best part of the film. She brings enough personality and emotional weight to keep the movie watchable despite the material surrounding her. Unfortunately, even Hathaway can't carry the entire film. Ew...
Post a Comment
Read more