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

K-Pop: Demon Hunters (2025)

K-Pop: Demon Hunters follows a girl group who balance battling demons by night with pop stardom by day, but the concept ends up more exhausting than exciting. Directed by first-time director  Maggie Kang , best known for being in the art department for  The Lego Ninjago Movie , the film leans hard into a hyper-stylized, neon-soaked aesthetic but forgets to bring anything fresh. The animation is polished, but the visual style feels borrowed from better films. The pacing drags even during the action scenes. It is more concerned with selling attitude than building stakes. Arden Cho , known for Teen Wolf and Partner Track , voices the group’s leader and brings charisma to the role, but the script doesn't give her much to work with. She has strong delivery and presence, but the character is more wish-fulfillment than fully realized. May Gong , in her first major role, fits the energy of the film and brings a youthful vibe. She holds her own in the group dynamic but is often sid...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Old Guard 2 (2025)

The Old Guard 2 continues the story of immortal warriors struggling with eternity, but this time the story struggles to stay interesting. Directed by Victoria Mahoney , known for second unit work on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker , the film looks fine but lacks energy. The first film at least had novelty. This one has none. The action scenes are repetitive, the tone is self-serious, and it’s full of butch posturing with no real emotional stakes. The girl boss mentality is in full swing, but it doesn't make up for the lack of momentum. Kiki Layne , returning from The Old Guard and also known for If Beale Street Could Talk , is meant to be the emotional center as the “Last Immortal,” but her performance is flat. She doesn’t bring the weight or presence the role needs, and most of her scenes fall into the background. Charlize Theron , from Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde , returns as the leader, but she seems like she’s trying too hard. Her intensity feels forced this tim...
Post a Comment
Read more