Brian's Review - The Rite (2011)

It's not entirely wrong.

Released: 2011
Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Demonic possession: regardless of your take on the validity of it, it'd be impossible to argue that the subject matter hasn't had a profound impact on the horror genre. While some offerings are better (see: "The Exorcist") than others, the fact stands that people speaking in tongues and twisting into unnatural poses is creepy stuff. 2011's "The Rite" joins the smorgasbord of possession movies already on the market, but does so with a refreshing approach that synchronously questions faith, science, and human insight. Even though some of the same old, tired tactics of previous exorcist-versus-demon films are used to fill the empty spaces, the movie primarily uses these lulls in the action to explore the idea of skepticism in the face of bizarre and unnatural circumstances, preventing it from feeling too much like a generic copycat. The movie dwells on the main character's struggle with his own jaded nature as he tries to make sense of the pure insanity unfolding in front of him; simultaneously, it lets us confront our own doubts and beliefs, becoming more of thinking man's exorcism story than a nerve-rattling horror outing. The horror itself tends to be a product of the atmosphere, rather than jarring jump-out moments or disturbing gore effects, relying more on the unsettling onscreen imagery to sustain a feeling of deep unease. The great Sir Anthony Hopkins does an admirable job of embodying wise patience, passionate fury, and discouraged uncertainty all at once, and his character's emotional journey is done supreme justice by the actor's time-tested talents. While some might be turned off by the religious undertone stressing the importance of accepting faith, rest assured that this is most certainly not a zealot-infused, Christian propaganda piece, but more of a cinematic debate that questions blind faith just as much as it does secular scrutiny. However, those who just like the idea of Dr. Hannibal Lecter squaring off against a demon will definitely get a kick out of this one. This is worth at least a weekend rental.

Rating (out of 5): 3