"The Rite" Film Review
Repent. This movie is a sinner (Now on DVD) 1 star As Featured In: The Ithacan Truly terrifying movies rarely grace the big screen these days because of over-cooked turkeys like “The Rite.” Inspired by Matt Baglio’s book, this adaptation doesn’t take its source material seriously either. Inundated with a ghastly mix of drama and unintentional comedy, director Mikael Håfström’s latest film belongs in purgatory. Supposedly based on true events, “The Rite” is immensely unrealistic because of its emotionally inept performances and over-the-top visual effects. The film follows American Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue), a deacon who is second-guessing the clergy. He travels to Rome to take part in an exorcist-training course at the Vatican. Here, Kovak meets Rev. Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins), one of the most sought after exorcists in the Roman Catholic Church, who becomes his mentor and an unlikely friend. But when Trevant becomes possessed himself, Kovak must summon what faith he...