What would you do if you were confronted with proof that the Devil exists? Loosely based on true events, “The Rite” tells the story of a man, Micheal Kovak, played by Colin O’Donoghue, who is faced with that exact question.
Michael is struggling with the choice or whether or not to become a priest. In an attempt to convince him to take the vow, a parish priest sends him to a special school in Rome, which trains Holy servants of the church in the practice of exorcism. Father Lucas Trevant, played by Anthony Hopkins, becomes his mentor, as he is led on a quest that challenges his skepticism of evil and preys on his lack of faith.
The movie isn’t without its cheap, efficient thrills of scenes, which make you jump when something pops out at you. But they work. What really makes “The Rite” entertaining is its ability to get under your skin.
Unlike the cult-favorite film “The Exorcist,” “The Rite” is more than simply fanciful entertainment. I hestitate to say people can learn a lesson from the film. Rather, it’s a thought-provoking experience to witness the events as they unfold. “The Rite” doesn’t push the Catholic religion’s view that the devil exists. Instead, it takes the audience on a journey in which it proves to us that he is real.
The true brilliance of “The Rite” comes from its ability to challenge the skeptics, myself included. The protagonist, Michael, does an excellent job of providing alternative, logical explanations for the seemingly supernatural occurrences. Why does a pregnant 16-year-old girl act like she’s possessed by the devil? Because she was raped and impregnanted by her father. She doesn’t need a priest. She needs a psychiatrist.
Yet, as the movie progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult for Michael, and the audience, to find scientific explanations for the supernatural events. How can that very same girl know about a suicide from Michael’s past? How could a boy foretell a future death?
Anthony Hopkins uses his incredible acting ability to deliver one-liners that send chills down your spine and makes you think long after the movie is over. At one point, he says to Michael, “The irony is, you skeptics and atheists are all looking for proof that the devil exists. What in the world would you do if you actually found it?”
Father Trevan goes on to eerily point out that the devil’s greatest trick was to convince mankind that he doesn’t exist. As the movie goes on, the audience finds out just how dangerous it can be to believe that. For not believeing in the devil doesn’t keep you safe from him. This chilling point is proven repeatedly throughout the movie.
Most of us skeptics and atheists are comfortable in the knowledge that the devil is some theological entity who doesn’t exist. But what if we found out that he did? Are you thinking about it? Then, you’ve fallen under “The Rite’s” spell.
