The Ritual is a horror film directed by David Midell and starring Al Pacino, Dan Stevens and Ashley Greene Khoury. The story is inspired by a real-life exorcism in the USA in 1928, considered one of the country's best-documented cases of demonic possession. The film features a priest, confronted with supernatural phenomena in an isolated convent, who calls in an experienced exorcist to confront the unimaginable.
The film unveils its first images in an intense trailer featuring Al Pacino. The atmosphere, inspired by real events, reinforces the dramatic aspect of this story centered on faith, evil and the limits of the human spirit.
The Ritual: The Exorcism of Emma Schmidt will be released in cinemas from August 20, 2025.
Synopsis: In 1928, Emma Schmidt is admitted to a remote convent in the American Midwest. Soon, unexplained phenomena begin to multiply. The priest calls in a well-known exorcist, Theophilus Riesinger. What they discover is beyond imagination. This case, based on a true story, has long been kept secret by the Church. It is the best-documented case of demonic possession in U.S. history.
The Ritual is based on the real-life case ofEmma Schmidt, also known as Anna Ecklund, a case authenticated in religious archives. The event took place in the 1920s, in the state of Iowa, and has been the subject of numerous specialized publications. The film takes a dramatic approach, focusing on psychological tension and supernatural manifestations, in a period atmosphere.
The script, co-written by David Midell and Enrico Natale, is based on historical accounts. The artistic direction seeks to recreate the atmosphere of the 1920s in an isolated Midwestern convent, a setting conducive to tales ofreligious horror. The film also explores the Church's internal tensions in the face of extreme events deemed taboo.
The Ritual may appeal to adult audiences who enjoy true-life stories of exorcism and demonic possession. It could be reminiscent of works such as TheExorcist, Conjuring:The Warren Files or Deliver Us from Evil. The film would also appeal to viewers attracted by the performances of veteran actors in atypical roles.
The presence ofAl Pacino in the lead role, as a priest confronted with the supernatural, adds a dramatic dimension that could appeal to a wider audience, including beyond the horror genre. The film features moral dilemmas, spiritual beliefs and a frontal struggle against evil, in a sober, inspired staging.
The Ritual is a horror film inspired by a real-life case of possession in the USA in 1928. Directed by David Midell, with Al Pacino in the role of an exorcist, the film offers a dramatic and tense reconstruction of an event long classified as confidential by the Church. Somewhere between exorcism, faith and mystery, this supernatural tale will appeal to fans of psychological horror films and religious investigations.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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