El rito

Hafström es un artesano decente. Con actores de calidad, siempre puede hacer una película de suspenso decente a partir de un guión prometedor. Pero esta vez, el guión de El Rito, tan poco interesante que dormiría incluso a un caballo dopado de ojos rojos, no se lo permitió. Como si la producción contara con que usar a Hopkins efectivamente maquillado y lanzando enérgicamente todos los matices de la sonrisa de Hannibal, elevaría la aburrida banalidad a un aterrador viaje de suspenso. Pues, eso no pasó, y el inexpresivo O'Donoghue no ayudó en absoluto. El Rito no tiene un solo momento realmente fuerte, y el tema del exorcismo, que fue brillantemente encarnado por primera vez por El exorcista y por última vez curiosamente variado por Emily Rose, no tiene nada especial. Incluso Maleficio fue más interesante, al menos en términos del entorno histórico y los detalles visuales. El Rito es débil, insípido, innecesario. Todo el tiempo se está moviendo hacia algo más grande que al final no llega. (11.03.2011)

Mikael Håfström debería haber abandonado la línea psicológica que no es ni mediocre y haberse centrado en los elementos de terror, que funcionan bien en la película. De este modo, muchos motivos (ranas, pezuñas) se repiten innecesariamente y pierden su eficacia. A pesar de lo atractivo del tema, El rito sigue siendo un espectáculo mediocre, salvado por el excelente Anthony Hopkins y las terroríficas escenas de exorcismo. (12.03.2011)

The approach in the opening forty-five minutes is pleasant, but foiled the screenplay which doesn’t manage to get anything extra from it, or anything at all, for that matter. In other words, the change in style from the bracelet scene onward is a release. All of a sudden it’s a sort of “initiation adventure for not-yet-father Lankester Merrin", although not even that can free it of the waters of mediocrity. P.S.: I have probably never seen a dumber and more senseless use of CGI; why not leave it up to the actors? (07.05.2011)

The most average from the averagely average. Mikael Håfström is not a bad director, but this time he got a not very good script. It’s not that it’s stupid, illogical or chaotic, but the story never escalates and doesn’t have any higher ambitions. Anthony Hopkins shines in the climax, but it’s a pity that he is not given more space than the bland apprentice (meaning the “likeable” hero we are supposed to root for). Otherwise, a couple of the jump-scares did scare me, the images of Rome were nice, so, considering that I had free time at the cinema, I don’t regret going :-D If you are not too anti-Catholic, The Rite won’t offend you. A more important question, however, is who it is trying to appeal to. Nobody, I’m afraid. (18.03.2011)

"What did you expect? A spinning head and vomit?" Mikael Håfström hinted at it with 1408, and with The Rite he confirmed it - the guy is hugely talented and his next film should definitely be a horror again. Give us more of it. The Rite is has a great atmosphere, which is all the more pleasing because it doesn't just rely on the flawlessly excellent Hopkins, but relies on skillful direction, cinematography and unobtrusive, but impressive music. There simply hasn't been a better exorcism movie since The Exorcist. Four pure stars.__P.S. Only Anthony Hopkins can really afford to answer his mobile phone during the ceremony (although maybe it's because in Max von Sydow's time there were only landlines). A great scene. (29.04.2011)