The Rite (2011) Full Reaction

Hi Heidi, and gladly reading your comment, i found myself in the same shoes of faith as yours... is hard to detect what is truly evil,. or just human failure... what i do believe is, we are not alone.. this movie shows another side of what i heard as a child.. different behavior of course.. demonic possession is quite different than what horror movies portraits. A direct demonic attack happens in rare cases.. only when the sins are beyond normal charts. the movie itself was tense, reminding me quite often of my faith.. and how much i believe but don't act on it.. bcuz i am a fool who doubts from time to time.. But thank you Heidi for requesting this one to us, we will check the Once Upon a Time as well!

The Rite- Thank you so much for another wonderful movie reaction, Marian and Joy! I really love this movie very much myself, and I'm so happy that you both really enjoyed this movie too! I don't ever watch horror movies. Personally, I hate horror movies, and haven't ever watched any of the major horror films that most people love. Because I don't enjoy them, for many reasons. And normally, I wouldn't have watched this movie either, were it not for Anthony Hopkins and mostly for Colin O'Donoghue, who plays one of my absolute favorite characters in any show or movie. I wanted to see more of his acting talents, and sadly, Colin O'Donoghue hasn't done too much outside of The Rite and my absolute favorite television show... Once Upon a Time. So, I prepared myself to watch The Rite for him, and I was very much surprised by how much I came to love this movie. First... I really love that this movie is inspired by true events, which makes this movie feel that much more poignant. Powerful, as well as believable. I don't see this movie as a horror movie. A thriller movie, maybe. But it's not like all other horror, or thriller movies. And not just because this movie is based on true events, but because this movie is more about faith. And because it really makes you think. And I love this movie for these reasons. Because it made me really think about what it is I believe in. It continues to make me think about my beliefs. Which is important for anyone. I appreciate this movie for these reasons. This movie is so brilliantly acted by each of the main actors. Anthony Hopkins is always fantastic in his movies. I love him as an actor very much. And Colin O'Donoghue as Michael throughout this movie, is absolutely phenomenal too! Colin O'Donoghue has quickly risen to become one of my favorite actors. Of course, I love him most for his role in Once Upon a Time. I absolutely love, love, love him as Captain Hook/Killian Jones!! But he's fantastic throughout The Rite too. He's just phenomenal in both roles, and incredible at showing such deep emotions like he does in both The Rite and especially throughout Once Upon a Time. Like I've said... I'm not typically a fan of horror movies, but I do love thrillers such as The Rite, Frequency, and The Sixth Sense as well. Because these movies have really strong and powerful stories, with powerful messages behind them. I love that The Rite is about a man who struggles so deeply with finding his faith in God, and struggles to understand what he believes in, and in who he truly believes in. Like so many people in the world do. Myself included. And by the end, we learn that it isn't so much that Michael doesn't believe in God. Because he does believe in God. Thanks to his mother and father. Although, Michael does struggle with his belief. It's more so that he struggles the most to believe in himself and in his own strengths. Just like I do, as does everyone in the world at some point in their lives. But for Michael, it was especially after losing his mother at such a young age. And even more so upon him losing his father most recently. Michael struggles with his beliefs and belief in God, as well as in himself because a part of him blames himself for his parents' deaths. And because he likely blames God to some degree for losing them as well. Especially his mother. And we see all of this in the scenes showing Michael as a young boy, when he bends the cross at his mother's grave during her funeral, and we see that he heartbreakingly takes to heart the words Ba'al speaks to him, when the demon possessing Father Lucas exclaims that Michael had failed to be there for his father, who sadly died all alone and in agony because Michael was here. I think that the faith shown within this movie, is what drew me into it so much, outside of simply watching it for Colin O'Donoghue. Faith is difficult for everyone. And while I do absolutely believe in God, I struggle deeply with believing in myself and in my strengths, and therefore my own faith is shaken. As it's been shaken for a long time now. As for exorcisms themselves... I don't really know how I feel towards them. I do believe in the possibility that they could be real. Especially upon listening to Colin O'Donoghue in some interviews, as he shares his own experiences after he travelled to Rome to witness exorcisms for himself, upon him taking on this role as Michael Kovak. But for myself... I'm not so sure I can completely believe in demons possessing people like we see in this movie, or in many other horror or thriller movies. I absolutely believe there is evil in the world and that the Devil is real. But I believe that he tempts us through our sins. And we choose whether or not to fall for his lies. I've always believed that the Devil is more subtle, and I am not sure so much that he forces his way into our minds and bodies like he does in movies such as this. We choose to let him in, and that we make the choices to commit the sins we commit. It's definitely an interesting subject for in depth discussions. As for my favorite scenes throughout The Rite... I really love the beautiful scene towards the beginning, when the young woman on the bike is struck by the van after the priest trips in front of it, and Michael is asked by her to read her, her last rites before she dies. This moment for Michael is very profound. Clearly, it is his first real test of faith as he helps her to find peace before she dies. And it's a very tender, yet intense moment within the movie. And so sad. I absolutely believe that it was right of Michael to read the young woman her last rites, in spite of his own struggles with his faith. Because he helps her find peace in her final moments. And I feel that this must have meant everything to her before she sadly dies. I also really love the scenes upon Michael learning of his father's death, when he's being haunted, or taunted by the Devil and his demon in all of the Devil's attempts to rip Michael's soul apart in order to draw him down the dark path. When he's seeing the demon's visions, when Michael talks on the phone to his father, who had died six hours earlier, and then as Michael breaks down upon learning so, and upon learning that the boy had predicted his father's death the night before. I really love Michael's fight to try to understand why he's being tormented by these hallucinations and to find his belief. Also... I really love the very end, as Michael finally believes in himself and in God as he fights against the demon possessing Father Lucas to free his soul. So intense!! And so beautifully and brilliantly acted by both Colin O'Donoghue and Anthony Hopkins. As well as Alice Braga, who plays Angelina. I love her story and learning why she's come to Rome to try to understand her own faith, in order to come to understand her brother and all the pain he went through as well. Thank you both again, so much for this marvelous reaction, Joy and Marian! I really appreciate your comments throughout this movie, and especially your overall thoughts in your commentary after the movie finished. As I always do. Your reactions are always so enjoyable to watch, and I am so, so happy to be able to continue requesting movies and shows from you!! If you would ever like to discuss anything at all with me, or you have any questions about the shows you watch and the movies I suggest for you... Please send me a message any time. And if you ever do have time to begin watching another regular show like did with Breaking Bad and are now doing with Better Call Saul... I highly recommend Once Upon a Time. Especially if you would be interested to see Colin O'Donoghue in a much different, but incredible role! Thank you so very much again, my dear friends! Sincerely, Heidi

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum

u will love it!

Yes indeed, this movie takes seriously the demonology and represents a modern type of exorcism. Can't wait to see your reaction to this one.

Nikos