The Rite

Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) is the son of a successful funeral home owner and businessman, Istvan (Rutger Hauer). Disillusioned with his job as a mortician, Michael decides to enter a seminary and renounce his vows upon completion, thereby getting a free college degree. Four years later, Michael is being ordained to the rank of deacon at the seminary, after which he writes a letter of resignation to his superior, Father Matthew, citing a lack of faith. Father Matthew (Toby Jones), apparently wanting to talk to Michael, attempts to catch up to him on the street. He trips over a curb, causing a cyclist Sandra (Marija Karan), to swerve into the path of an oncoming van, and get critically injured. Seeing Michael's clerical garb, she asks him for absolution before her last breath. The hesitant Michael is unable to refuse; he comforts her and performs a blessing ritual to absolve her of her sins. Seeing how calmly Michael handled the situation, Father Matthew tells Michael that he is called to be a priest despite his unwillingness. He also tells Michael that with the rise in demonic possessions every year, the Church needs more exorcists and says that he has the potential to become one. Father Matthew advises him to go to the Vatican in Rome to attend an exorcism course taught by his friend Father Xavier (Ciarán Hinds). Michael agrees after Father Matthew tells him that the Church might convert his scholarship into a student loan that would cost him $100,000 if his resignation is accepted before he takes his vows. If Michael attends the exorcism classes and still wants to leave, then it can be discussed (hinting that he may be free to leave).

MPAA Rating:PG-13
Genre:Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country:Hungary, Italy, United States
Produced By:Richard Brener, Merideth Finn, Gian Paolo Varani, Robert Bernacchi, Mark Tuohy, Tripp Vinson, Christy Fletcher, Beau Flynn, Emma Parry
Directed By:Mikael Håfström
Written By:Michael Petroni, Matt Baglio
Cast:Arianna Veronesi, Ciarán Hinds, Peter Arpesella, Marta Gastini, Nico Toffoli, Jasper Jacob, Toby Jones, Andrea Calligari, Anthony Hopkins, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Alice Braga, Torrey DeVitto, Rutger Hauer, Attila Bardóczy, Sandor Baranyai, Giampiero Ingrassia, Don Kress, Chris Marquette, Marija Karan, Adriano Aragon, Rosario Tedesco, Cecilia Dazzi, Rosa Pianeta, Anita Pititto, Nadia Kibout, Colin O'Donoghue, Ben Cheetham
In Theaters:Jan 28, 2011
Runtime:1 hour 54 minutes
Production:New Line Cinema, Contrafilm, Mid Atlantic Films, Hungarian National Film Office
Budget:$37,000,000
Box Office:$33,047,633
Available On:Amazon, Itunes, Netflix, Vudu
Read More On:Wikipedia