 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Rite
- Review Date: January 24, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Horror
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Demonic horror tale is disturbing, but no Exorcist.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this horror drama centered on exorcisms (and supposedly "based on true events") pales in comparison -- both in terms of scares and quality -- to horror classic The Exorcist. That said, The Rite does have some disturbing images and violence directed at children and women: A pregnant teen is possessed by a demon and tossed around, a boy has bruises all over his body, and a possessed priest slaps a little girl (he also attacks a grown woman). Language is infrequent but includes "f--k," "s--t" and "t-ts."
What's the story?
After completing seminary school, Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) intends to resign, but a pushy priest (Toby Jones) coaxes him into traveling to Rome to train as an exorcist. There, Michael finds his natural skepticism getting in the way of his classes, so his instructor sends him to meet Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), a working exorcist with unorthodox methods. Michael continues to doubt, second-guessing the things he sees; meanwhile, a pretty, equally skeptical journalist (Alice Braga) tries to get him to talk about his experiences. But then more and more strange things begin to happen to Michael that are too close to home. Will he find his faith in time to save himself?
Is it any good?
The main reason to watch THE RITE would be to see Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) back in full Hannibal Lecter-style swing, chewing on his lines and salivating over his verbs, using his blocky body, beady eyes, and naughty troll's smile to suggest terrifying menace. He's truly spectacular in an over-the-top kind of way; it's too bad the rest of the movie doesn't live up to him.
Though director Mikael Hafstrom does cook up at least one chillingly spooky sequence full of shadows and sounds, his main focus here is on the bland Michael, whose "journey" within the movie isn't much of one: He doesn't believe, and then he does. (The Father Karras character in the original Exorcist takes much the same journey with far more compelling results.) And poor Braga doesn't have much to do as the reporter; but on the plus side, character actors like Rutger Hauer, Ciaran Hinds and Jones suggest more onscreen personality than the script actually grants them.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence and disturbing imagery. What effect does it have? Is it scary or thrilling?
If this movie is "based on true events," how much of it would you guess was created for the sake of the story? Why might filmmakers claim that something is based on a true story if it wasn't -- or, alternately, why might they alter real events when making them into a movie?
How does Michael change over the course of the movie? How does he view both proof and faith?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
The Movie was quite good.
The official review states that there is some kind of sexual tension b/w the male and female protagonists but that is not so.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Teen Review: The Rite
I thought The Rite was a good movie. It wasn't terribly scary in my perspective but it was freaky, like freaky enough that I had to go to the restroom during the movie. Children under 10 shouldn't see this movie, it may give them nightmares. The exercism is intense.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
BAD PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU TOOK A KID 14 AND UNDER TO THE MOVIE THEATER TO SEE THIS MOVIE THEN YOU ARE A BAD PARENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Ok for older kids who like scary movies. Leave 17 and under home...
Anthony Hopkins, as usual, is magnificent in his role. This movie is good, a little scary, but nothing that's too intense if you're not squeamish about movies having to do with posession. I would NOT, however, take a child under 17. It definitely has disturbing images that kids should not see, like a young girl having a demon exorcised (she later loses her baby), and a weird scene with a donkey with red eyes. Not a kid's movie.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Another Exorcist copy
When are these movie directors gonna learn that these Exorcist rip-off movies don't sell and aren't good. Oh wait, they do sell, and tons of people get suckered into them despite knowing it's gonna be a completely, over-priced waste of time. Sorry for underestimating the stupidity of the country.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Very disturbing demons, lots of violent imagges of exorcism, lots of sexual innuendo; not a little kid movie
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Really good exorcism movie
This movie is great. Anyone who didn't like it is one of those extremeist atheists. I'm agnostic-leaning-towards-religion, and even my atheist friend said it was good. There are some really great parts in this movie, and most kids have heard language, so that's never really an issue in my eyes. Also, demons being smote by God is always a good message.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Pretty good!!
There is definitely some swearing in it plus violence. It's not that bad of a movie and I really enjoyed it
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
BLAH
DONT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS ONE!NOT EVEN SCARY AT ALL AND EFFECTS SUCKED!!!!I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE ANOTHER MINI EXORCIST BUT GUESS WHAT?THIS ISNT EVEN A MILLIONTH AS SCARY AS THE EXORCIST.WAIT,NOT EVEN A MILLIONTH AS FUNNY.AND I GOTTA GIVE IT TO YOU,PARENTS AND EDUCATORS SAY THIS IS IFFY FOR 16?????67% SAY LANGUAGE IS AN ISSUE?OH COME ON.AND PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS IS FREAKY?PLZ GIVE ME A BREAK.DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS.EVEN PARANORMAL ACTVITY WHICH I DIDNT MUCH LIKE BCUZ ITS NOT AS FREAKY AS I ANTICIPATED IS BETTER THAN THIS.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | Mikael Hafstrom |
| Cast: | Alice Braga, Anthony Hopkins, Colin O'Donoghue |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 112 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 28, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | May 17, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | disturbing thematic material, violence, frightening images, and language including sexual references |
Review It
Video review
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
