Overview

• The Ritual dramatizes the 1928 Iowa exorcism of Emma Schmidt through priests played by Al Pacino and Dan Stevens.
• Reviewers argue the narrative remains trapped in familiar possession beats without offering fresh twists or deeper character insight.
• Director David Midell’s documentary-inspired handheld cinematography is widely criticized for causing viewer disorientation rather than building suspense.
• Al Pacino’s fervent turn and Dan Stevens’s grounded portrayal stand out as rare strengths amid otherwise tepid critical response.
• The film opens in theaters on June 6 with a 98-minute runtime and has drawn predominantly negative early reviews.