The Rite

2011 | 112 minutes | Rated PG-13

Horror fans may be disappointed by this handsome exorcism drama, which aspires to the serious religious feeling of William Friedkin's The Exorcist but delivers little of its shock or gore. An American seminarian (Colin O'Donoghue), dubiously studying exorcism in Rome under an eccentric Welsh priest (Anthony Hopkins), witnesses frightening behavior by two youngsters; the student blames psychiatric disorders, but then his mentor begins acting even weirder than usual. The screenplay is based on a nonfiction book by Matt Baglio, which might explain its respectful stance toward the Church, though like so many other exorcism flicks, it tends to treat the Catholic faith as exotic. Mikael Hafstrom directed; with Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds, and Rutger Hauer. In English and subtitled Italian. By Andrea Gronvall

Official Site: whatdoyoubelieve.warnerbros.com
Director: Mikael Hafstrom
Producer: Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson, Richard Brener, Merideth Finn and Robert Bernacchi
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O'Donoghue, Alice Braga, Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones, Rutger Hauer, Marta Gastini, Maria Cucinotta, Arianna Veronesi, Andrea Calligari, Chris Marquette, Torrey DeVitto, Ben Cheetham and Marija Karan