Film Preview: The Ritual (2025)

Film Poster

Page Revisions:

(April 6, 2025) Original
(May 11, 2025) New Trailer (#2) — New Posters (#2-#3)

Release Date:

June 6, 2025

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “Two priests, one in crisis with his faith and the other confronting a turbulent past, must overcome their differences to perform a risky exorcism.”

Poster Rating: C / C+ / C

SEE ALL POSTERS BELOW
Review: (#1, C) Perhaps if you could see the crucifix better or more easily identify the priest or the possession aesthetic this might have more resonance. Unfortunately, it lacks defining details and while it’s modestly atypical that won’t be enough for it to overcome its issues and stand out.

(#2, C+) Using familiar visual shorthand for exorcism and religious horror, this design will certainly draw viewers who like such efforts but as a work of art, it’s inferior. (#3, C) The shorthand is here as well but only in one location and it adds a touch of color to an otherwise dark and visually bland design. It isn’t likely to carry the same kind of appeal as its predecessor.

Trailer Rating: C / C+

SEE ALL TRAILERS BELOW
Review: (#1, C) While Al Pacino is barely recognizable, the trailer is abundantly familiar. There have been numerous exorcism films in recent years and few of them have found a new angle to approach the topic with and this trailer does nothing to set itself apart from the rest.

(#2, C+) When you already have a great film like The Exorcist, what is the point of going back to the same story and directly telling the audience about it? This trailer looks heavily derivative of every possession film ever made and has nothing in it to set it apart. Sound familiar?