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The Ritual

Name: The Ritual
Director: David Midell
Released: 2025
Duration: 98 min

Representation Score

2.5/10

Limited

2025

Director

David Midell

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Ritual (2025) adheres closely to traditional Catholic horror clichés, leaving little room for progressive social commentary. The narrative structure supports traditional hierarchies of gender, race, and religion, offering no challenge to the status quo. By framing the conflict through established theological lenses, the film reinforces conservative values rather than challenging them. The casting and character dynamics further solidify this traditionalist approach. Male characters drive the plot through decisive actions, while the female lead serves as a passive object to be saved. This dynamic, combined with a homogeneous white cast, creates a narrow perspective that excludes diverse voices and experiences. Ultimately, the film’s alignment with orthodox ideology and lack of nuanced representation result in a low diversity score. It presents a monolithic worldview that validates existing power structures without nuance, critique, or alternative spiritualities. The horror stems from supernatural evil, not social complexity, leaving no space for meaningful representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Ritual have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any visible LGBTQ+ characters and presents a worldview centered around male priesthood and female possession. The narrative reinforces traditional views on gender and sexuality without any critique.

How does The Ritual portray gender?

Minimal

Gender dynamics rely on traditional patriarchal structures, with male priests holding all spiritual authority. The female protagonist is a passive victim lacking control over her situation, reinforcing stereotypes of male competence and female vulnerability in crisis situations.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Ritual?

Limited

The cast is predominantly white, reflecting the 1928 Iowa setting but offering no challenge to racial norms. The narrative remains focused on a white Catholic community, with no characters of color or engagement with racial dynamics.

How does The Ritual represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film firmly roots itself in traditional Western Christian frameworks, portraying the Catholic Church as the sole source of order. It validates conservative family structures and religious devotion, presenting a clear distinction between faith and evil.

Does The Ritual include disability representation?

Limited

The protagonist’s condition is framed as demonic possession rather than a mental illness, using suffering as a horror spectacle. This approach lacks nuanced representation of disabilities, reinforcing stigmatized views of distress as an external evil to be expelled.

Present on Screen

The historical setting accurately reflects 1928 Iowa demographics without modern imposition.
Strong performances by Dan Stevens and Al Pacino anchor the traditional narrative.
Effective use of period-appropriate Catholic iconography enhances atmospheric dread.

Limited or Absent

Limited diversity in casting restricts cultural perspective and historical inclusivity.
The female protagonist has little control over what happens to them, reinforcing passive victim clichés in horror.
No engagement with racial or LGBTQ+ dynamics despite broader societal contexts.
Disability portrayed as supernatural evil rather than a nuanced human experience.
The narrative offers no critique of religious institutions or traditional gender roles.

Official Synopsis

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

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