The Ritual

The Ritual follows two Catholic priests, Father David Carroll, a seasoned yet disillusioned minister, and Father Henry Leland, a newly appointed chaplain struggling to reconcile his troubled past, as they arrive at an isolated monastery to conduct a perilous exorcism on a possessed woman named Janet. Their enigmatic and seemingly uncooperative superior, the Superior General, dispatches the two priests to Father Gilbert, a devout monk who has become increasingly obsessed with Janet's case. At the monastery, they meet Gerald, a troubled but devoted monk, who has taken a somewhat ominous interest in their assignment. However, the true reason for their mission becomes clear when they uncover information that Janet's demonic possession is just the beginning of a series of inexplicable events taking place at the monastery. Upon their arrival at the monastery, David and Henry discover that they must forge a bond in order to perform the exorcism. David's crisis of faith has left him questioning the sincerity of his calling, and his relationship with Henry, who has been grappling with a tragic past, has become strained. Henry has been burdened by the weight of a family tragedy, which has made him wary of making close attachments with others. Father Gerald, who initially appears loyal, becomes increasingly aggressive towards the end, stating that they're playing with fire; however, he, later is shown to genuinely be supporting David. Despite the disarming camaraderie that initially develops between the priests, it becomes apparent that their separate issues with faith, fear, and doubt hinder their ability to undertake the task at hand. The presence of darkness and overwhelming fear intensifies as Father David and Henry dig deeper into the sanctuary of the secluded monastery. With the knowledge that the true depths of their task are only beginning to emerge, these troubled priests are faced with performing a last-ditch effort in a desperate attempt to save Janet from eternal torment. David and Henry both seek spiritual guidance from each other to resolve their insecurities, doubts and find renewed purpose as priests, and consequently this unity gives them the impetus to finally unite in their resolve to exorcise the malevolent entity from Janet. Through the grueling exorcism process and in its aftermath, David and Henry partake in an exploration of guilt, shame, reconciliation, self-discovery, prayer, sacrifice, pain, redemption, doubt and the true definition of faith amidst the inevitable horrors that are conjured up; they ultimately learn valuable lessons about humanity which come with unconditional love and giving.