Last week a student and I went to see the latest movie on the topic of demonic possession and exorcisms, The Rite. There are many good reviews of the film that you can find with ease, such as this one (or this story on the making of, or this story on the need for more exorcists). But for myself, I think this is a movie worth seeing. If you are considering going to see it, here are some surface thoughts.
1) Some things in this movie are clearly not as they would have happened. For a Catholic it’s not too hard to see some things which are a bit of a stretch (I won’t go into details because I don’t want to give large parts of the movie away). But at the same time, large portions are based on the experience of a priest sent to Rome for training as an actual exorcist. The two main characters are based on two real exorcists (as was the case in the original movie The Exorcist many years ago). So it’s not total Fantasyland here.
2) Of the movies on exorcisms that I have seen, this one shows the most detail on things that actually happen in a case of demonic possession. (In fact, some of the things that might seem hardest to believe are closer to reality that we would like (such as the possessed person vomiting strange objects, exhibiting superhuman strength, knowing things that should be hidden, etc.). For the story on these kinds of phenomena, you need to check out Fr. Gabriele Amorth’s book An Exorcist tells his story, or it’s sequel (available on campus at Crux Books).
3) This movie challenges the modern atheism. In some of the best scenes, the old exorcist confronts the skepticism of his protege. After one of the more spooky scenes, where his counterpart reaches for natural explanations for what they just witnessed, his elder cautions him: “You know the interesting thing about us skeptics? We’re always looking for proof. The questions is, what on Earth would we do if we found it?”
4) Finally, this movie is scary, more than a lot of movies are because it is based on something real. We can benefit from reminding ourselves that there is a real devil called Satan. There are fallen angels called demons. And they are at work in the world. “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Personally, I think it is important to be reminded that the devil is not some impersonal force, but a sinister person, working in the world with intellect and a will, and a goal to bring you down. There is a reason we are called the Church Militant.
But if you are someone who is prone to worry a great deal about the forces of evil, be comforted in Fr. Amorth's reminder (in his book) that the act of going to Confession and receiving Holy Communion is more powerful than the rite of exorcism.
And that nothing can happen except by God's will, active or permissive.
In the words of the great St. Augustine: “The devil is only permitted to tempt thee as much as it is profitable for thy exercise and trial, and in order that thou, who did not know thyself, may find out what thou art.”
In the words of the great St. Augustine: “The devil is only permitted to tempt thee as much as it is profitable for thy exercise and trial, and in order that thou, who did not know thyself, may find out what thou art.”
For this man, to know God meant to know the enemy.
ReplyDeleteI need exploration of the devil. And this movie was one step.
Also, the movie Devil was powerful, but nothing topped the book, Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. Nothing.
Peace and Blessings.
John Bielinski