The Ritual: Release date, plot, cast and more about Al Pacino's upcoming horror film

The Ritual is a forthcoming film in the horror realm directed by David Midell, who has also written the film with Enrico Natale. Starring Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, Patricia Heaton, and Abigail Cowen, the film is scheduled to be released on April 18, 2025 by XYZ Films.

It will mark the second horror film in Pacino's career, the first being The Devil's Advocate which was a major success. Fans of the actor are excited on account of his return to the genre after nearly 30 years.

Here's the official synopsis of the film:

Two priests - one questioning his faith and one reckoning with a troubled past - must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms.

When will David Midell's The Ritual be released?

The Ritual will have its theatrical release on April 18, 2025, close to Easter. The film deals with the themes of faith, one's past, and internal and external demons. So, it's entirely possible that the makers intentionally opted for an Easter release.

Pacino was last seen in the 2024 biographical film Modì: Three Days on the Wing of Madness. Midell had directed The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, which came out in 2019 and received acclaim. It also won a Gotham Award and NAACP Image Award. The producers of The Ritual include Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch, and Enrico Natale, while BondIt is the film's executive producer.

What is the plot of The Ritual?

The storyline of this horror film is reportedly based on the true events from the life of Emma Schmidt. Her possession was widely documented and talked about in American media. The film revolves around two priests, Father Theophilus Riesinger, and Father Joseph Steiger. While one of them doubts his faith, the other deals with his troubled past. Despite their rift, the two have to come together to perform several exorcisms on a seemingly possessed lady.

The makers had earlier released a teaser poster featuring a petrified lady holding a cross with a man's hand on her head.

Who is in the cast of The Ritual?

Al Pacino is playing the lead role in The Ritual - Source: Getty

Al Pacino plays the role of Father Theophilus Riesinger, while English actor Dan Stevens portrays Father Joseph Steiger. Other cast members of the film are as follows, as per IMDb:

Ashley Greene as Sister Rose
Patricia Heaton as Mother Superior
Abigail Cowen as Emma Schmidt
Ritchie Montgomery as Chester
Maria Camila Giraldo as Sister Camila
Emily Brinks as Betty
Enrico Natale as Dr. Fabian
Calvin Williams as Church Member
Liann Pattison as Sister Antonella
Courtney Rae Allen as Sister Mary Joseph

The Ritual is an addition to the popular possession sub-genre of horror. In the past, there have been several successful films in the same space. This includes The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, among others.