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Al Pacino and Dan Stevens star in The Ritual, an upcoming theatrical release from XYZ Films, directed by David Midell and scheduled to open in theaters on June 6. The film brings together a cast that also features Ashley Greene, Patricia Heaton, Abigail Cowen, and Ritchie Montgomery.
Set against the backdrop of a remote community plagued by spiritual crisis, the story follows two Roman Catholic priests sent to investigate a young woman believed to be possessed. Pacino plays Father Theophilus Riesinger, a veteran cleric with an unwavering belief in the presence of evil. Stevens takes on the role of Father Joseph Steiger, a younger priest more inclined toward medical and psychological explanations.
The film presents the two clergymen with conflicting worldviews as they attempt to determine the nature of the woman’s condition. In the trailer, Pacino’s character warns of divine warfare. “We are the Lord’s army in this battle,” he declares. Later, Stevens’ character poses a counterpoint: “What if what she really needs is a doctor?” That moment draws an intense response: “We are paying a price for your lack of faith.”
The Ritual is based on real events recorded in the 1935 Catholic pamphlet Begone Satan!, written by Reverend Carl Vogl. The text documented an exorcism in Iowa conducted by Father Riesinger himself and became the subject of decades of scrutiny. Supporters of the account have pointed to its detailed descriptions as evidence of spiritual truth, while critics have raised concerns about coercion, untreated mental illness, and religious sensationalism. Midell and co-writer Enrico Natale used the historical case as a reference point, adapting it for a contemporary audience without altering its pre-war setting.
Production duties were handled by Natale, Ross Kagan Marks, Andrew Stevens, and Mitchell Welch. The team opted for a visual style intended to reflect the bleak, isolated environment in which the story takes place. Interior scenes were constructed using minimal lighting and period-accurate furnishings to reinforce a sense of disconnection and mounting pressure.
Greene plays a local nurse who becomes increasingly skeptical of the priests’ methods as the girl’s condition worsens. Heaton portrays a family member struggling to choose between faith and scientific reasoning. Cowen, in the central role of the afflicted woman, undertook significant physical preparation for the part, including long days of practical effects makeup and choreographed body work.
Midell, known for The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, has previously approached controversial real-world events through a restrained directorial lens. His work often features minimal music, extended takes, and naturalistic dialogue. For The Ritual, he reunited with cinematographer Carlos Doce to create a visual atmosphere that leans heavily on shadow, narrow color palettes, and framing devices designed to trap characters within the environment.
Pacino’s involvement in the film adds to a busy schedule. His recent credits include Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness, Knox Goes Away, and House of Gucci. On television, he starred in Hunters, which ran for two seasons on Amazon Prime Video beginning in 2020. His next scheduled appearance is in Julian Schnabel’s In the Hand of Dante, featuring a large ensemble cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, and Gal Gadot.
Stevens, best known for early roles in Downton Abbey and The Guest, continues to shift between mainstream projects and smaller thrillers. In 2024 alone, he appeared in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Abigail, and Cuckoo. He also had a role in Zero Day, a limited series produced by Netflix and starring Robert De Niro.
The film arrives during a period of renewed interest in religious horror. Though trends in the genre often shift toward science fiction or elevated psychological thrillers, faith-based horror remains active among independent productions and certain international markets. Films involving possession, exorcism, or divine retribution continue to be released annually by studios and streamers, often featuring mid-range budgets and ensemble casts.
While The Ritual engages with these genre elements, it also draws heavily from recorded Catholic texts and theological frameworks. The filmmakers were granted access to archival materials from diocesan sources and consulted with historians of American Catholicism to ensure accuracy in liturgical practices and period language. Latin prayers used in the film were sourced from pre-Vatican II rites, with pronunciation overseen by language consultants familiar with ecclesiastical Latin.
Set design included replications of 1930s clerical housing, rural churches, and medical facilities, all constructed on location in Louisiana. Costume design was handled by veterans of period television dramas, with attention paid to regional distinctions in clergy attire and lay fashion during the Great Depression.
Sound design leaned on practical recording techniques, with Foley work created to mimic the creaks, tremors, and vocal effects often attributed to possessions in traditional accounts. Scenes depicting the exorcism avoid high-tech effects, instead using in-camera tricks and body movement to achieve realism. Cowen’s physical performance in the role was designed with input from a movement coach experienced in horror cinema.
While early reactions to the trailer have focused on the high-profile pairing of Pacino and Stevens, the cast’s supporting performances are also expected to draw attention. Heaton, known for her work in television comedies, appears in a dramatic role that contrasts with her previous projects. Greene returns to genre film after appearing in independent thrillers in recent years.
The release strategy for The Ritual includes a limited theatrical run in select cities, followed by a planned digital release later this summer. Screenings are expected to take place in traditional cinema venues and specialty locations that cater to horror and independent film audiences. XYZ Films has also indicated the potential for international distribution agreements, depending on domestic performance.
Marketing materials emphasize the tension between spiritual authority and modern skepticism, with taglines focusing on belief, isolation, and unseen conflict. The score, composed by an unannounced collaborator, reportedly avoids melodic cues in favor of drone textures and ambient dissonance.
The production timeline spanned six months, with principal photography taking place in late 2023. Post-production concluded earlier this year, with final sound mixing completed in March.
XYZ Films, known for distributing genre titles with niche appeal, acquired the film after reviewing early footage and script drafts. Their recent releases have included horror thrillers and supernatural dramas targeted at audiences seeking character-driven narratives within genre frameworks.
