The Rite is a movie that will focus on a priest as he studies the art of Excorcism in the heart of the Roman Empire. We get news of this film and the following synopsis from the pagan caves of Yahoo:
New Line Cinema has taken possession of “The Rite,” the true story of an American priest who studied at an exorcism school in Italy. The project is based on the nonfiction book “The Rite: The Making of a Modern Day Exorcist,” which is set for publication by Doubleday in early 2009.
The book’s author, Rome-based journalist Matt Baglio, was allowed to follow a young priest during months of training with a senior exorcist at a school affiliated with the Vatican. Although the book is not finished and Michael Petroni’s screenplay won’t be completed until after the Hollywood writers strike, the film is expected to include scenes of exorcisms based on the priest’s experiences.
I hope this movie is like Police Academy. I want to see seminarians sneak out of dorm in the middle of the night and cast devil’s out of gypsy hookers. I want a priest with a funny nickname like “Gonzo” to drink too much communion wine and get caught in a broom closet with a swedish nun. Bobcat Goldthwait can be the exorcism teacher and will look more possessed that the people that need the evil expulsed from them.
We will have to wait and see if New Line will go the National Lampoon route that I am suggesting; but I would hazard a guess that it will be a much more serious film. As a former seminarian myself I would love to see what a specialty exorcism school looks like. What is the curriculum like, do you need a lot of books, does the cafeteria food suck?
Excorcism makes for great movie magic. The Exorcist still creeps the hell out of me; and that was also penned by a Catholic. Say what you will about the Catholics, they rule when it comes to terrifying stories. This could be a good drama/suspense film, but we will have to see which direction they will take it.
International friends, if you read this book before the film is released, please let us know the “feel” of the story.
