Here’s A Side-By-Side Of The Cast Of "The Ritual" With The Real People The Movie’s Based On

1 year ago 17

America's most terrifying exorcism is here.

The Ritual is one of the most intriguing horror movies of the year. No other American possession film has ever had a backstory like this one because the events...are real.

A person lies in bed, mouth open in distress, as another person holds a cross. The scene suggests a tense or dramatic moment from a film or show

Not all horror is fiction. As the film's opening suggests, the story is based on Joseph Steiger's transcribed events, making this one of the most well-documented exorcisms in American history.

"The following is based on true events, transcribed by Father Joseph Steiger, this story represents a major demonic possession case"

Here are the film's actors and the real-life people behind the main characters:

Legendary actor Al Pacino portrays Father Theophilus Riesinger in "The Ritual." BYOHW (Bring Your Own Holy Water).

Two well-dressed men stand together on stage at an AFI event, smiling and embracing, in front of a podium with a microphone

The real-life Father Theophilus Riesinger was a German-American exorcist. It may seem odd that he isn't wearing the white collar like so many other famous priests and exorcists, but that's because, along with being a Roman Catholic priest, he was also a Capuchin friar.

Bearded man in long robe with cross and rosary stands outdoors by brick building

Pacino may have lacked that mighty beard, but he still brought the duds.

Elderly man with glasses and a hooded coat sits in a dimly lit room, looking pensive

Here they are side-by-side:

Actor Dan Stevens portrays Reverand Joesph Steiger.

Person in a pinstripe suit with glasses at a TV event

The real Reverand Joesph Steiger transcribed the events The Ritual is based on, so it only made sense that the narrative moved through him in the film.

An unidentified man with glasses, wearing a dark suit, poses for a formal portrait against a textured backdrop

Stevens wears many hats in horror, but this was his first time donning a white collar.

Actor portraying a somber priest looks into the distance. The image suggests a scene from a TV show or movie

Here they are side-by-side:

Every possession film has the "possessed" character, a role played by Abigail Cowen. She portrays Emma Schmidt

Person in a sparkling, embellished long-sleeve gown poses in front of a red backdrop

The real Emma Schmidt was known under the pseudonym Anna Ecklund. Her possession was alleged to have lasted for decades. Her case was so well-documented that it received a profile in the 1936 edition of TIME Magazine.

I don't know who this person is, but it's a close-up black and white photo of a woman with wavy hair and a slight smile

The documented claims of what happened to this girl are truly the stuff that inspires every possession horror movie. Cowen's performance in The Ritual brings the terror to life on the big screen.

A person with long hair looks concerned in a dimly lit room, wearing a casual top

Here they are side-by-side:

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