Burbank, CA, April 20, 2011 – Question everything you believe when “The Rite” arrives onto Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, for Download and On Demand on May 17th from Warner Home Entertainment Group. Inspired by true events, the film was suggested by Matt Baglio’s novel, The Rite: The Making Of A Modern Exorcist, and explores our cultural fascination with exorcists and the darkness they witness.
Starring Oscar® winner Anthony Hopkins (“Silence of the Lambs”), “The Rite” follows a seminary student (Colin O’Donoghue) who is sent to study exorcism at the Vatican in Rome. Initially filled with skepticism, he encourages his superiors to explore the idea of mental illness rather than demons when treating patients. However, he is quickly introduced to a darker side of his faith after meeting an unorthodox priest, Father Lucas (Hopkins), who is known for pushing the darkest edges of his spirituality in the service of God.
Directed by Mikael Håfström (“1408”), “The Rite” also stars Colin O’Donoghue in his feature film debut, Alice Braga (“Predators”), Toby Jones (“Frost/Nixon”), Ciarán Hinds (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2”), and Rutger Hauer (“Batman Begins,” “Blade Runner”).
“The Rite” will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, featuring a hi-definition, a standard definition and a digital copy of the film, for $35.99 and on single disc DVD for $28.98.
On May 17th, “The Rite” will also be available for rent ON DEMAND through Digital Cable, Satellite TV, and IPTV. It can also be purchased for permanent download or rented on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game consoles.
It will also be available to rent via kiosks and subscription on June 14th.
SYNOPSIS
Inspired by true events, “The Rite” follows seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue), who is sent to study exorcism at the Vatican in spite of his own doubts about the controversial practice and even his own faith. Wearing his deep skepticism like armor, Michael challenges his superiors to look to psychiatry, rather than demons, in treating the possessed.
Only when he’s sent to apprentice with the unorthodox Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins) – a legendary priest who has performed thousands of exorcisms – does Michael’s armor begin to fall. As he is drawn into a troubling case that seems to transcend even Father Lucas’s skill, he begins to glimpse a phenomenon science can’t explain or control… and an evil so violent and terrifying that it forces him to question everything he believes.
“The Rite” Blu-ray Combo Pack contains the following special features:
– Deleted Scenes (trt 12:44)
– Alternate Ending (trt 1:47)
– Soldier of God (trt 6:46) – Meet Father Gary Thomas, the Vatican-ordained exorcist whose life story inspired the film. Go inside the actual exorcism academy and hear eyewitness accounts of real-life exorcisms.
“The Rite” Standard Definition DVD contains the following special features:
– Deleted Scenes (trt 12:44)
