In the First Teaser for Horror Film The Ritual, Al Pacino and Dan Stevens Battle the Devil

The first teaser-trailer for the horror film The Ritual, starring Al Pacino and Dan Stevens, has arrived. The two actors portray priests tasked with performing a grueling exorcism, in a story echoing the eerie spirit of The Exorcist (1973). Drawing from one of the most notorious real-life possession cases of the 20th century, the film plunges into the darkness of the supernatural.

At the heart of the plot are two priests: Joseph Staiger (Stevens, known from Legion), a man wrestling with doubts about his faith, and Theophilus Risinger (Pacino, iconic in The Godfather), a seasoned cleric seeking redemption for past sins. Though their relationship is fraught with tension, they must set aside their differences to save a young woman tormented by a demonic force. Together, they embark on a series of intense and perilous rituals.

The Ritual takes its inspiration from the chilling true story of Emma Schmidt (1882–1941), also known under the pseudonym Anna Ecklund. Her case remains one of the most thoroughly documented instances of exorcism in the 20th century. Signs of possession reportedly emerged when she was just 14. The first exorcism took place on June 18, 1912, followed years later by a second, far more protracted ordeal spanning August 18 to December 23, 1928.

During these rituals, Schmidt allegedly levitated, let out unearthly howls, clung to doorframes, and spoke in languages she had never learned. Witnesses claimed she hissed and flew into rages when offered food sprinkled with holy water. As the prolonged exorcism wore on, her physical condition deteriorated—she refused to eat, frequently vomited, and her face swelled dramatically.

Directed and written by David Midell, with contributions to the screenplay from Enrico Natale, The Ritual marks another collaboration between the two. Midell previously helmed the drama The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (2019), produced by Natale, which tackled a real-life case of police brutality and earned acclaim with a 97% critic rating and 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a solid 7 on IMDb. Joining Pacino and Stevens in the cast are Ashley Greene (Twilight) and Abigail F. Cowen (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina).

The Ritual is set to hit theaters worldwide on June 6.