Shudder
Shudder Amazon Channel
AMC+ Amazon Channel
Shudder Apple TV channel
Rent or buy on
Apple TV Store
Amazon Video
Fetch TV
Our take
The Ritual is a horror drama about a 1928 exorcism case, starring Al Pacino and Dan Stevens. It carries strong horror and injury detail: possession scenes with vomiting, contorted bodies, and a crushed hand with blood. References to childhood neglect and abuse appear in dialogue. No official U.S. rating is listed; treat it like R-level horror for teens 16+
Uplifting themes
Faith and perseverance appear, though the story stays bleak Clergy risk themselves to help someone in spiritual crisis
AMU ages are independent editorial opinions. They are not legal classifications and are not issued by the Classification Board, the MPAA, or any other official classification body. Official labels on this site, such as PG or R, come from those bodies or our data sources, not from AMU. AMU guides are not a substitute for official classification. Cuts and details can differ by version. Use them as one input only. You decide what is right for your family.
Story (may spoil tone)
Two priests, one in crisis with his faith and the other confronting a turbulent past, must overcome their differences to perform a risky exorcism.
Details
Violence Exorcism scenes include hair ripping, hand crushing, and flesh-slicing…
Exorcism scenes include hair ripping, hand crushing, and flesh-slicing with blood smears
Language Strong language expected in intense religious horror dialogue
Strong language expected in intense religious horror dialogue
Sex / nudity No sex found in this title
No sex found in this title
Drugs / alcohol No drugs found in this title
No drugs found in this title
Frightening Prolonged possession horror, distorted voices, and jump scares dominate…
Prolonged possession horror, distorted voices, and jump scares dominate the tone
Self-harm / suicide Characters harm themselves while under demonic influence during exorcis…
Characters harm themselves while under demonic influence during exorcism sequences
Child peril / abuse Childhood neglect and abuse are discussed in the possessed woman's back…
Childhood neglect and abuse are discussed in the possessed woman's backstory
Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title
No bullying found in this title
Gore / death / weapons Blood smears and gloppy gore accompany possession injuries; weapons are…
Blood smears and gloppy gore accompany possession injuries; weapons are minimal
Dangerous behaviour Ritual and exorcism practices are depicted as supernatural, not instruc…
Ritual and exorcism practices are depicted as supernatural, not instructional
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health Crisis of faith and trauma surface around the possessed woman's history
Crisis of faith and trauma surface around the possessed woman's history
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement Loss and spiritual mourning underpin the priests' mission
Loss and spiritual mourning underpin the priests' mission
Talk after watching
- Faith and fear collide in exorcism stories. How do films portray belief without preaching?
- Based-on-true-events horror blends history and scares. What parts are fact versus drama?
- Characters wrestle with doubt. How do people hold onto hope when evidence is frightening?