Emmy-winning Catholic actress Patricia Heaton stars as Mother Superior in the new film “The Ritual,” which premiered in theaters on June 6, 2025.
The film is a horror drama based on the real-life 1928 exorcism of Emma Schmidt in Earling, Iowa, recognized as one of the most thoroughly documented cases of possession in the United States.
The story centers on two Catholic priests: Father Theophilus Riesinger, a Capuchin friar and experienced exorcist portrayed by Al Pacino, and Father Joseph Steiger, a parish priest struggling with his own crisis of faith following his brother’s suicide, played by Dan Stevens.
They join forces to aid Emma, a woman suffering from terrifying and unexplainable symptoms believed to be the result of demonic possession after years of failed psychiatric care.
Just two days before the film’s release, Patricia Heaton joined EWTN News Nightly to discuss her role and the true story behind the movie.
Heaton shared how she first learned about the infamous 1928 exorcism in Iowa—America’s most thoroughly documented case—and what drew her to the project. She revealed that her Catholic faith, the film’s authentic depiction of spiritual warfare, and the chance to work alongside Al Pacino all played a part in her decision to take on the role.
“I got the script from my manager, and that's when I first heard of the story,” Heaton says. “I happened to be talking to one of my sisters about it, and I said, ‘It's based on this true exorcism that happened in the 20s.’
“And she said to me, ‘Is the exorcist’s name Father Theophilus [Riesinger]?’ And I said, ’ Yeah, how would you know that?’ And she said, ‘because I have two copies of the book he wrote staring at me from my bookshelf.’”
Patricia Heaton’s personal connection to religious life runs deep.
“My sister's a Dominican nun, so I'm familiar with life in the order. I visit her often because we're both in Nashville,” she shared, shedding light on how her family background helped her portray Mother Superior authentically.
To further embody her character, the Catholic actress learned some Polish for the role, sharing that her character, “Mother Superior, is of Polish descent.”
“It added an interesting flavor to her , and in thinking about her background. It was really interesting,” Heaton says. “And to have to have some lines in Polish as I'm admonishing the demon, was really great. It took me a while to memorize just a few lines in Polish because there are very few vowels in the Polish language, but it was a great experience.”
She enthusiastically describes working with Al Pacino as a dream come true, admitting, “Getting the chance to work with Al Pacino was a true bucket list moment—something I never imagined I’d experience in my lifetime.”
Heaton also speaks about how her Catholic faith and real-life connections to exorcism ministry informed her performance.
“A good friend of mine in Nashville is Father Dan Reehil, who's our diocesan exorcist, and he covers about, I think, five counties. So I kind of had learned a lot from him about it… So I thought it was a good time, right now in what we're experiencing with a lot of violence and upheaval in our world, to remind people that there is evil in the world, that it's a supernatural fight that we're fighting here.”
Over the years, there have been many films and books displaying the battle between good and evil and depicting exorcisms in the Catholic Church, including the 1974 Best Picture Oscar nominee ‘The Exorcist’.
Reflecting on how “The Ritual” stands apart from other films in the genre, Heaton explains, “It's a smaller, grittier film. It's not a sensationalist film. ’The Exorcist’ was an incredible movie. I'm not putting it down, but this is just… It gives it an intensity because it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles.”
With a blend of personal faith, family ties to religious life, and a commitment to authentic storytelling, Heaton brings a unique depth to her role in “The Ritual,” offering audiences a fresh perspective on the enduring battle between good and evil.
“The Ritual” is a movie that Catholics interested in the topic can appreciate for its authenticity to the source material, even in the slightest of details.