Chilling true story behind real-life exorcism of 'possessed' woman that inspired Al Pacino's The Ritual
Hollywood legend Al Pacino is starring in his first ever horror movie, The Ritual.
The terrifying film is based on the real-life exorcism of Emma Schmidt in Iowa back in 1928.
The case is the most documented exorcism in history, largely thanks to theologian Carl Vogl's 1935 book Begone Satan.
It's also believed to have partially inspired the 1973 horror classic, The Exorcist.
While some specific details of Schmidt's life and alleged demonic possession are unclear, most accounts state that she started showing signs of Satanic interference from as young as 14.
Schmidt, who was raised Catholic, began hearing 'sinister inner voices' that compelled her to do 'shameful and unmentionable' things, according to Vogl's book.
Some of her behavior included sexual acts, an aversion to holy objects, and the urge to attack her spiritual advisor.
According to Bloody Disgusting, Schmidt was 'uniquely aware of the presence of religious artefacts'.
If somebody approached her with a holy object, even if it was hidden, she could sense it and would fly into a rage.
She was also 'highly sensitive to holy water', to the point that she once refused a meal that had been sprinkled with a few blessed drops.
Multiple doctors examined her at the time and could find no signs of mental or physical illness, which only further fueled the theory that she'd been possessed.
Schmidt underwent her first exorcism in 1912 at the hands of Father Theophilus Riesinger, who is played by Pacino in The Ritual.
At one point, it was suspected that she had been possessed by her Aunt Mina, who was believed to be a witch.
While little is known about her first exorcism, Riesinger returned almost two decades later in 1928 to perform a second exorcism.
This one was far more elaborate, with Riesinger and another priest, Father Joseph Stieger, played by Dan Stevens in The Ritual, taking Schmidt to a convent in Earling, Iowa.
Schmidt was given a pseudonym, Anna Ecklund, to protect her identity during the chilling exorcism.
The second exorcism was performed in three sessions over a period of four months, totalling 23 days in total.
Riesinger claimed that Schmidt was possessed by four different spirits, including her own father, who had unsuccessfully tried to get his daughter to commit incest with him.
According to Vogl's book, Schmidt levitated in the air, vomited repeatedly, contorted her body, and made inhuman animal noises during the exorcism.
Eventually, Riesinger completed the ritual after three consecutive nights and days with no breaks.
Schmidt survived and lived out the rest of her life in peace, although some reports claim that she suffered from mild possessions over the years until her death.
Her case largely remained a secret until a widely-read Time magazine article was published in 1936, Religion: Exorcist & Energumen.
Now Schmidt's chilling story is being brought to life in The Ritual.
Directed by indie filmmaker David Midell, the movie sees Pacino transform into Father Riesinger, who teams up with Dan Stevens's conflicted Father Steiger to banish a demonic spirit from, Schmidt, who is portrayed by Abigail Cowen.
It's new territory for Pacino, who has steered away from the horror genre throughout his illustrious career.
The closest that the 85-year-old has come to horror is the psychological thrillers The Devil's Advocate, Insomnia, and 88 Minutes.
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