Al Pacino stars in new exorcism movie 'The Ritual' produced by NMSU professor Ross Marks
New Mexico State University professor Ross Marks recruited top-tier talent to star in the first film he has produced while not also directing.
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Marks, the founder of the Las Cruces International Film Festival, announced that Pacino agreed to star in "The Ritual" which opens nationwide on Friday, June 6.
'I am incredibly proud of this project and the opportunity to collaborate with a legendary actor like Al Pacino,' Marks said in a news release. 'This film is not just a work of art, it's a mirror reflecting the complexities of the human experience.'
"The Ritual" is described as a horror film about two priests, one in crisis with his faith and the other confronting a turbulent past, who must overcome their differences to perform a risky exorcism. The film is based on a true story about the last officially ordained exorcism in the United States.
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The film also stars Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, Abigail Cowen and Patricia Heaton. The film was written and directed by Las Cruces International Film Festival alum David Midell.
The Clarion Ledger, part of the USA Today network, reported that filming for the supernatural horror movie took place in the historic St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, Mississippi.
Marks said the the film was born at the LCIFF, which recently celebrated its 10th year.
Marks first became familiar with Midell during the 2020 LCIFF when Midell's 2019 film "The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlin" was screened. That film won the LCIFF Grand Jury Prize.
'I was so impressed by David and his film that I offered to help get his next film off the ground," Marks said in a news release. "David gave me the script for 'The Ritual,' and I knew right away the film would make for great cinema. I asked David who he wanted in the lead role, and he said without hesitation, Al Pacino. Through some industry contacts, I was able to get the script to Al, and we were off and running."
Marks said pivoting to producing was initially a challenge, sacrificing the creative control and direct relationships with actors that are enjoyed by a director.
"Producing is about mentorship and finding and creating the resources necessary for the director to succeed," Marks told the Las Cruces Sun-News in an email. "In some ways, it's all the fun of making a movie without the added stress and headaches of being director. Having directed many movies, I have a strong sense of what a director needs and how to provide it."
Marks has since produced "Love on Tap", directed by former NMSU student Keagan Karnes.
Marks is current in the process of producing "The Mensch" for director David Shapiro and "A Silent Violence" for director Norberto Barba. Those films will both be shot in Las Cruces in the fall.
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"I am able to make more movies and employ more New Mexicans as a producer," Marks wrote in an email. "I can produce 3-4 movies a year. I can only direct one movie every year or so."
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: 'The Ritual': NMSU professor produces new Al Pacino exorcism movie
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