Headcanon Theory: ‘The Ritual’ is a Prequel to ‘The Last Exorcism’
Watching The Ritual was more fun when this idea popped into my head and wouldn’t go away.
The Ritual is Okay
As far as exorcism movies go, The Ritual (2025) is okay. Not great, not the worst, but somewhere in the middle where very average and forgettable movies tend to reside. If you’re interested in reading a more in-depth reaction to the movie, head over to my review of The Ritual.
For the purposes of this article though, all you really need to know about The Ritual is that it’s about the “true” exorcism of Emma Schmidt. The film is set in Iowa in 1928, and the inciting incident in the story is when Bishop Edwards tells Father Steiger that his church will host Emma’s exorcism. The task will be performed by an experienced exorcist, and Steiger is skeptical of the old man’s methods. Spooky stuff happens, and by the end of the movie, [SPOILER] whatever force is possessing Emma is forced out when Steiger reignites his faith and finally helps out. [END SPOILER]
The Last Exorcism is Great
Like I said, The Ritual is okay. I’m glad I watched it, but it’s never going to enter into my rotation of rewatchable exorcism movies. However, one exorcism movie that I do rewatch over and over is The Last Exorcism (2010). I love that movie.
The Last Exorcism is a found footage film that follows the faithless Reverend Cotton Marcus as he tries to prove that the practice of exorcism is fraudulent, and that possession is all in people’s minds. He travels to a remote area of Louisiana where a young woman named Nell is believed to be possessed. Reverend Marcus then puts on the performance of an exorcism filled with tricks to make it look like he’s battling against a demon. The hope is that his magic show will convince Nell she’s free from demonic influence, but it doesn’t go that way. Spooky stuff happens, and [SPOILER] Cotton reignites his faith and walks towards certain doom as a spiritual warrior as the movie ends. [END SPOILER]
The Connection Between Them
Even from just those brief plot descriptions, similarities can be found between the two movies. For instance, both movies have a lead character with a crisis of faith participating in an exorcism. But there’s an even bigger connection: Patrick Fabian.
Patrick Fabian is the actor who plays Cotton Marcus in The Last Exorcism. He’s absolutely perfect in the role. His charm and self-assured attitude (almost condescending at times) make him completely believable as a Reverend who puts on a convincing show of faith despite not believing in the spiritual nature of his religion anymore.
Patrick Fabian also plays Bishop Edwards in The Ritual. The Bishop’s role in the story is much smaller in comparison, but it is still extremely important. Edwards shows up twice in The Ritual, and both times he displays a charming yet almost condescending attitude. He tells Father Steiger what he will be doing and how to act, and when Steiger starts asking questions, Edwards sternly shuts him down. Bishop Edwards is strong in his convictions, similar to how Cotton Marcus is positive that he is also right.
Bishop Edwards shows up for the first time early in The Ritual, and I immediately came up with a theory about his character in my head. I couldn’t help myself. My theory is based on nothing the movie told me, but that’s what headcanon is, right? It’s something fans make up that sounds good and makes sense in their head, but isn’t actually supported by anything concrete in the story.
So here’s my headcanon theory: Bishop Edwards is the great or great-great grandfather of Cotton Marcus.
We learn a little about Cotton Marcus’s background in The Last Exorcism. His father was a small-town preacher, and he raised Cotton to be a preacher as well. So, taking positions of power in the Church runs in the family. I don’t know the rules of whether or not a Bishop can have children, but hey, Edwards lived a life before he took that position. He very well could have had a child, who could have had a child, and so on. Through marriage the name of Edwards could change to Marcus, and Cotton could be the eventual result.
Plus, this theory actually works well thematically. I don’t want to spoil too much about either movie, but Emma’s history in The Ritual involves family trauma. Nell’s history also involves personal tragedy involving her family (though it isn’t all what Cotton thinks it is at first). So both Edwards and his great-great grandson were involved in a tough exorcism, with Cotton actually finishing something that Edwards only facilitated.
Also, the marketing for The Ritual makes a big deal about the fact that it’s based on the most thoroughly documented exorcism in United States history. The cinematography also evokes a documentary style with it feeling like handheld footage. The Last Exorcism is a found footage movie. It’s literally about the characters documenting their actions in a documentary style. So, the aesthetic connection between the two films is strong.
It makes sense to me, and it helps me enjoy both films even more. Though, my headcanon theory is doing a lot more work for my enjoyment of The Ritual, because I already love The Last Exorcism.
