I am excited for this Friday because The Ritual will finally arrive in theaters. The film is a new entry into the possession horror subgenre. Most importantly, it stars Dan Stevens and Al Pacino. As if that chaotic duo is not enough to get butts in seats, the film is being sold as “The true story that inspired The Exorcist.” So, I know what I’ll be seeing this weekend. More importantly, I decided to make it a streaming guide problem.
However, instead of writing another list of exorcisms, I am diving into Dan Stevens’ filmography. Stevens has quickly become one of our favorite faces to see in the genre. He has curated a resume of weird, wild, and sketchy characters that we love to see. This is why I am here with five movies you might want to watch after checking out The Ritual this weekend.
Abigail (dir. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett)
Where You Can Watch: Prime Video
A group of criminals kidnap a ballerina and take her to a hideout in an isolated mansion. However, they soon discover their safehouse is the most dangerous place they can be. I went into Abigail because I love a Radio Silence moment and am lucky to be alive as Melissa Barrera is collecting horror roles like Pokémon cards. I expected to have a good time, but I never expected to walk out in love with the entire ensemble. One of the most quotable characters is, of course, Frank (Dan Stevens). We knew we should not trust this shady character, but that did not stop us from enjoying our time with him anyway. From the aviator glasses to his delivery of, “Sammy, those are fucking onions,” Stevens won us all over. Abigail is possibly my favorite role that I have seen him in, just because he is pure chaotic fun.
Apostle (dir. Gareth Evans)
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
A man tries to rescue his kidnapped sister from a dangerous cult on a remote island in 1905. Imagine hitting play on this because you see it stars Dan Stevens and Michael Sheen. Meanwhile, Apostle is straight from hell and has gruesome deaths, a disturbing creature reveal, and almost two hours of stress. I kept forgetting Thomas Richardson (Stevens) was looking for his sister in all of my discomfort. This is the most upsetting movie I have seen Stevens in (so far), and I lived my best life. The Ritual has some mighty horrific shoes to fill if it wants to rival this horrific gem on the actor’s resume. However, I am rooting for it because we need more exorcism movies that understand the assignment.
Cuckoo (dir. Tilman Singer)
Where You Can Watch: Hulu
A teen is forced to live with her father’s new family in a creepy resort in the German Alps. I heard this movie was weird and that Hunter Schafer was finally getting a lead role. So, it was a must-watch on last year’s SXSW bingo card. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover this would be the movie that would put Dan Stevens and his merry band of weird characters on my radar. Stevens plays Herr König, an eccentric villain who is almost impossible to look away from. Cuckoo is one of the most underrated movies of 2024 and is definitely my favorite Neon title that dropped last year. If Tilman Singer, Schafer, and Stevens continue working together to give us more weird, cool, and off-putting cinema, the world would begin to heal.
The Guest (dir. Adam Wingard)
Where You Can Watch: VOD
A family takes in a man claiming to be a soldier who served alongside their dead son. However, once he’s made his way into their lives, people begin dying. Maika Monroe and Dan Stevens are basically harbingers of twisted cinema. So, seeing them together does my weird little heart good. Stevens plays David, the mysterious man with a secret you could have never guessed in a hundred years. This role allows Stevens to deliver various kinds of chaos, and I loved watching it unfold. The script is written by Simon Barrett (You’re Next), so you know this psychological thriller is going to have a high body count. This is awesome because everyone on screen should be in danger if you really want to rattle your audience.
The Rental (dir. Dave Franco)
Where You Can Watch: AMC+
Two couples rent a vacation home that soon turns into a nightmare. I initially hit play on this title because I wanted to see what Alison Brie, Sheila Vand, and Jeremy Allen White were doing in the same horror movie. However, even before I knew Dan Stevens liked to be the problem, he sounded the alarm with the character Charlie. Charlie has brought shocking secrets and lies to this vacation. I was so caught up in his shenanigans that I almost forgot this was a horror movie and everyone was in danger. The choices he makes and how easily he betrays his loved ones make him unforgettable. The actual murderer had to work harder to get the audience’s attention. I would have followed the soap opera that is Charlie’s life for days. That is part of why Stevens is a standout in this little gem.
You can also catch Dan Stevens in some of his first television roles that were based on popular horror stories. We have all seen plenty of versions of Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Turn of the Screw, but we have not all seen them with Stevens bringing his energy to the table.
The Ritual is now in theaters.
Are you also enjoying watching Dan Stevens play weirdos across the genre? Then find me on Bluesky and tell me your favorite roles you have caught him in.
Categorized:Streaming Guides