Rite Here Rite Now

Rite Here Rite Now is a 2024 American concert film directed by Tobias Forge and Alex Ross Perry. It features Swedish rock band Ghost performing at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, on the final two North American dates of their 2023 Re-Imperatour concert tour. The film includes a narrative story based on a web series produced by the band, which incorporates fictional characters and lore surrounding them.

Rite Here Rite Now was released in cinemas globally by Trafalgar Releasing on June 20 and 22, 2024.

Synopsis

The film documents two Ghost shows performed during their Re-Imperatour concert tour, which were held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, on September 11 and 12, 2023. Unlike other shows on the tour, a strict no-phone policy was implemented for attendees of the Kia Forum shows to prevent recordings and flash photography.

In addition to concert footage, Rite Here Rite Now is intercut with a narrative story based on fictional lore surrounding the band. Throughout the band's career, frontman Tobias Forge has performed under different fictional personas portrayed as popes belonging to and promoting a Satanic ministry; for Ghost's Re-Imperatour, Forge performed as "Papa Emeritus IV". In Rite Here Rite Now, Papa Emeritus IV repeatedly ventures backstage during the concert to visit his associate Sister Imperator, and to converse with the spirit of Papa Nihil, who is depicted as having served as Ghost's frontman in the 1960s. Sister Imperator and Papa Nihil are revealed to be the parents of Papa Emeritus IV. After the concert, Sister Imperator dies, and Papa Emeritus IV is promoted to the title of Frater Imperator, a role which sees him acting as an overseer for the ministry; he awaits a new heir to the papacy, who is unseen.

Cast and personnel

Production

Ghost frontman Tobias Forge stated that when the band signed with their label, Loma Vista Recordings, the CEO Tom Whalley asked what the story of the band was. Forge responded, "if he wanted a story, I could come up with one. This film is the fruit of that conversation."

Director Alex Ross Perry has stated that the inspirations for the film range from the Sex Pistols film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle to the work of Ralph Bakshi to Kiss's Alive II.

Director Perry and cinematographer/editor Robert Kolodny have worked on several Ghost releases, including the music video for the band's cover of the Genesis song "Jesus He Knows Me" as well as the mockumentary Metal Myths: Ghost Pt. 2.

Release

The film received a theatrical release on June 20, 2024, by Trafalgar Releasing. A single, "The Future Is a Foreign Land", which plays during the film's end credits, was released on June 21, 2024.

Reception

Catherine Bray of The Guardian gave the film a score of two out of five stars, calling it "a pretty tame film, which fits the band's goofy brand of soft metal"; she criticized the comedic backstage segments interspersed throughout the film, characterizing them as likely to only "presumably satisfy the [band's] faithful fanbase".

Jeff Podoshen of Metal Injection gave the film a score of ten out of ten, praising the setlist and writing: "Carefully curated crowd shots that show the sheer joy of the fans, and the up-close shots of the band make you feel like you're in the ritual yourself. Meshed with the crowded movie theater, with many folks wearing their Ghost Sunday best, creates a truly devotional experience." Metal Hammer's Merlin Alderslade gave the film five out of five stars, calling it "an instant classic and an absolute triumph".

References

External links

• Official website
• Rite Here Rite Now at IMDb