In Rite of Way, written and directed by Riley Helm, a group of teachers gathers in a dimly lit classroom for an ancient ritual led by Principal Dan (Doug Simpson). The ceremony centers around a salad bowl — the sacred vessel of fate. Each teacher must draw from the bowl to determine who among them will be chosen as the sacrifice.
The newest teacher, Cherie (Tyra Morrison), arrives late, disrupting the ceremony with her casual attitude. Unlike her colleagues, she laughs off the bizarre ritual. When it’s her turn to draw from the bowl, fate selects her as the one to be sacrificed. Ain’t karma a bitch?
“When it’s her turn to draw from the bowl, fate selects her as the one to be sacrificed.”
Helm drew inspiration from the tension between institutional conformity and individual morality reflected in Cherie’s conflict with her fellow teachers. Here, teachers make life-altering decisions in an absurd yet deeply ingrained ritual because “that’s how it’s always been done.” The story’s unsettling blend of dark humor and ritualistic horror reflects Helm’s fascination with how people surrender reason for the sake of belonging, and what happens when one person dares to say no.
Questioning tradition is at the heart of Rite of Way. Though framed more as a comedic sketch than a ritualistic horror, the film still offers plenty of fun along the way. Helm shows excellent command of storytelling within the short comedy format, and Cherie’s fate is sealed with a touch of compassion from her friends.
"…offers plenty of fun..."
