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 the chapter series produced by the band. It was first teased with a video on April 4, 2024^[1] with the subsequent trailer,^[2] soundtrack single,^[3] as well as a preview^[4] in the following months after.

Rite Here Rite Now was released in cinemas globally by Trafalgar on June 20 and 22, 2024. Later dates for June 21 and 23 were added. The film is available for purchase for CD, Blu-ray, and streaming.^[5] A soundtrack is available as well for purchase and streaming.

Plot[]

The film documents two Ghost shows performed during their 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 flash photography and/or recordings.

In addition to concert footage, Rite Here Rite Now contains a narrative story focused on Papa Emeritus IV's growing unease with what appears to be his impending demise. Throughout the film, Papa IV comes to terms with his apparent fate, receiving guidance and cryptic support from Papa Nihil and Sister Imperator behind stage during the concert. At the end of the film, it is revealed that Papa Nihil and Sister Imperator are his true parents (after lots of insinuations) while Papa Emeritus IV is promoted to "Frater Imperator" after Sister dies, with her becoming a ghost like Nihil. It is also heavily implied (although not outright confirmed) that Papa Emeritus IV has a twin brother, which is speculated amongst fans as to be Papa Emeritus V. In the end credits scene, it is shown that only people directly with the Clergy are able to see the ghost-like characters as Frater, Sister, and Nihil await the newest frontman for Ghost. This end credit scene connects to "Chapter 18: What A Fiasco!" within Ghost's YouTube webisode series.

With a majority of the movie being concert, there were many snippets throughout that were significant/special as well as "behind stage" during the times Papa Emeritus IV was away. In chronological order are the events:

During the song Kaisarion while the Nameless Ghouls did the guitar solo, Papa Emeritus IV goes behind stage to check himself in the mirror.
After Spillways into Cirice, Papa changes into his winged outfit for the song. He has a little discourse between his mother Sister Imperator.
After Cirice into Absolution, Papa removes his winged outfit and has whipped cream while Ashley McBride cleans him up.
Ashley dresses Papa in his robes (comically fastened) before Call Me Little Sunshine.
As Con Clavi Con Dio fades out, Papa struggles to change and get dress for Watcher In The Sky.
As the Nameless Ghouls finish out the song, Papa jumps into a box where Papa Nihil appears. After a previous discussion, he begs Papa to listen to his mother to continue the show and not worry about the future. Papa Nihil flatulates as Papa IV emerges from the box and goes onto a second stage for If You Have Ghosts, where he introduces the instrumental Ghoulettes.
After the song, Papa IV is assisted by Ashley to put on boxing robes and gloves. He punches high-fives into fans as he undresses backstage, seeing skeleton dancers prepare for Twenties while the instrumental Dominion plays. On stage, the skeleton dancers pick up Papa.
During Year Zero, pieces of the movie Haxan appear.
During Spöksonat, the camera fades and pans between Papa IV and Sister Imperator.
During Miasma, Papa Nihil has a discussion with Papa IV about the band. He instructs him to give the audience a "Grucifiction" to signify the end of his time. He tries to ease his worries about not being the frontman, telling him to be "right here right now" rather than struggle with the future. As Nihil is resurrected onto stage, Sister adds to his previous statements to solidify their intentions.
During Mary On A Cross, the music video is played while the live audio is played. It details on the love life of Nihil and Sister after the music video of Kiss the Go-Goat. Nihil comically chases Sister as they finally make love and Sister leaves, implying the making of Papa IV and his rumored twin.
After Mummy Dust, Papa IV speaks with the crowd where they "felt" the song. Kevin "Jesus" Kaufmann blows off the Mummy Bucks and confetti from stage as Ashley replaces his ruined shoes. He thanks all of the employees and other people (as well as the crowd) for making the show possible.
After Respite On The Spitalfields, he puts on his "after-show" jacket and tells the Nameless Ghouls the show is over. After giving in, he goes back out to the fans and changes into the "encore" jacket (same jacket) and performs Kiss the Go-Goat.
During Dance Macabre, the skeleton dancers reappear on stage.
At the end of the movie, The Future is a Foreign Land plays during the credits.

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.

Credits^[6] for the film's production are as follows:

Engineer - Hayden Scott and Matthew Kogle

Engineer [Front of House] - Dave Nutbrown

Engineer [Post-Production] - Hayden Scott

Masterer - Ted Jensen

Mixer - Rich Costey

Photography - Ryan Chang

Producer - Gene Walker

Rite Here Rite Now

Plot[]

Production[]

See also[]