The Ritual

Gimly

2018-02-14

⭐ 7

I'm sorry, but who the fuck, with no promotional material, and with a name as generic as _The_ fuckin' _Ritual_, told this movie, it was allowed to be so good? _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._

Wuchak

2018-02-14

⭐ 7

RELEASED IN 2017 and directed by David Bruckner, "The Ritual" is a psychological adventure/horror about four British dudes in their 30s who embark on a hike in remote northern Sweden wherein it slowly becomes evident that some THING is stalking them in the dark woods. Will any of them make it out alive? This is basically a meshing of “The Blair Witch Project” (1999) and “Ogre” (2008), but without the tongue-in-cheekiness of the latter. There’s also a little bit of “The Wicker Man” (1973/2006). Like “Blair Witch” the foul-mouthed protagonists become increasingly horrified in the foreboding …

Walruse

2018-02-23

⭐ 4

The Ritual is a monster movie with psychological ambitions and seemingly a decent budget. The jötunn monster is actually quite good and so are the cyclic re-enactments of the early on liquor store trauma. Unfortunately the rest of the movie is as bland as the title and relies too much on exotism of the deep Swedish forests. Sadly even that component gets watered out and the endgame cultists seem to be some recycled wiccans from Scotland rather than pre-christians of northern Scandinavia.

David Bruckner's The Ritual is an atmospheric horror film that effectively combines psychological tension with a touch of the supernatural. The story follows four friends on a hiking trip in the Scandinavian wilderness, where they encounter not only the haunting landscape but also their own fears and regrets. What sets The Ritual apart is the authenticity of the characters and their relationships. The dialogue and interactions feel natural, and the bond between the friends comes across as genuine, with years of shared history subtly woven into their exchanges. This grounding in realism make…

Has a great first half but really lets itself down after the monster makes its first appearance. Still a solid horror, definitely worth a watch but nothing to cry about. The first house sequence was really well done and genuinely scary 3/5

Based on Adam Nevill’s novel, The Ritual follows four friends hiking Sweden’s Kungsleden trail who unknowingly enter the domain of a mythical jötunn creature named Moder. The film builds tension effectively through eerie atmosphere and gradual conflict, as strange events lead to a terrifying discovery. Though the horror setup and character development are strong, some action scenes and dialogue fall short. The mystery of the forest dwellers and ritualistic elements remain partly unexplained, leaving lingering questions. Still, it’s a chilling and worthwhile watch for fans of myth-based horror.…

Dr_Nostromo

2026-02-27

⭐ 6

64/100 After tragically losing a friend, 4 guys decide to go hiking in Northern Sweden. After entering a forest, in an attempt to find a shortcut, they find themselves having unexplained visions and being pursued by something malevolent and huge. Heard a lot of praise for this film so I probably went into it with my expectations to high. Struck me as a pretty run-of-the-mill "people being hunted by a monster" film with no real surprises although it's done quite effectively. The monster, however, was some of the most grotesque nightmare fuel I've seen in a while. Worth watching. -- DrNostrom…

Sierbahnn

2026-05-27

⭐ 7

British mundanity meets the horror The tension in this movie is lovely. The protagonists, all proper and rational British men, try to figure out what is going on and how they can be rid of it, while the horror closes in on all sides until it is far too late. The acting is solid, the movie is well shot and well directed, and has an amazing monster. I adore this take on a sort of cosmic horror that I am sure HPL would have approved of.