The Ritual

So going off wandering might not always be the best idea. Especially if you have some baggage to carry (pun intended). And while we do get some flashbacks and some backstory to the characters and their motivation to go on that trip, some may feel like the rest of the story is detached from that. Don't get me wrong, it has quite a few moments, it is shocking and it is tension filled, which might make you sit at the edge of your seat.

There is also the moral question and the what would you have done (that's for the inciting incident, the one that is the reason for their predicament in the first place)? It is a tough question to answer for some, though even those who may say different might have acted exactly the same way. The ending is maybe a little bit of a let down, but technically this is sound to say the least ...

No spoilers in this review but having come away from watching this film, on my own at the local Empire Cinema on Friday 13th I would say this is a good horror film for those who are bored senseless by the endless tide of "jump scare but not scary really" horror films we have to endure these days.

This is a proper story with a proper start, middle and end.

At times unsettling, at times creepy, at times a bit distressing whilst always being restrained (its not an utter gore fest and the violence is all the more affecting for that) this is a decent film elevated by good characterisation and very good acting.

Whilst nothing utterly original is on offer here, it is a film that does what it says on the tin and it is all done well. Special mention to Rafe Spall who, just like his dad, Timothy, continues to be brilliant in everything he's in.

Solid 7/10 and one for fans of proper horror. It deserves to be seen at the cinema as well so I'd urge people to get to watch this.

Making effective use of its isolated setting to amp up its claustrophobic aura, The Ritual begins on a promising note, gets even better with a tense middle act but all the potential it had of finishing as a thrilling example of its genre is ultimately squandered by its underwhelming final act.

The story follows a group of four friends who embark on a hiking trip in Sweden to honour their recently deceased pal. Things take an unexpected turn when they decide to go off-trail by taking a shortcut and are lost in the woods. To make matter worse, they are being stalked by a menacing presence.

Directed by David Bruckner, the premise is set up rather quickly with a finely crafted prologue and once the characters go off-trail, the director expertly switches gears by smartly utilising the silence & mystery of the surroundings to ratchet up the tension while the excellent camerawork & brooding score only add to its foreboding aura.

The characters aren't fleshed enough to make us invest in their journey but their shared predicament is still relatable. The tension is nerve-wracking when it's done right but few creative choices don't work out in its favour. Performances aren't any impressive but the cast still manages to deliver enough with what they are given.

On an overall scale, The Ritual had the opportunity to secure its place amongst the better examples of indie horror in recent years and was on trail during the first hour but the last 30 minutes foil the overall journey, for it doesn't pack the same punch as what unfolded before. At its best when capitalising on our fear of the unknown, The Ritual finishes as just another middling entry in the horror genre.

The film is about a group of friends who go trekking in the Swedish forests to honour their dead friend's wish. I got enticed due to the trailer n the director's name was sufficient for me. Have enjoyed David Bruckners films. (The Signal 2007, Siren, Southbound). Saw this on a rented dvd. The film captured the eerie nature of the forest so well, it becomes the most important character in the film. The creepiness n sense of dread in the broad daylight n the surrealistic nightmare sequences in the nighttime added solid tensions. The dream sequences in the cabin was truly nightmarish. The suspense is maintained throughout. This film makes getting lost in the woods scary all over again. The woodlands are a sight to see and have a very alienating feel that tells you that you are never safe, no matter if its daylight or night.

As a film, I really enjoyed it. Kinda creepy, and it was well executed from cast to photo to everything.

Only thing i oppose, as a Swede, is the image of the Swedish woods as something scary. It really isn't, I'm sorry to say. I have spent a good many nights there in tents and cabins, and I am pretty well educated about the folklore. This one turns into something that is reall none-Scandinavian in terms of that. None of the "rituals" or creatures have nothing to do with actual lore. Sure, they speak about norse figures like the children of Loki, but that is just silly.

As a fright-flick, though, it is good.

And for you to know: We do have scary creatures in the woods. But we who live here know them, and they look like nothing as projected here. Come and see.