Ils étaient cinq

Just caught this one on T.V. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. The low budget works in its favor. It really gives this movie a realistic feel. Excellent, naturalistic performances by Holbrook, Robin Gammell and (actor-producer) Lawrence Dane, as a bunch of rather ordinary guys caught in extraordinary circumstances. I particularly liked the fact that the killer's motivations are suggested, but never fully explained. The setting and cinematography, particularly during the night scenes, are pretty creepy. All in all, if you're a fan of subtle, realistic, quality horror, check this one out. Kind of surprised Ebert gave this a thumbs down. Seems like his kind of flick.

Note: First make-up credit for FX wiz Carl Fullerton (Friday the 13th parts 2 and 3)

Five doctor friends go hiking in the wilderness where they are stalked and terrorized by an unseen killer.

Rituals, also known as The Creeper, is a rather forgotten and underrated early slasher flick. While the premise may seem like the formula, stereotype backwoods killer story this film actually came along before the time of Friday the 13th and its countless followers. Rituals really owes its inspiration in part to Deliverance, but it is hardly the rip-off of that classic movie that some critics would have you think. It has a gritty, low budget atmosphere and some effectively nightmarish moments in its plot (head on a stick, anyone?). The film is also rather gruesome, particularly in the rare uncut version of the film. It has plenty of creepy mood to keep it from being the routine slasher outing.

However there are a few flaws. First, in all versions of the film that I've ever seen the lighting in the climax of the movie is so dim that it's difficult to understand what is happening. Second, the plot is very thinly written and the characters aren't sympathetic in the slightest. Also, the editing is very rough.

Never the less, the effective atmosphere and chills come to the rescue and save this woodsy slasher. Not bad, but best enjoyed by the dedicated horror fans.

** 1/2 out of ****

Often compared to John Boorman's "Deliverance" (1972), Peter Carter's "Rituals" (aka. "The Creeper") of 1977 is a creepy and effective Canadian 'backwoods' Horror film which isn't too well-known, but enjoys a certain cult-status among Horror fans. The comparisons with "Delicerance" are obvious: A bunch of civilized men take a trip into the wilderness in order to have an adventure in the beauty of nature, and have to experience unexpected terrors. In this case, five medical doctors take a trip to go hiking in a remote lakeside area in the deep Canadian woods, days' walks away from civilization. In the first night, their boots get stolen. From that time onward, the friends are getting stalked by a murderous phantom fiend...

The film was obviously shot on a modest budget, and is very well-made. The beautiful but inescapable Canadian wilderness is a perfect location for a backwoods horror film, and "Rituals" maintains a truly creepy and menacing atmosphere from the beginning to the end. None of the characters is really likable, which slightly lessens the suspense, as one isn't as scared for them. The characters are thereby those one would expect in such a film: There is the heroic tough guy (Hal Holbrook), the scumbag (Lawrence Dane), the wuss (Robin Gammell), the clown (Gary Reinecke). Personally, I always lament the lack of a woman character in a Horror film, as I find it a lot easier to be scared for a woman than for a man. However, I see the point, as a trip into the wilderness is something that a bunch of guys would do together. The somewhat gonzo-style cinematography in the wilderness sometimes increases the feeling of presence (and therefore the creepiness) and reminded me of the Italian Cannibal films (such as "Cannibal Holocaust") that were shot around the time and later. The score is very good and effective, and the moments of powerful Classical music fit the film very well. The violence is not overtly gory, but quite disturbing. Especially in its second half, the film gets creepy as hell. Overall, "Rituals" is highly recommendable, especially to my fellow fans of gritty low-budget 70s Horror.

I thought this was a very well-acted, believable and absorbing film. It's is a crime that there is not yet a DVD release of this title. It is very similar to DELIVERANCE in many respects, but with more of a horror-movie feel. Five doctors take their annual camping trip into the thick wilderness of "The Cauldron," a huge, basin-like spot in the forest which was formed, according to Native American legend, when the moon once bumped into the earth. Things go from bad to worse to horrifying for the doctors, as they're faced with a trip through hell brought upon by an unseen, unknown stalker. If you're a horror fan, this is a forgotten gem. Highly recommended for fans of backwoods slashers.

Terrifying and unsettling movie plenty of thrills , chills , lush outdoors and top-notch acting . Five doctors (Hal Holbrook, Lawrence Dane, Robin Gammell ..) set out in a camping trip across the Canadian wilderness which starts as a holiday but soon becomes a weekend of sheer terror . It suddenly becomes desperate when occurs a chain of nightmarish events . The four friends realize that something is very strange when someone leaves a decapitated deer head just outside their camp . Shortly after , their path is blocked by someone who doesn't wishes to see them leave the woods alive and subsequently taking place a string of weird happenings . They'll never forget into the risked back-country filled with rare and violent hillbillies . If you go down in the woods today, you're in for a big surprise. In A World Turned Suddenly Savage The Answers Have Become ... Brutally Simple! It's Too Late for Prayers . He Knows You're Out There ... It's too late for prayers. He's out there. Run...hide...it won't do any good. Start praying. The Creeper is coming.

Yet another low budget ¨Deliverance¨ rip-off , but this time the film results to be acceptable and decent enough . This good and interesting picture dealing with some companions going on vacation in the deep wilderness c, ontaining intrigue , action , violence , strong final confrontation and marvelous landscapes. This trilling film was based on an exciting screenplay Ian Sutherland . To minimize costs, the production wasn't insured and the actors did their own stunts , for instance, some actors actually climbed the mountans and risked landscapes in order to save costs . Very good cast giving nice acting , such as : the veteran and recently deceased Hal Holbrook, Robin Gammell and Lawrence Dane who produced as well.

Gorgeous cinematography by René Verzier, though a perfect remastering being really necessary . Well filmed on location in the following filming locations : Batchawana Bay, Ontario , Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada and studios : Cinespace Film , Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada . The motion picture was competently shot by Peter Carter . He was a craftsman filmmaker , making some passable films as ¨High-Ballin'¨ , ¨Klondike Fever or Adventures of Jack London¨ , ¨Highpoint¨ , but he moved to Television , where he developed most his career until his early death at 48 . As he made several telefilms as ¨The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog¨ , ¨The intruder within¨ , and TV episodes of popular Canadian series , such as : ¨Doctor Locke¨ , ¨The Swiss Family Robinson¨ , ¨The Collaborators¨ , ¨The Rowdyman¨ , ¨Shannon¨ , ¨Wojeck¨ , ¨A Man Called Intrepid , ¨McQueen¨ , ¨Corwin¨ , ¨Telescope¨, among others. Rating : 6.5/10 . Notable and better than average flick . Worthwhile watching .