“The Ritual” is a British horror film based on the novel of the same name by Adam Nevill. Directed by David Bruckner and written by Joe Barton, the movie was released in 2017 and is currently streaming on Netflix.
The folk horror flick is set in the beautiful wildness of Northern Sweden. The story follows four friends who go on a hiking expedition to honor their recently murdered comrade. Lost, the gang is stalked by a brutal rustic monster that resides in the woods.
The best aspect of the film is the relationship the four men have with each other. It plays off as a legitimate group of lifelong mates, each with their own quirks and characteristics. All dialogue enhanced by British accents and slang of course.
The Squad
Phil (Arsher Ali) is the quiet one. Hutch (Robert James-Collier) is the cheeky alpha male. He’s the guy who all the women swoon over, and the one most capable of handling any situation. Dom (Sam Troughton) is the jumpy one. He’s the Prima donna who would gladly trade the beauty of the wilderness for the comforts of civilization. “You know they have walking tours in England? They’re called Pubs.” he says when dismissing the ruggedness of the trip.
The main character that we follow is Luke (Rafe Spall). Luke is the everyman of the four and carrying extreme baggage. We witness his trauma, but for the sake of the review, I won’t spoil it here. He’s flawed and realistic. Spall, like the others, is excellent in the performance.
The friends are hiking the Kungsleden (King’s Trail). The scenery is a breathtaking mixture of mountain peaks and colorful valleys. The film was shot on location in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. It’s a setting that can’t be beat, and a nice change from a haunted house or suburban street.
Solid Filmmaking
David Bruckner was doubtless influenced by films such as The Blair Witch Project and Deliverance. Hutch even references the Appalachian Trail when comparing it to the Kungsleden. “It’s more history than hillbillies” he jokes. Extreme closeups of the characters lend a credible degree of intimacy. We feel like we know and like all of the men, a facet often not shared with other horror film fodder. At 94 minutes, it’s a perfect length.
While I loved the first two acts, including the friends stumbling across a derelict cabin the woods, the finale includes the discovery of a cult. I would have preferred the terror remain at the behest of the monster, which is a cool looking one). But I’m never a fan of cult stuff.
“The Ritual” is a good movie. There’s the potential for deep character analysis for those that like to dive into their films. There’s also straight up scares for the more casual of fans. We’re 334 days from October. This is a great close to the horror season.
