Starring: Rafe Spall, Robert James-Collier, Arsher Ali, Sam Troughton, Paul Reid
Director: David Bruckner
Released: 13th October 2017
A group of five male friends, who all know eachother from college, are out in a pub, discussing a future group holiday. On their way home, two of them, Luke (Rafe Spall) and Robert (Paul Reid) call into a shop to get some more drink. Unbeknownst to them, a violent robbery is in the process of taking place. Luke hides but Rob ends up facing the robbers. Then because he refuses to part with his wedding ring, he is brutally murdered in cold blood. The scene cuts to six months later and the remaining four friends are hiking through Northern Sweden. One of them gets injured and suddenly tensions are running high. Everything seems to be against them; the terrain, weather, injuries etc and it’s not long before they stumble upon a deserted cabin, deep in the woods. Things soon begin to take a horrific and sinister turn. Can the friends get out of the woods alive or will hidden forces stand in their way?
‘The Ritual’ is based on a horror novel of the same name, by British author, Adam Nevill that was published back in 2011. The book won the 2012 August Derleth Award for Best Horror novel.
So, I’ll be totally honest and admit the fact that I am not really a fan of Horror movies in general. I guess I just don’t like the feeling of being scared witless in a darkened room. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading horror novels but I think it’s the whole visual side of things that I don’t really like.
I don’t know what it was about ‘The Ritual’ trailer that drew me in, but it looked like a really interesting story with a great cast. The tensions between the four friends are tangible pretty much throughout the whole movie. You’d even probably wonder if they were actually friends at all. There’s a bit of a ‘Wicker Man’ vibe going on with the film as well, and the whole mood is dark and brooding.
I was actually quite surprised that I managed to watch the whole movie all the way through. It was a bit gory in places but nothing too major.
If like me, you’re a bit of a wuss and don’t think your stomach will be able to sit through ‘The Ritual’, then I’d say, give it a go. It may very well surprise you!
Overall: 7/10
