Review of Rituals (1977) by Kim D — 30 Dec 2008
Unjustly forgotten, Rituals is a remarkably mature piece of late 70's backwoods horror in the vein of Deliverance. It is very much a character-driven piece, and the compassion and mettle of five doctors is tested when a mysterious stalker derails their trip. Suspenseful, bleak, and at times brutal, Rituals boasts good performances and grand, sweeping visuals. The final revelation of the stalker is quite satisfying.
Ahead of its time: One of the main characters is gay. His sexuality is not used for shock value, but functions merely as part of a description of him as a person. A person that is tolerated and respected by his straight male companions, no less.
Beware: Rituals is very hard to find, and at this time, there is no good transfer available. If you get a copy, be prepared for a bumpy ride with muffled sound and a scratched up picture. This movie definitely deserves a much better release than the ones available.
This review of Rituals (1977) was written by Kim D on 30 Dec 2008.
Rituals has generally received mixed reviews.
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