Review of Rituals (1977) by Rylan S — 04 Jan 2007

A Deliverance rip off that almost worked because it creates the same feeling of desperation on the white waters but never achieves the same level of intelligence or personal tension (perhaps because once you've been on one of the most terrifying film river journeys it's hard to match or even come close).

Hal Holbrook does carry a fair amount of weight in Rituals (literally) though as a man who must maintain his humanity by refusing to be reduced to a survival savage by leaving his dead and crippled mates behind like his tormentor wants him to (even if it could cost him his own life in the process).

.Canadian made.