Review of The Ritual (2017) by Garry A — 12 Feb 2018

The title of David Bruckner's film 'The Ritual' looms large over the entirety of his Netflix-funded debut feature. It opens on a reluctant 30-something's 'lads night out' with five long-time friends desperately attempting to cling onto the remnants of their youth, despite now having families and commitments. This allegorical 'ritual' ends in tragedy one night, which sets the path for the rest of the movie.

Locations then shift to the lush landscapes of Sweden, and in particular the Sarek national park, with it's dense, wooded forests serving as the setting for the remainder of the flick. The ritual then becomes more literal, as the friends' hiking expedition, takes a sinister turn, and they find themselves being hunted by a (largely) unseen presence.

Where the film shines, is in the writing. It's wonderfully paced, and the characters are expertly scribed, and very believable in their chemistry, aided by some superior acting from the assembled British cast. Considering it is a fledgling effort from the director, it is remarkably well shot too - the dense woods really allow for the tension to be ramped up, as the gang find themselves unable to see clearly what lies ahead of them, giving the film a sense of unease, as they become increasingly disoriented, all the while being stalked by an entity that could be literally just a few feet away at any time. The audio design is also superb - as anyone who has been alone in dense forestry can tell you, any twig snapping or distant animal sound can be terrifying, and it is unique that a film of this type relies on building an atmosphere in this way, rather than banking on jump-scares for effect.

Some very competent CGI towards the end, and exquisitely unique creature design, completes the technical side of things. They all combine to form a memorable horror film, that is well worth a watch, especially for fans of the genre.