The Ritual

Overview

A group of college friends reunite for a trip to the forest, but encounter a menacing presence in the woods that's stalking them.

Rating

8 Reviews

• 

  Walruse

  4 Feb 23, 2018

  The Ritual is a monster movie with psychological ambitions and seemingly a decent budget. The jötunn monster is actually quite good and so are the cyclic re-enactments of the early on liquor store trauma. Unfortunately the rest of the movie is as bland as the title and relies too much on exotism of the deep Swedish forests. Sadly even that component gets watered out and the endgame cultists seem to be some recycled wiccans from Scotland rather than pre-christians of northern Scandinavia.

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  RalphRahal

  7 Dec 14, 2024

  David Bruckner's The Ritual is an atmospheric horror film that effectively combines psychological tension with a touch of the supernatural. The story follows four friends on a hiking trip in the Scandinavian wilderness, where they encounter not only the haunting landscape but also their own fears and regrets. What sets The Ritual apart is the authenticity of the characters and their relationships. The dialogue and interactions feel natural, and the bond between the friends comes across as genuine, with years of shared history subtly woven into their exchanges. This grounding in realism makes the escalating terror all the more impactful. The film takes its time building suspense, though some scenes linger longer than necessary, and certain dialogues feel repetitive. These moments, while noticeable, don’t detract significantly from the overall experience. The latter part of the movie veers into unexpected territory, delivering an unsettling and imaginative climax that feels fresh in a genre often bound by convention. Visually, the film is stunning, with the eerie forest serving as a character in its own right, amplifying the isolation and dread. The Ritual succeeds in blending human drama with horror, creating a story that's both haunting and deeply relatable. While not without minor flaws, it’s a compelling watch for fans of atmospheric and character-driven horror.

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  hand2a

  6 Jan 22, 2025

  Has a great first half but really lets itself down after the monster makes its first appearance. Still a solid horror, definitely worth a watch but nothing to cry about. The first house sequence was really well done and genuinely scary 3/5

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  Alunauwie

  7 Sep 30, 2025

  Based on Adam Nevill’s novel, The Ritual follows four friends hiking Sweden’s Kungsleden trail who unknowingly enter the domain of a mythical jötunn creature named Moder. The film builds tension effectively through eerie atmosphere and gradual conflict, as strange events lead to a terrifying discovery. Though the horror setup and character development are strong, some action scenes and dialogue fall short. The mystery of the forest dwellers and ritualistic elements remain partly unexplained, leaving lingering questions. Still, it’s a chilling and worthwhile watch for fans of myth-based horror. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)

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  Dr_Nostromo

  6 Feb 27, 2026

  64/100 After tragically losing a friend, 4 guys decide to go hiking in Northern Sweden. After entering a forest, in an attempt to find a shortcut, they find themselves having unexplained visions and being pursued by something malevolent and huge. Heard a lot of praise for this film so I probably went into it with my expectations to high. Struck me as a pretty run-of-the-mill "people being hunted by a monster" film with no real surprises although it's done quite effectively. The monster, however, was some of the most grotesque nightmare fuel I've seen in a while. Worth watching. -- DrNostromo.com

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  Sierbahnn

  7 May 27, 2026

  British mundanity meets the horror The tension in this movie is lovely. The protagonists, all proper and rational British men, try to figure out what is going on and how they can be rid of it, while the horror closes in on all sides until it is far too late. The acting is solid, the movie is well shot and well directed, and has an amazing monster. I adore this take on a sort of cosmic horror that I am sure HPL would have approved of.