The Ritual (2017 film)

Last updated

The Ritual
The Ritual UK poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by David Bruckner
Screenplay by Joe Barton
Based on The Ritual
by Adam Nevill
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAndrew Shulkind
Edited byMark Towns
Music by Ben Lovett
Production
company
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 8 September 2017 (2017-09-08)(TIFF)
  • 13 October 2017 (2017-10-13)(United Kingdom)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.3–1.6 million [1] [2]

The Ritual is a 2017 British supernatural folk horror film directed by David Bruckner and written by Joe Barton. Based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Adam Nevill, the film stars Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier, and Sam Troughton as four friends on a hiking trip though a Swedish old-growth forest, where they encounter an ancient evil presence.

Contents

Following its world premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September, The Ritual was released by eOne in the United Kingdom on 13 October.

Plot

In a pub, five friends—Phil, Dom, Hutch, Luke, and Rob— discuss plans for a holiday. Rob suggests hiking in Sweden but gets rebuffed. Afterward, Luke and Rob leave to purchase alcohol but get involved in a robbery which soon turns violent. While Luke hides, the robbers harass and eventually kill Rob.

Six months later, the remaining four start a hiking trip along the Kungsleden in northern Sweden in memory of Rob. After Dom injures his knee, Hutch suggests cutting through the forest rather instead of following the marked trail. Upon entering the forest, the group comes across a gutted and hanged elk, and mysterious symbols carved in the trees.

At night, a torrential rainstorm forces them to take shelter in an abandoned cabin. They find necklaces bearing similar symbols and an effigy of a decapitated human torso made of twigs, with antlers for hands. During the night, Luke has a nightmare about the robbery. The next morning, they awake to find Luke's chest bleeding from puncture wounds and a naked Phil praying to the effigy. Disturbed, the group tries to leave the woods. While discerning their location, Luke spots a large figure amongst the trees, but Dom doubts him. In their ensuing argument, Dom calls Luke a coward for letting Rob die.

Later that night, the group is awakened by Phil's screams. Hutch is missing and his tent has partially collapsed. The remaining three search for him, but by dawn, they realize they are lost. Eventually, they find a gutted Hutch impaled on tree branches and give him an impromptu burial. Around sunset, Phil is attacked and dragged away by an unseen creature; Luke and Dom flee. They find a torch-lined path leading to a small settlement. Upon rushing into a cottage, they are knocked unconscious.

Luke and Dom awake to find themselves restrained in a basement. An elderly woman inspects Luke's chest wounds, revealing she bears a similar marking. Two men drag Dom upstairs and later return him, beaten and bruised, to the basement. Dom says he will be sacrificed to the creature and urges Luke to flee. Later, while Dom is tied up outside by the townsfolk, Luke begins freeing himself from the restraints. Amidst the ritual, Dom hallucinates his wife emerging from the forest, only to realize it is the creature as it picks him up and impales him on a nearby tree.

A young woman explains to Luke that the creature is a jötunn named "Moder." It is an ancient god-like entity and an offspring of Loki that grants the cult immortality in exchange for sacrifices. Luke is to either worship Moder or be sacrificed. After she leaves, Luke frees himself and ventures upstairs. Armed with a torch, Luke finds a congregation of mummified worshipers that begin to move and sets them alight, burning the cabin, and attracting Moder. Luke finds a hunting rifle and heads downstairs, killing a cult member and taking an axe. The enraged jötunn kills the young woman while Luke shoots at it and escapes.

Moder pursues Luke, crippling his mind with hallucinations of Rob's death before catching and forcing him to his knees. Luke refuses to submit, strikes it with the axe, then flees. Following hallucinatory signposts and rays of sunlight, he emerges in an open field. Unable to leave the forest, Moder angrily roars. Luke shouts back in triumph and heads towards a paved road.

Cast

Production

The film was shot on location in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. [3]

The film's score was composed by David Bruckner's long-time friend and frequent collaborator, Ben Lovett. Lovett also scored Bruckner's 2007 film The Signal and 2020's The Night House . [4]

Release

The Ritual premiered in September 2017 at the Toronto International Film Festival, where its international distribution rights were sold to Netflix for $4.75 million. [5] The film was theatrically released in the United Kingdom by eOne Films on 13 October 2017 and grossed over $1 million during its run. [1] It was later released to Netflix on 9 February 2018. [6]

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 74% based on 96 reviews, and an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's critical consensus states: "Director David Bruckner makes evocative use of the Scandinavian setting and a dedicated cast to deliver a handsome — if familiar — horror story." [7] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 57 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [8] Katie Walsh of the Los Angeles Times praised the film and said that it was "Efficient and highly effective in its style, relying on sound, creepy production design, and the men's own fear and misjudgments to create the sense of pervasive doom." [9] RogerEbert.com writer Simon Abrams scored the film a 2/4, saying "The most disappointing kind of bad horror movie: the kind that's too smart to be this dumb." [10] Kyle Kohner of The Playlist gave the film a negative review, saying "David Bruckner had all the ingredients for a horror masterpiece - deceptively scenic wilderness shots, great character camaraderie, dreadful atmosphere/setting- but The Ritual winds up a missed opportunity." [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bordello of Blood</i> 1996 American horror comedy film

Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood is a 1996 American horror comedy film directed by Gilbert Adler, from a screenplay by Adler and A.L. Katz, and a story by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis. Dennis Miller stars as Rafe Guttman, a private investigator hired by Katherine Verdoux to investigate the disappearance of her brother Caleb which leads him to a bordello run by Lilith.

<i>The Gorgon</i> 1964 film

The Gorgon is a 1964 British horror film directed by Terence Fisher for Hammer Films. It stars Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Richard Pasco and Barbara Shelley.

<i>The Unholy</i> (1988 film) 1988 American film

The Unholy is a 1988 American horror film directed by Camilo Vila and starring Ben Cross, Ned Beatty, Hal Holbrook, and Trevor Howard in his final role. The film follows a Roman Catholic priest in New Orleans who finds himself battling a demonic force after being appointed to a new parish.

<i>Wake Wood</i> 2011 film

Wake Wood is a 2009 Irish supernatural horror film directed by David Keating and starring Timothy Spall, Eva Birthistle, Ella Connolly and Aidan Gillen. An international co-production between Ireland and the United Kingdom by Hammer Film Productions, the film is set in Donegal, Ireland. The story revolves around a grieving couple, Patrick and Louise, who move to a rural village after the tragic death of their daughter, Alice. They encounter strange rituals led by Arthur, a veterinary colleague, that can bring the dead back to life for three days.

<i>Before I Wake</i> (2016 film) 2016 film by Mike Flanagan

Before I Wake is a 2016 American dark fantasy horror film directed and edited by Mike Flanagan and co-written by Flanagan and Jeff Howard. The film stars Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay, Annabeth Gish, Topher Bousquet and Dash Mihok. Before I Wake premiered at Fantasia on July 31, 2016, and Netflix released it in the United States on January 5, 2018. The film grossed over $4.9 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics.

<i>V/H/S: Viral</i> 2014 American found footage horror anthology film

V/H/S: Viral is a 2014 American found footage horror anthology film produced by Bloody Disgusting. The third installment in the V/H/S franchise, created by Brad Miska, features a series of found footage shorts written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, Marcel Sarmiento, Gregg Bishop, Justin Benson and Aaron Scott Moorhead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Bruckner</span> American film director

David Bruckner is an American film director. With Jacob Gentry and Dan Bush, he co-wrote and co-directed the 2007 horror film The Signal. Bruckner also co-wrote and directed the "Amateur Night" segment of the 2012 horror anthology film V/H/S, as well as directed the 2017 film The Ritual and the 2020 film The Night House.

<i>The Ritual</i> (novel) 2011 horror novel by Adam Nevill

The Ritual is a 2011 British horror novel by Adam Nevill. The book was first released in the United Kingdom on 7 October 2011 through Pan Macmillan and was released in the United States on 14 February 2012 through Macmillan imprint St. Martin's Griffin. It is Nevill's third published novel and was followed by his 2012 work Last Days. The Ritual is the winner of the 2012 August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel.

White Christmas (<i>Black Mirror</i>) Episode of Black Mirror

"White Christmas" is a 2014 Christmas special of the British science fiction anthology series Black Mirror. It was written by series creator and showrunner Charlie Brooker and directed by Carl Tibbetts, first airing on Channel 4 on 16 December 2014. Agreed as a one-off special after Channel 4 rejected potential series three scripts, the episode was the last to air before the programme moved to the streaming platform Netflix.

<i>Snow Beast</i> 2011 American film

Snow Beast is a 2011 horror film. It stars John Schneider, Jason London, Danielle Chuchran, Paul D. Hunt, and Kari Hawker.

<i>Southbound</i> (2015 film) 2015 horror anthology film

Southbound is a 2015 American horror anthology film directed by Radio Silence, Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, and Patrick Horvath. Produced by Brad Miska and Roxanne Benjamin, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2015, and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on February 5, 2016. The film was included on numerous Best Horror Films of 2016 lists including those by Rolling Stone, BuzzFeed and the Thrillist.

<i>The Wailing</i> (2016 film) 2016 South Korean film by Na Hong-jin

The Wailing is a 2016 South Korean horror film written and directed by Na Hong-jin and starring Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min and Chun Woo-hee. The film centers on a policeman who investigates a series of mysterious killings and illnesses in a remote Korean village called Gokseong in order to save his daughter. The film was both a commercial and critical success.

<i>Siren</i> (2016 film) 2016 American film

Siren is a 2016 American horror film directed by Gregg Bishop and written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. It is the first spin-off film in the V/H/S franchise and feature-length adaptation of "Amateur Night", David Bruckner's segment from the 2012 anthology horror film V/H/S. It was released on December 2, 2016 in theatres, on DVD on December 6, 2016 and on Netflix January 1, 2020. The film focuses on Jonah and his groomsmen the day before his wedding, as they embark on a wild night of partying and debauchery. The party, however, becomes a savage fight for survival when they unwittingly unleash a fabled predator upon the festivities.

<i>3 from Hell</i> 2019 American horror film

3 from Hell is a 2019 American horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Rob Zombie. It is the third and final installment in the Firefly trilogy, which began with House of 1000 Corpses (2003), and stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Richard Brake and Sid Haig. Ten years have passed since the events of The Devil's Rejects (2005). The plot follows an incarcerated Otis Driftwood and Baby Firefly being freed by Otis's half-brother, after barely surviving a police shootout a decade ago.

<i>The Silence</i> (2019 film) 2019 film

The Silence is a 2019 horror film directed by John R. Leonetti and starring Kiernan Shipka, Stanley Tucci, Miranda Otto, and John Corbett. The screenplay by Carey and Shane Van Dyke adapts the 2015 horror novel of the same name by Tim Lebbon. The film depicts a world under attack by creatures who hunt by sound. Shipka plays a deaf teenager who seeks shelter with her family, and a cult tries to take advantage of her fertility.

<i>The Night House</i> 2020 film directed by David Bruckner

The Night House is a 2020 supernatural psychological horror film directed by David Bruckner and written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. It stars Rebecca Hall as a widow who discovers a dark secret about the house her recently deceased architect husband built. Other cast members are Sarah Goldberg, Evan Jonigkeit, Stacy Martin, and Vondie Curtis-Hall.

<i>The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf</i> 2021 film by Kwang Il Han

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is an adult animated dark fantasy film for Netflix, produced by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, and starring Theo James, Lara Pulver, Graham McTavish, and Mary McDonnell. The film serves as a spin-off of the Netflix series The Witcher. It focuses on the origin story of Geralt's mentor and fellow witcher Vesemir. The film premiered on August 23, 2021.

<i>The Pale Blue Eye</i> 2022 American film directed by Scott Cooper

The Pale Blue Eye is a 2022 American mystery thriller film written and directed by Scott Cooper, adapted from the 2006 novel of the same name by Louis Bayard. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, Harry Lawtey, Simon McBurney, Timothy Spall, and Robert Duvall. Its plot follows veteran detective Augustus Landor in 1830 West Point, New York, as he investigates a series of murders at the United States Military Academy with the aid of Edgar Allan Poe, a young military cadet.

<i>No One Gets Out Alive</i> (film) 2021 film by Santiago Menghini

No One Gets Out Alive is a 2021 British horror film directed by Santiago Menghini from a screenplay by Jon Croker and Fernanda Coppel, based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Adam Nevill. It stars Cristina Rodlo and Marc Menchaca and was released on 29 September 2021 by Netflix.

<i>Hellraiser</i> (soundtrack) 2022 film score by Ben Lovett

Hellraiser is the soundtrack to the 2022 film Hellraiser directed by David Bruckner, the eleventh installment and a reboot of the Hellraiser franchise. The musical score is composed by Ben Lovett, who adapted traditional and heavy metal sounds to the score, while also providing homage to Christopher Young's themes from the original film. One of the cues from Lovett's score "Blood Box" debuted through streaming platforms on October 4, 2022, with the full album was released by Lakeshore Records on October 7. A vinyl edition of the soundtrack was released by Mondo on the same date. The music received critical acclaim.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Ritual (2017) – Financial Information". The Numbers . Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  2. "The Ritual". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  3. "Horror film the Ritual features Southwick actor".
  4. Reeves, Rachel (7 February 2020). "[Exclusive Interview] Composer Ben Lovett On THE NIGHT HOUSE, David Bruckner and His Deep Cut Connection to Alkaline Trio". Nightmare on Film Street. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  5. "Toronto: Horror Film 'The Ritual' Sells to Netflix for $4.75 Million (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  6. "THE RITUAL Heading to Netflix This February". Nightmare on Film Street. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. "The Ritual (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  8. "The Ritual Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  9. Walsh, Katie (8 February 2018). "Primal and visceral horror haunts 'The Ritual'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  10. Abrams, Simon. "The Ritual Movie Review & Film Summary (2018) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  11. "'The Ritual' Conjures Up Familiar, Forgettable Horror [Review]". The Playlist. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.