Film Review: 'The Ritual' is a Creepy Walk Through the Woods

von Clayton Davis · 16.02.2018

As Netflix has moved into the original content game, they’ve also moved to acquire more genre films. Last weekend, they released a long-awaited adaptation of Adam Nevill’s “The Ritual,” a horror novel that followed four friends into the woods. The film is directed by David Bruckner, best known to horror fans as an anthology director in films such as “Southbound” or “The Signal” over the past few years. While Nevill’s directed strong segments of films in the past, his move feature length horror was a first. The result is a deeply disturbing film that will make you wary of your next camping trip.

“The Ritual” begins in a pub as five friends are trying to plan their yearly week away from the families. Rafe Spall leads the cast as Luke, the one friend in the group that seems unwilling to grow up. While the others have gone on to begin families and push themselves in life, Luke continues to drink and waste his way through life. However, after one of the friends is murdered in a liquor store hold up, Luke and his remaining friends travel into the woods to honor his memory.

The basic premise of the story is a simple one that helps us dive straight into the action. The best horror films try to show us worlds that are unfamiliar, and as such, are abnormal. In this case, our characters are just as lost as the audience, resulting in a disorienting trip through the woods. This is a big reason for the film’s success, more so than the monster or narrative that it follows. Shot in this style, Bruckner elevates the script and story through unsettling imagery that is truly the work of nightmares.

For the most part, “The Ritual” is a directorial achievement with a strong foundational performance from Spall. Spall anchors the film in an emotional journey, one where the character must confront their faults and negativity. Luke is a selfish man who has hurt his friends on many occasions. He’s also a broken person that is unsure what the next step in his life will be. It’s an emotional performance, and Spall does his best the give the audience a connection to the events of the film.

The film really excels in creating a creepy aesthetic that may leave some viewers unsettled. The film’s visual flair owes a lot to “The Blair Witch Project” as well as “The Witch” from 2015. There are stick totems, creepy cabins, and witchcraft cut into the trees. Each of our characters suffers from visions, leaving disturbed and unable to communicate. Some are dragged into the woods, only to be found mutilated later. The images are gross and disturbing, which helps build the suspense over the 1st half of the film.

However, there lies the problem with “The Ritual” in its execution. The first half of the film is excellent and a masterclass at setting the mood and stakes for the film. However, there’s a point where the film loses its momentum and struggles to regain it. Unfortunately, the monster itself is underwhelming, which does little to help these concerns. The character design is awkward and frankly underwhelms when we finally get a glimpse of it. The first character to go receives a worthy death, but subsequent deaths also underwhelm. The movie could likely have been cut down another ten minutes or so, which could really have helped with the momentum. Still, the conclusion is underwhelming, which ultimately stops it from being a top-tier horror film.

“The Ritual” is an above average film that ends up faltering in the homestretch. It’s close to being a very strong film but doesn’t quite live up to the first half. It’s a shame because if momentum had carried, the film could have been one of the creepier films in 2018. It’s still an above average horror film that doesn’t stick the landing. That said, it’s worth checking out for anyone who enjoys horror films.