The Ritual (2017)
is a British horror film directed by David Bruckner, based on Adam Nevill’s novel of the same name. The film follows a group of four friends—Luke (Rafe Spall), Phil (Arsher Ali), Dom (Sam Troughton), and Hutch (Robert James-Collier)—who reunite for a hiking trip in the remote wilderness of northern Sweden to honor their friend Rob, who was tragically killed during a robbery. The group chooses a scenic route through a dense forest, but when Dom injures his knee, they decide to take a shortcut through the woods—a decision that leads them into a nightmarish ordeal.
As they venture deeper into the forest, strange and terrifying events begin to unfold. They discover eerie symbols carved into trees, an abandoned cabin filled with disturbing pagan artifacts, and experience horrifying visions of their own guilt and trauma. The woods themselves seem alive with a dark, malevolent presence.
The group soon realizes they are being stalked by an ancient, supernatural entity tied to Norse mythology—a terrifying creature that preys on their fears and weaknesses. As the friends are hunted down one by one, the tension escalates, forcing Luke to confront not only the creature but also the guilt and trauma of his past.
**The Ritual** is praised for its chilling atmosphere, psychological horror, and the effective use of the isolated, foreboding forest as a setting. The film blends elements of folk horror with themes of guilt, grief, and survival, creating a tense, suspenseful narrative that keeps audiences on edge until the final moments. The monster design, inspired by Norse mythology, is particularly memorable and adds a unique layer to the horror experience.
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