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The Ritual

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The Ritual

2017

1h 34m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

94 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Reuniting after the tragic death of their friend, four college pals set out to hike through the Scandinavian wilderness. A wrong turn leads them into the mysterious forests of Norse legend, where an ancient evil exists and stalks them at every turn.

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Critics Consensus

Director David Bruckner makes evocative use of the Scandinavian setting and a dedicated cast to deliver a handsome -- if familiar -- horror story.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

This steely British import examines the cost of male-bonding rituals...it's nice to see a horror movie really go for it in the home stretch.

Jul 31, 2018

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Simon Abrams

RogerEbert.com

The most disappointing kind of bad horror movie: the kind that's too smart to be this dumb.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 9, 2018

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Kristy Puchko

Pajiba

There'll be blood, and fire, and guns, and an axe. But there won't be satisfaction.

Feb 9, 2018

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Brian Bisesi

Horror Movie Club Podcast

Realistic characters, excellent character design, and some horrific surprises combine to make The Ritual stand out as one of the better horror films of the 2010s.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 22, 2023

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Howard Gorman

NME (New Musical Express)

Giving the tried and tested Blair Witch formula a Hangover face lift - sans the comedy - The Ritual is a highly effective shocker.

Jun 10, 2021

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Nick Levine

NME (New Musical Express)

A workmanlike but watchable horror flick which provokes a few gasps without ever really raising your heart rate.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 29, 2021

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hedy a

Very intresting movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

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Garrett B

It was not boring but probably wont watch again.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/07/25

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Logan D

Six months after a shared tragedy, four friends go hiking in the mountains of Sweden and deal with horrors within and without. I love moral quandaries and the opening segment resulted in me proposing the situation to various friends. It's difficult to say how we would act in the face of a threat and we shouldn't judge the character's reactions too harshly. But those reactions do result in consequences they must engage. I loved the scenery though I wish it had been actually filmed in Sweden instead of Romania just to know what those forests actually look like. I found the film engaging due to strong characterization albeit in need of better editing and having some horror tropes. The design of the monster is excellent. Just so you know, the runes are accurate. An intelligent horror film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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Kalissa H

I was bored and ready for it to be over.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

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Paul E

The movie seems to setup an interesting premise with lots of opportunity then had a solid build up. Ultimately I was left very disappointed as the movie wallows in low level horror at the end and doesn't deliver on any of the promise setup at the start. If you're gonna end it that way just drop the mostly undeveloped characters into the woods without context because it's just a pointless tease.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/26/25

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علاء EL TARF 36 ح

"Those who rejected the title: Disappointment in the Swedish Forests: A Horror Film for Real Horror" "The Ritual" promises an enjoyable journey through the Swedish forests, but fails to deliver. The Mysterious Monster: The film leaves viewers wondering about the nature of the monster haunting the friends, but it offers no satisfying appeal. The director seems to resort to mystery to hide the special effects and fail to create a truly terrifying creature. Fake Psychological Horror: The film attempts to lean on psychological horror, but fails to create an atmosphere of genuine investigation. The events are tedious and boring, and the characters are unsympathetic. Disappointing Ending: The ending leaves viewers feeling frustrated and lost. Waste of Time: Overall, "The Ritual" is a waste of time and an internet sensation. It's a horror film, and thus a true horror film, with a boring story and unconvincing characters.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

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The Ritual: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Reuniting after the tragic death of their friend, four college pals set out to hike through the Scandinavian wilderness. A wrong turn leads them into the mysterious forests of Norse legend, where an ancient evil exists and stalks them at every turn.

Director: David Bruckner
Producer: Jonathan Cavendish, Richard Holmes, Andy Serkis
Screenwriter: Joe Barton
Production Co: Entertainment One
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 9, 2018
Runtime: 1h 34m

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