The Ritual

Play trailer

The Ritual

2017

1h 34m

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Netflix

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Kristy Puchko

Pajiba

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

Feb 9, 2018

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

BigD J

This brilliant Swedish film is everything modern horror should be. Other than comedy, it pretty much has it all. Extremely atmospheric and an homage to an ancient supernatural demon and witchcraft. All this with what I believe is somewhat of an Evil Dead, “the woods are in control” twist. Excellent all around experience. Need more films like this.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/15/25

Full Review

hedy a

Very intresting movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

Full Review

Garrett B

It was not boring but probably wont watch again.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/07/25

Full Review

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

Full Review

Kalissa H

I was bored and ready for it to be over.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

David Bruckner

Director

Rafe Spall

Luke

Rob James-Collier

Hutch

Arsher Ali

Phil

Sam Troughton

Dom

Paul Reid

Robert

Death House

33%

38%

Death House

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Death House

I Remember You

89%

54%

I Remember You

Watchlist

Bloodlands

83%

%

Bloodlands

Watchlist

Villisca

14%

14%

Villisca

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Villisca

Darkness Rising

0%

37%

Darkness Rising

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Ritual: Trailer 1

2:23

View more videos

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now