Your darkest dream awaits you.|Oct. 11, 2017|Canada|94 Min.|TV-MA
Genre: Horror;Mystery;Thriller
Description: The Ritual (2017) is a gripping horror film that follows a group of five friends—Phil, Dom, Hutch, Luke, and Rob—who gather at a pub to plan a group holiday. While Rob suggests a hiking trip in Sweden, his idea is dismissed. Later, Luke and Rob leave to buy alcohol but stumble upon a robbery. Luke hides in fear as the thieves confront Rob, demanding his valuables. Unwilling to hand over his wedding ring, Rob is tragically killed while Luke remains unable to intervene.
Six months later, the remaining four friends embark on a hiking journey along Sweden’s Kungsleden trail in honor of Rob. After their first day, they set up a memorial for Rob with a photo, candles, and personal mementos. Each takes a drink from a flask, and Hutch pours the rest out as a tribute. The next morning, the group wakes to heavy rain and sets off again, only to discover the flask’s lid missing. Later, Dom injures his knee, prompting Hutch to suggest a shortcut through the forest to avoid further strain on Dom.
However, the forest proves to be anything but ordinary. The group encounters eerie phenomena, including a gutted elk hanging from trees and mysterious symbols carved into the bark. As night falls and a storm begins, they find shelter in an abandoned cabin. Inside, they discover strange necklaces with similar symbols and a disturbing statue of a human torso with antlers for hands and decomposed arms for feet.
The film delves into themes of guilt, survival, and the supernatural, making it a chilling and thought-provoking experience. The Ritual (2017) masterfully blends psychological horror with elements of folklore, keeping viewers on edge throughout its unsettling narrative.
Cast director: David Bruckner
Cast actor: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier, Sam Troughton, Paul Reid, Matthew Needham, Jacob James Beswick, Maria Erwolter, Hilary Reeves, Peter Liddell
Original name: The Ritual