The Ritual: A Review

4th October, 2018.

I have to admit: that — yes — it’s another comparatively late night.

And yes: I’ve been trying to keep body and soul together with a movie or two.

After what seems like a very long day: a mixture of job hunting, wondering where cash will be coming from, doing laundry … 

Oh … 

And making an appointment.

For the boiler repair crew to visit me, tomorrow afternoon.

With, hopefully, the right parts.

I get paid, tomorrow.

So, sorting out bills, train tickets, shopping, stuff … ?

Is going to have to take less time than usual.

Purely so I can come back home … and hurry up and wait … 

Ahem!

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate … ?

I have time off from work.

Not something I’m happy about: and still something that’s inclining me to ask to be laid off … 

Once I know what my shifts are for the next week … 

Hmmm … 

That’s an issue for another time, maybe.

Tonight … ?

Tonight was time for another film.

One takes from my collection, in fact: as Justice League isn’t available for rental from iTunes, just yet.

Yes.

You’re right.

I watched the 2017, David Bruckner directed film, The Ritual, instead.

Hmmm … 

~≈§≈~

The Ritual opens in the local pub: as five old friends, Phil, Dom, Hutch, Luke, and Rob (Arsher Ali, Sam Troughton, Robert James-Collier, Rafe Spall and Paul Reid, respectively), meet to discuss a lads holiday.

Preferably — at least to Rob — hiking in Sweden.

Six months later?

And after Rob’s death in a hold up on the way home from that meeting?

Phil, Dom, Hutch and Luke have decided to honour Rob’s last wish and head north.

It’s only when Dom hurts his knee, hiking the King’s Trail, the friends decide they need a short cut.

A short cut … 

That isn’t quite as short as it things could be … 

It ends up … with the friends getting well and truly lost.

You’d not have guessed, now would you … ?

~≈§≈~

Now … 

There’s possibly a clique or two in The Ritual.

The deserted hut in the woods.

The extremely strange locals.

The hideous creature that remains unseen until near the end of the film*.

The traditionally downbeat ending that sees only one member of the group survive the ordeal.

But the whole lot’s done with a certain amount of flair and energy that kept me sat still for most of the evening.

Personally?

I know horror films aren’t for everyone … 

But, much like Byzantium The Ritual is worth your time.

The Ritual
★★★☆

*        It’s called a jötunn — pronounced YOU tun, if I’ve got it right — and is … actually, it’s one of the better executed movie monsters I’ve seen for a while.   The big reveal at the end?   Still keeps it half hidden: AND scary.