The Ritual (2017)

Director: David Bruckner

Starring: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier

A group of college friends reunite for a trip to the forest, but encounter a menacing presence in the woods that’s stalking them.

The film is often compared to ‘The Blair Witch Project’. Uhm, I agree only to a certain extent. Just because it is set in the woods and weird things start happening, does not  necessarily deem it a Blair Witch wannabe. This is not found footage, thank goodness! I’d much rather compare the film to ‘Dark was the night’, set in a forest.

Quite often characters take a shortcut for the fun of it or some other obscure silly reason. At least in this film they had a very good, acceptable reason for doing just that. The film became foreboding the second they set foot in the forest. It then grips you and never lets go. The film is believable thanks to simple settings and a good, believable cast. Rafe Spall in particular was exceptional, and deservedly won an award as Best Actor. Despite being creepy as hell and very compelling, the film also had depth and emotion and I really sympathized with Luke (Rafe Spall). This is a wonderful scenario where a personal dilemma affects judgement, and causes a lot more peril in the process. This was very believably done, and his dreams added to this testimony.

The visual effects were amazing. I feared the film would become a gore fest as it progressed, but thankfully it never did and was substituted by suspense instead. This was a seriously tense film that never allowed the nerves to calm. Great climax, too.

The film also won an award for Best Effects.