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Review: David Bruckner’s ‘The Ritual’ is a Merciless Creature Feature

Published

6 years ago

April 13, 2018

“If a shortcut were a shortcut, they wouldn’t call it a shortcut, they’d call it a route” – Dom

The Ritual is David Bruckner’s seventh feature to his credit and fifth film in which he directed, adapted from the 2011 novel of the same name by Adam Nevill. If you’ve seen the film, read the excerpt below and you will note that the filmmakers didn’t stray far from the novel’s story and atmosphere.

Excerpt from the book:

“Something responsible for the bestial presence that follows their every step. And as the four friends stagger in the direction of salvation, they learn that death doesn’t come easy among these ancient trees…”

Film 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.”

I’ve watched The Ritual four times since it was released on Netflix and – in all honesty – I love this movie. To be fair, I have a strong affinity for creature features so maybe I’m a little biased. But… that being said, I found this particular addition to the sub-genre to be a cut above the rest.

What sets The Ritual apart:

First of all, Bruckner’s direction took a relatively simple concept – A group of friends lost in the woods find that isolation and exposure to the elements is the least of their problems, when they discover a superior being with nefarious intentions – and elevates it through his use of tracking shots and stunning cinematography.

You may be familiar with director David Bruckner from his work on the first segment from the original VHS anthology, Amateur Night. In Bruckner’s short, three college friends – one equipped with glasses which includes a camera – ditch their hotel for a night on the town in the hopes of bringing women back to their room to make an impromptu and secretive sex tape. They meet a woman named Lilly who turns out to be nothing short of terrifying, and their night takes an unexpected turn.

Bruckner’s short was so effective that in 2016 it was adapted into a feature film titled Siren, directed by Gregg Bishop. While The Ritual is dramatically different in tone, it’s clear that Bruckner is a name to watch out for.

The image below incorporates Bruckner’s specific style – at least in respect to The Ritual. He specializes in tracking shots of ominous locations in the wilderness that may or may not be hiding something (look closely at the image below… there’s a monster in there).

The Loneliness of the Dog Guides

There’s something about real-world locations in place of sets or studios that makes the horror so much more effective. As far as I can tell, the majority of The Ritual was shot on location in the Scandinavian wilderness.

If you remove the monster and the terror that comes from becoming lost, those woods are extremely creepy. This specific setting paired with an ominous score and the primeval and cosmic sound design of the titular monster creates a unique and crushing atmosphere.

What I found to be quite notable was the acting and story. It may sound generic, but the performances and dialogue felt so genuine that I wouldn’t be surprised if a vast majority of it was improved.

All of the characters are distinct and serve a necessary purpose. In the short on-screen time span there are specific character developments between the two primary characters, Luke and Dom. Both start out as pretty unlikable characters, but by the climax of the film they’re completely changed for the better due to their horrific experiences in the woods.

via horrorfreaknews

The Monster:

The entity described in the film is called a “Jötunn“, a bastard child of Loki, although the creature’s morphology is potentially more directly inspired by other Norse legends.

For instance, the creature’s unique and grotesque physiology sounds like the “Nuckelavee” which is a half-horse and half-human entity. In the image above, the creature clearly resembles a very large elk or moose, while the head appears to be made up of two fused human torsos. The “head” is submerged within the torso where only the eyes are visible.

The design is mesmerizing and haunting.

The Ritual can be streamed on Netflix, and I strongly recommend that anyone who loves horror and appreciates mythology should check it out.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

3 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

5 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.