Can a hiking trip through a Swedish forest turn into a fight for survival?
In short: Four friends venture into the Swedish wilderness to honor a fallen companion, only to find themselves stalked by an ancient, god-like entity. As they navigate the dense woods, they discover disturbing effigies and runic symbols, realizing too late that their shortcut has led them into a nightmare of ritual sacrifice.
Directed by David Bruckner and based on Adam Nevill's 2011 novel, The Ritual follows four men who decide to hike along the Kungsleden trail in northern Sweden. The journey is intended as a memorial for their friend Rob, who was killed during a robbery six months prior. Tensions rise when an injury forces the group to take a shortcut through an old-growth forest, where they encounter a series of unsettling omens, including a gutted moose and strange, carved symbols on the trees.
The group soon finds themselves trapped in a cycle of psychological and physical torment. After sheltering in an abandoned cabin, they discover effigies made of twigs and human remains, suggesting they are not alone. As members of the party are picked off one by one, it becomes clear that they have stumbled into the territory of Moder, a giant, moose-like jötunn. This entity, described as an offspring of Loki, demands sacrifices from a local cult in exchange for immortality, forcing the survivors to choose between worship or death.
While the film is set in Sweden, production actually took place in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. Upon its 2017 release, it received a mixed critical reception. Reviewers like Katie Walsh praised its effective use of atmosphere and sound design, while others, such as Simon Abrams, found the narrative execution disappointing. Despite varying opinions, the film remains a notable entry in the folk horror genre, blending the isolation of the wilderness with the weight of the characters' past guilt and misjudgments.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Ritual (2017 film)
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