The best kinds of horror stories are the ones that make you question what's going on almost as much as the characters are. Psychological horror films are the most appealing to me because they offer an extra level of immersion that most other horror sub-genres don't. Sure, we can feel for someone's plight when they're trying to survive the zombie apocalypse, or when they're running for their lives from a masked giant wielding a machete, or even when they're forced to suffer through a gruesome test to learn a lesson and live to tell about it. Despite the intense and occasionally grotesque nature of these situations, none of them are as active or as engaging as the uncertainty of your own mind. Without spoiling anything, while The Ritual is really only about 85% psychological, it keeps every other aspect of itself within that realm, making everything all the more creepy and uncertain. A rare and incredible accomplishment in modern horror cinema. In an age where horror tends to get relegated to cheap jump scares and vapid characters, it's refreshing to see a recent horror film actually do it right.
Based on the book by Adam Nevill, the story follows a group of college friends on a camping/hiking trip on The King's Trail in the Swedish Mountains. Along the way, one of them twists his knee making walking possible but more difficult and painful. To reach their destination faster, they all decide to stray off the path and cut through the forest. Once inside, however, things get really, really scary. They find mysterious Nordic symbols at almost every turn, unusual noises from beyond the trees, and are having vivid nightmares. As they struggle to get out of the woods, who knows what may be awaiting them?
What makes this such a good horror film, at least to me, is how much it succeeds in keeping you guessing. The main character of the story is suffering from survivors guilt due to a traumatic event that happened before the camping trip. Because of this, his mind is already in a fragile state as he has not yet forgiven himself. This emotional issue, combined with the stress of getting lost in the woods and witnessing some horrific sights along the way, creates an unbalanced mindset for both the protagonist and the audience. As we are continually questioning everything that we see, as well as the credibility of the main character. This is what horror is genuinely about: taking advantage of the dual nature of people and putting it front and center.
What sells this movie for me is the cast. All of the actors are committed, entertaining, and sympathetic. Their chemistry makes the film robust and makes you feel for their plight. Once more, none of the characters act like idiots. Most of the time in movies like this, the plot is driven because one or two of the characters in the story make incredibly stupid choices that no person in their right mind would ever make, especially in the dire situation these characters find themselves in. These characters are scared, sure, but they make an effort to keep a level head to get out as quickly and as safely as possible. Adding yet another level of believability to the story that we don't see very often in modern horror films.
This is the kind of horror film that we need more of. It's well presented, it centers around a relatable aspect of human nature, and offers up a satisfying, suspenseful ride. If you have a Netflix account, you owe it to yourself to check this one out. Though be warned, it does contain some scenes of gore, albeit few and far in between.
Ladies & gentleman, I am TheNorm, thank you for reading.
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