FULL WATCHALONG ~ THE RITUAL

The Ritual (2017) is one of those rare modern horror films that actually gets it right—mature, moody, and emotionally grounded before it ever shows you a monster. And it’s extra special for us, because director David Bruckner and Kevin have been best friends since 6th grade, which meant we got to follow up our viewing with an interview that dug into all the eerie, behind-the-scenes details straight from the source.

The story follows a group of college friends reuniting for a hiking trip in the Swedish wilderness after a tragedy—basically a trip to the woods that turns into an existential breakdown. What makes The Ritual so effective is how human it is. These aren’t clueless victims; they’re grown men grappling with guilt, masculinity, and mortality, and the supernatural horror feels like an extension of that pain. It’s beautifully shot, too—those wide forest shots swallow you whole—and Bruckner’s use of sound design makes every creak and whisper feel alive.

By the time the group stumbles upon that nightmare of a creature, you’re already so invested that the folklore stuff just feels like the final layer of trauma. The design of the monster (which Bruckner revealed to us was heavily influenced by Nordic mythology and surreal body horror) is still one of the most unique things we’ve ever seen in modern horror—part elk, part god, part absolute nightmare fuel.

Talking to David after watching it was a blast. He shared that the forest sequences were shot in Romanian and Carpathian forests not Sweden, because of the terrain and lighting, and that a lot of the creature was achieved practically before digital work was layered in.

We both loved it—Tara was fully creeped out, Kevin was proud as hell, and honestly, The Ritual just proves what Kevin has known since 6th grade: David Bruckner knows how to get under your skin. It’s dark, smart, and scary as hell, and if you’re into elevated horror that doesn’t forget to actually be horror, this one’s essential.