A Netflix Horror Movie Will Make Sure You Never Go Hiking Again
Planning that annual bonding trip with the lads? Maybe steer clear of the uncharted Scandinavian forests, unless you fancy meeting some truly unconventional woodland inhabitants. The Ritual unfolds the tale of four British friends who, in an act of remembrance for a recently deceased mate, decide to traverse through a scenic but remote Nordic forest.
The Ritual is a Netflix horror film about a friendly hiking outing gone terribly wrong
However, as shortcuts often do in horror flicks, their decision to cut through the woods goes horribly awry. The haunting atmosphere? Check. Unsettling noises? Check. A mysterious, ancient presence lurking? Big time check.
As the group ventures deeper, they confront not only the very real terrors of the forest but also the haunting specters of their personal pasts. Think of it as a therapeutic group session, but with far more at stake than hurt feelings.
Ah, the classic tale of “mates heading into the woods and things going sideways.” While many of us would argue that even without mysterious and eerie happenings, hiking deep in a forest could already qualify as a horror story (bug bites, anyone?), The Ritual takes it several notches higher.
Meet our group of four unsuspecting British pals, trying to bounce back from a tragedy. They decide to embark on a hiking trip in memory of their deceased friend. Opting for the beautiful and wild landscapes of Northern Europe seemed like an excellent idea, didn’t it?
Except, this isn’t your standard walk in the park. As they venture further, they stumble upon an abandoned cabin, which, pro tip: is never a good sign in any horror movie.
The group in The Ritual is stalked by a mysterious entity
Inside, they find some peculiar artifacts and symbols. “Oh, just some harmless Scandinavian folk art,” one might think. But it’s from here that things spiral quickly.
They become stalked by a mysterious entity and, as they trudge deeper into the woods, their bonds of friendship are tested, not just by the external force but by the shadows of their own pasts. Nightmares become real, and reality becomes a nightmare.
But The Ritual isn’t just a creature-feature. It delves deep into the psyche, serving up a delectable plate of psychological horror mixed with creature dread. It’s a two-for-one horror special! Facing your inner demons is daunting, but what if there’s a real, much larger demon chasing you through the woods at the same time? Talk about multitasking!
The Ritual Is Another Hiking Gone Wrong Horror Movie
Hiking-gone-wrong films have always been a unique niche in the horror genre, often blending human nature’s raw elements with the wild unpredictability of the outdoors. The Ritual, in essence, belongs to the same harrowing club as the iconic Blair Witch Project.
In both films, the forest serves not just as a backdrop, but as a character in its own right, vast, unyielding, and full of secrets. The two share an eerie sense of isolation and paranoia. In Blair Witch, we’re given handheld cameras, stick figures, and that oh-so-unsettling final scene.
In The Ritual, the eeriness manifests in ancient symbols and that looming presence that’s never quite revealed till the end.
However, whereas Blair Witch leans heavily on psychological terror, The Ritual offers both psychological and tangible threats. And speaking of tangible threats, it’s hard not to tip our hats to the chilling classic, Deliverance.
While it may not involve malevolent forest entities, the movie’s disturbing “squeal like a pig” scene and the lurking danger of rural hostility make hiking and canoeing in the backwoods of America seem like the worst vacation idea ever.
All three films serve as potent reminders that sometimes the most horrifying monsters aren’t the ones hiding in the woods, but the ones within us, our memories, and our shared histories.
If you’re planning a hiking trip anytime soon, maybe hold off on watching The Ritual – unless, of course, you enjoy having second thoughts about every rustle in the bushes. But if you’re nestled safely on your couch and are in the mood for a chilling forest-based horror that carries the echoes of classics like Blair Witch and Deliverance, then dive right in. Just remember to keep the lights on and maybe… reconsider that camping trip. Happy streaming!
