If you go down to the woods today, you're in for a big surprise...

Except it's not really a surprise anymore, is it? We've all seen The Blair Witch Project. And Evil Dead. And Cabin Fever. And - well, you get the idea. If you go down to the woods, you're in for some spooky murder. It's the rule.

So kudos to director David Bruckner for creating something that feels original, if not entirely successful, in The Ritual. Based on Adam Nevill's novel, this supernatural tale sees four thirty-somethings go on a hiking trip in a remote corner of Sweden. Though the men enjoy caustic banter, the trip isn't joyous, as the group have recently suffered a loss which has left Luke (Rafe Spall) tormented by guilt. When an injury and a storm force the men to cut through an eerie forest and spend a night in a cabin filled with unnerving pagan symbols and effigies, the men wake up disturbed, having experienced psychologically tormenting visions and inexplicable injuries. But their damaged, blokey relationships prevent them from talking about their fears. Real men don't believe in ghosts.

To their credit, Bruckner's direction and Andrew Shulkind's cinematography create some visually arresting images. However, as the story descends into darkly supernatural Nordic weirdness, The Ritual loses its edge in its CGI-heavy third act, which tries unsuccessfully to blend British indie and European folklore influences. But the exploration of toxic masculinity - combined with the unique visual style - make The Ritual interesting even as it stumbles, marking Bruckner out as one to watch

6/10
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