The Ritual

The Signal director David Bruckner's deft adaptation of Adam Nevill's acclaimed novel is an effective serving of woodland terror laced with psychological depth and eerie creature-feature spectacle, and proves old-school horror can be upgraded in a chillingly relevant way. After the violent murder of their best friend, four mates go on a hike of remembrance in northern Sweden's mountain terrain. Taking an ill-advised shortcut through dense forest, they stumble on a derelict cabin where their pagan nightmares truly begin. Commandeering imagery from The Wicker Man, Troll Hunter and the Blair Witch franchise, Bruckner pulls off merciless tension between the well-played-out bickering to get up an uncommonly spooky head of scream. Conflicted Rafe Spall holds it all beautifully together as the flashback guilt over his friend's homicide transforms into courageous emotions ready to take on the supernatural evil stalking the gripping climax.