Four friends embark on a hiking trip to Sweden, where circumstances impel them to take an ill-advised shortcut into a creepy forest. There's not much particularly original about what ensues but it's well-executed. The forest is foreboding and it becomes increasingly oppressive. The characters are relatable and they generally make understandable decisions under the circumstances. The group dynamic helps maintain the tension as fear, anger and desperation take hold. Things unravel a bit in the third act when the movie tries to provide explanations but it still delivers a reasonably satisfying finale.
Review of The Ritual
