Hal Holbrook and four other doctors take their yearly vacation off in the deepest woods for uninterrupted fishing and camping. Once there strange occurrences begin to happen. All their boots are stolen. A deer is slaughtered and strung up with a snake crawling down its leg like a caduces. Someone is out there and someone knows these guys are doctors. Well, differing personalities and breaking points get the better of the men. Doctors begin to die...usually through no fault but their own in the beginning. Later the few survivors are hunted and (some) killed prior to reaching the film's resolution. This film is a little diamond in the rough of bad, pointless horror films of the seventies. It has some truly inspired moments of terror. It also has some truly disturbing moments. The deer scene is one such scene, and another scene is where a head of a previous killed doc is mounted on a pole ala Macbeth to greet the surviving doctors after their sleep. The image is horrifying as is the realization that the lives of the living could have been had at any moment by the hunter. Director Peter Carter is good at keeping the pace of the film moving and tight. The editing is the biggest problem as needless cuts and cutaways seem to be all over the place. They may be cuts made for the video distribution way back on the Embassy label. What really separates this film from a mindless slasher film is the heavy use of characterization throughout the film. We just don't see nameless doctors killed, but they are real people with real problems. Each character can be described in more than just appearance. Holbrook gives a very credible performance as a man who has a strong ethical base. Lawrence Dane does a likewise job as a man with a low breaking point. All the acting was very credible. The ending of the film is somewhat slapdash and some things just dont fit perfectly, but budgetary constraints appear to have been at fault for this little Canadian production. Despite, as an earlier reviewer noted, Siskel and Ebert giving it two thumbs down, I enthusiastically recommend the film as an entertaining suspenseful horror film.
67 Reviews
Creepy Canadian Backwoods Horror
Witchfinder-General-66629 September 2010
Often compared to John Boorman's "Deliverance" (1972), Peter Carter's "Rituals" (aka. "The Creeper") of 1977 is a creepy and effective Canadian 'backwoods' Horror film which isn't too well-known, but enjoys a certain cult-status among Horror fans. The comparisons with "Delicerance" are obvious: A bunch of civilized men take a trip into the wilderness in order to have an adventure in the beauty of nature, and have to experience unexpected terrors. In this case, five medical doctors take a trip to go hiking in a remote lakeside area in the deep Canadian woods, days' walks away from civilization. In the first night, their boots get stolen. From that time onward, the friends are getting stalked by a murderous phantom fiend...
The film was obviously shot on a modest budget, and is very well-made. The beautiful but inescapable Canadian wilderness is a perfect location for a backwoods horror film, and "Rituals" maintains a truly creepy and menacing atmosphere from the beginning to the end. None of the characters is really likable, which slightly lessens the suspense, as one isn't as scared for them. The characters are thereby those one would expect in such a film: There is the heroic tough guy (Hal Holbrook), the scumbag (Lawrence Dane), the wuss (Robin Gammell), the clown (Gary Reinecke). Personally, I always lament the lack of a woman character in a Horror film, as I find it a lot easier to be scared for a woman than for a man. However, I see the point, as a trip into the wilderness is something that a bunch of guys would do together. The somewhat gonzo-style cinematography in the wilderness sometimes increases the feeling of presence (and therefore the creepiness) and reminded me of the Italian Cannibal films (such as "Cannibal Holocaust") that were shot around the time and later. The score is very good and effective, and the moments of powerful Classical music fit the film very well. The violence is not overtly gory, but quite disturbing. Especially in its second half, the film gets creepy as hell. Overall, "Rituals" is highly recommendable, especially to my fellow fans of gritty low-budget 70s Horror.
The film was obviously shot on a modest budget, and is very well-made. The beautiful but inescapable Canadian wilderness is a perfect location for a backwoods horror film, and "Rituals" maintains a truly creepy and menacing atmosphere from the beginning to the end. None of the characters is really likable, which slightly lessens the suspense, as one isn't as scared for them. The characters are thereby those one would expect in such a film: There is the heroic tough guy (Hal Holbrook), the scumbag (Lawrence Dane), the wuss (Robin Gammell), the clown (Gary Reinecke). Personally, I always lament the lack of a woman character in a Horror film, as I find it a lot easier to be scared for a woman than for a man. However, I see the point, as a trip into the wilderness is something that a bunch of guys would do together. The somewhat gonzo-style cinematography in the wilderness sometimes increases the feeling of presence (and therefore the creepiness) and reminded me of the Italian Cannibal films (such as "Cannibal Holocaust") that were shot around the time and later. The score is very good and effective, and the moments of powerful Classical music fit the film very well. The violence is not overtly gory, but quite disturbing. Especially in its second half, the film gets creepy as hell. Overall, "Rituals" is highly recommendable, especially to my fellow fans of gritty low-budget 70s Horror.
Not perfect, but still an effectively haunting backwoods thriller.
Nightman859 June 2008
Five doctor friends go hiking in the wilderness where they are stalked and terrorized by an unseen killer.
Rituals, also known as The Creeper, is a rather forgotten and underrated early slasher flick. While the premise may seem like the formula, stereotype backwoods killer story this film actually came along before the time of Friday the 13th and its countless followers. Rituals really owes its inspiration in part to Deliverance, but it is hardly the rip-off of that classic movie that some critics would have you think. It has a gritty, low budget atmosphere and some effectively nightmarish moments in its plot (head on a stick, anyone?). The film is also rather gruesome, particularly in the rare uncut version of the film. It has plenty of creepy mood to keep it from being the routine slasher outing.
However there are a few flaws. First, in all versions of the film that I've ever seen the lighting in the climax of the movie is so dim that it's difficult to understand what is happening. Second, the plot is very thinly written and the characters aren't sympathetic in the slightest. Also, the editing is very rough.
Never the less, the effective atmosphere and chills come to the rescue and save this woodsy slasher. Not bad, but best enjoyed by the dedicated horror fans.
** 1/2 out of ****
Rituals, also known as The Creeper, is a rather forgotten and underrated early slasher flick. While the premise may seem like the formula, stereotype backwoods killer story this film actually came along before the time of Friday the 13th and its countless followers. Rituals really owes its inspiration in part to Deliverance, but it is hardly the rip-off of that classic movie that some critics would have you think. It has a gritty, low budget atmosphere and some effectively nightmarish moments in its plot (head on a stick, anyone?). The film is also rather gruesome, particularly in the rare uncut version of the film. It has plenty of creepy mood to keep it from being the routine slasher outing.
However there are a few flaws. First, in all versions of the film that I've ever seen the lighting in the climax of the movie is so dim that it's difficult to understand what is happening. Second, the plot is very thinly written and the characters aren't sympathetic in the slightest. Also, the editing is very rough.
Never the less, the effective atmosphere and chills come to the rescue and save this woodsy slasher. Not bad, but best enjoyed by the dedicated horror fans.
** 1/2 out of ****
A very good, overlooked backwoods thriller
EyeAskance6 September 2003
Long before "The Blair Witch Project" became the official 'lost-in-the-woods-stalked-by-evil' movie, there was this poorly distributed low budget gem which deserves reevaluation and should be seen by any serious horror/thriller fan.
A buddy group of medical field professionals trek into the solitude of the forest for a relaxing fishing trip. On their first day out, their boots mysteriously turn up missing, marking the starting point of a tense and distressing game played against an unseen evil adversary. One by one, the men meet grisly fates, and a scattering of vague clues which may reveal the reason behind it all are left to be pondered.
A strong example of it's type which deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as DELIVERANCE.
8/10
A buddy group of medical field professionals trek into the solitude of the forest for a relaxing fishing trip. On their first day out, their boots mysteriously turn up missing, marking the starting point of a tense and distressing game played against an unseen evil adversary. One by one, the men meet grisly fates, and a scattering of vague clues which may reveal the reason behind it all are left to be pondered.
A strong example of it's type which deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as DELIVERANCE.
8/10
Surprisingly Good Film.
AaronCapenBanner31 August 2013
Hal Holbrook stars as one of five friends(all doctors) who are taking their usual outdoor vacation, only this year they fly into a secluded wilderness, where their rest is disrupted by a sinister and unseen figure who first steal their boots, then escalates things with terror then murder...
Well directed by Peter Carter in real Canadian locations, this film creates an effective atmosphere of suspense and fear, aided by a capable cast that really involve you in their plight, leading to a harrowing climax.
Best to see this on the restored DVD, which has the best picture quality possible, since the original negative was damaged, which makes the ending quite(literally) too dark. Otherwise, this is much more than just a "Deliverance" rip-off, which isn't a fair description.
Haunting final scene is memorable.
Well directed by Peter Carter in real Canadian locations, this film creates an effective atmosphere of suspense and fear, aided by a capable cast that really involve you in their plight, leading to a harrowing climax.
Best to see this on the restored DVD, which has the best picture quality possible, since the original negative was damaged, which makes the ending quite(literally) too dark. Otherwise, this is much more than just a "Deliverance" rip-off, which isn't a fair description.
Haunting final scene is memorable.
Canadian docs against redneck
BandSAboutMovies26 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
After seeing Joe Bob Briggs "How Rednecks Saved Hollywood," the entire B&S About Movies team mobilize and celebrated these films, from a Letterboxd list to making our own picks for top 70's good ol' boys movies. But to be honest, we watched so many of these movies, where would we find something new to answer the Scarecrow Challenge for one more day?
Canada, with your tax shelters and movies that are far north of odd, remains our constant bastion and perhaps place to run to after next November.
Director Peter Carter also made a movie called High-Ballin' and it wasn't a porno, instead a trucking film, so we need to respect the artist coming in.
Five doctors go on vacation deep in the Northern Ontario wilderness. Every year, one of them gets to pick where they go and this time, it's D.J. who gets to be travel agent. He takes the guys to the Cauldron of the Moon, which was a practical location that had been created by a fire a few years earlier.
According to the natives, this is where the earth collided with the moon and it hsould be a place of magic, but it's really just a place for the doctors to get drunk and argue about their lives, their ethics and, well, just argue.
As our guys wake up for another day of cutting up, they end up getting cut up in a much different way. That's because everyone's boots have been stolen. I guess these guys never listened to Iron Maiden or cowboy lore.
D.J. had said, time and again, being a backup pair of boots, and he ended up being the only one that did so. That means he has to go back alone through he dangerous woods and bring back four pairs of boots. As the guys wait for their friend, they're soon confronted by the carcass of a dead deer before they also discover a severed head. That's a real dead deer, by the way, in case you think the Italians are the only ones willing to sicken you with autentic snuffed out animals on celluloid.
Harry (Hal Holbrook) takes charge, but it seems as if the past - and all the mistakes with it - have come back to haunt the rest of the group.
While this movie was obviously inspired by Deliverance, it's also a proto-slasher, with a killer setting traps in the woods that predates the work of Cropsey, Madman Marz and Pamela Vorhees' little man.
Canada, with your tax shelters and movies that are far north of odd, remains our constant bastion and perhaps place to run to after next November.
Director Peter Carter also made a movie called High-Ballin' and it wasn't a porno, instead a trucking film, so we need to respect the artist coming in.
Five doctors go on vacation deep in the Northern Ontario wilderness. Every year, one of them gets to pick where they go and this time, it's D.J. who gets to be travel agent. He takes the guys to the Cauldron of the Moon, which was a practical location that had been created by a fire a few years earlier.
According to the natives, this is where the earth collided with the moon and it hsould be a place of magic, but it's really just a place for the doctors to get drunk and argue about their lives, their ethics and, well, just argue.
As our guys wake up for another day of cutting up, they end up getting cut up in a much different way. That's because everyone's boots have been stolen. I guess these guys never listened to Iron Maiden or cowboy lore.
D.J. had said, time and again, being a backup pair of boots, and he ended up being the only one that did so. That means he has to go back alone through he dangerous woods and bring back four pairs of boots. As the guys wait for their friend, they're soon confronted by the carcass of a dead deer before they also discover a severed head. That's a real dead deer, by the way, in case you think the Italians are the only ones willing to sicken you with autentic snuffed out animals on celluloid.
Harry (Hal Holbrook) takes charge, but it seems as if the past - and all the mistakes with it - have come back to haunt the rest of the group.
While this movie was obviously inspired by Deliverance, it's also a proto-slasher, with a killer setting traps in the woods that predates the work of Cropsey, Madman Marz and Pamela Vorhees' little man.
Little-known but disturbing
bwallace-220 March 1999
Warning: Spoilers
This film is not as well-known as it should be. It's not great, but it's well worth seeing if you are a fan of horror. A group of doctors out in the wilderness are the innocent targets of revenge by, ah, let's say an unnecessary surgical mistake. I found it more disturbing than frightening.
Lost, complaining, grown men in the wilderness
dracforever23 August 2019
That is all I was able to gleen from this movie. There were many knocking possibilities but absolutely none of them were answered. Too bad. Even Hal Holbrook couldn't pull this one out of the steaming heap. Perhaps all the money went to pay him, who knows. Maybe I missed the knot at the end which tied it all together; the copy I watched made a kinescope look like hi-def. Watch some other option from the "lost in the wild while running for your life" genre because this one will just drive you into the backwoods to escape its ineptitude.
A costly trip to the woods.
lost-in-limbo25 September 2008
After reading no less than positive thoughts (mainly by horror fans), in the back of my mind I was thinking that maybe I was setting myself up for a huge letdown after finally managing to get my hands on a copy (uncut too). Gladly to say it lived up to its reputation and I was thoroughly enthralled by the slow grinding, suspense-drilling minimal 70s survival horror set-up amongst the remote, vast Canadian deep mountainous backwoods.
Five doctors meet up every year, and this reunion they decide to go on a trek in a remote mountain terrain known by the local Indians as the Cauldron of the Moon. However they soon realise they're not alone, and find they'll being stalked and slowly picked off by someone who seems to hold a grudge of some sort.
What I found that separated this from most backwoods survival horror (and it shares common ground with its blatant influencer 'Deliverance') is that the characters are given more emotional weight (as background mistakes and methodical differences arose from the unbearable stress) and in doing so makes their conflicts and petty bickering intensely raw and effective in the way they stretch their friendships. This is based more so on the inflicting psychological drama, than say just the nasty action (gore and violence is kept low-key, but there is still a dangerous air of sinisterness within). It's a fight for survival, reverting back to primal instincts isn't option at first, but eventually it succumbs to. Also lingering in the well-written script is the focus of being frightened by the unknown and paralysed by abandonment. Our deranged tormentor stays pretty much a shadow (we're give a brief story or explanation to why he's humiliating and torturing these doctors. Is it personal? Does someone know more than they let on? Or it is just in the wrong place at the wrong time) to only appear as an eerily ominous figure in the picturesque backdrop (that sets off some nerves), until the final closing frames we come face-to-face with the freak of nature. The material formed by Ian Sutherland is cerebral and emotionally guided, if a little grey.
Director Peter Carter efficiently constructs a productively tight pace and bleak atmospherics from the alienating locations. Distinctively skin crawling imagery can leave a haunting mark. Sure the low-budget showed up some niggles (jumpy editing and dark passages), but was neatly worked around it. The tension is gained more so from the authentic character interactions and attitudes that they battle to stay one step ahead. As it's just no the killer to worry about either, but the tearing harshness of Mother Nature. Being eaten alive by bugs. Rapid moving rivers. Unstable terrain and the beaming sun. And not to forget one another. The performances are tremendously towering and strongly delivered by a dependably competent cast. An anchor-like Hal Holbrook is demandingly sharp and Lawrence Dane is suitably good. Hagood Hardy's majestically shuddery music score had that organic sense surrounding it and fitted in perfectly. Rene Verzier's camera-work is top-rate as he sharply lenses the colourful backdrop, but also the impending intensity in the character's actions.
An excellently uneasy and captivating low-budget survival trek that keeps it all quite basic, but manages to also bring out the bitter blows when it counts.
Five doctors meet up every year, and this reunion they decide to go on a trek in a remote mountain terrain known by the local Indians as the Cauldron of the Moon. However they soon realise they're not alone, and find they'll being stalked and slowly picked off by someone who seems to hold a grudge of some sort.
What I found that separated this from most backwoods survival horror (and it shares common ground with its blatant influencer 'Deliverance') is that the characters are given more emotional weight (as background mistakes and methodical differences arose from the unbearable stress) and in doing so makes their conflicts and petty bickering intensely raw and effective in the way they stretch their friendships. This is based more so on the inflicting psychological drama, than say just the nasty action (gore and violence is kept low-key, but there is still a dangerous air of sinisterness within). It's a fight for survival, reverting back to primal instincts isn't option at first, but eventually it succumbs to. Also lingering in the well-written script is the focus of being frightened by the unknown and paralysed by abandonment. Our deranged tormentor stays pretty much a shadow (we're give a brief story or explanation to why he's humiliating and torturing these doctors. Is it personal? Does someone know more than they let on? Or it is just in the wrong place at the wrong time) to only appear as an eerily ominous figure in the picturesque backdrop (that sets off some nerves), until the final closing frames we come face-to-face with the freak of nature. The material formed by Ian Sutherland is cerebral and emotionally guided, if a little grey.
Director Peter Carter efficiently constructs a productively tight pace and bleak atmospherics from the alienating locations. Distinctively skin crawling imagery can leave a haunting mark. Sure the low-budget showed up some niggles (jumpy editing and dark passages), but was neatly worked around it. The tension is gained more so from the authentic character interactions and attitudes that they battle to stay one step ahead. As it's just no the killer to worry about either, but the tearing harshness of Mother Nature. Being eaten alive by bugs. Rapid moving rivers. Unstable terrain and the beaming sun. And not to forget one another. The performances are tremendously towering and strongly delivered by a dependably competent cast. An anchor-like Hal Holbrook is demandingly sharp and Lawrence Dane is suitably good. Hagood Hardy's majestically shuddery music score had that organic sense surrounding it and fitted in perfectly. Rene Verzier's camera-work is top-rate as he sharply lenses the colourful backdrop, but also the impending intensity in the character's actions.
An excellently uneasy and captivating low-budget survival trek that keeps it all quite basic, but manages to also bring out the bitter blows when it counts.
Disturbing and thrilling movie about a group of five rational and calm men suddenly desperate after some scary events
ma-cortes25 January 2022
Terrifying and unsettling movie plenty of thrills , chills , lush outdoors and top-notch acting . Five doctors (Hal Holbrook, Lawrence Dane, Robin Gammell ..) set out in a camping trip across the Canadian wilderness which starts as a holiday but soon becomes a weekend of sheer terror . It suddenly becomes desperate when occurs a chain of nightmarish events . The four friends realize that something is very strange when someone leaves a decapitated deer head just outside their camp . Shortly after , their path is blocked by someone who doesn't wishes to see them leave the woods alive and subsequently taking place a string of weird happenings . They'll never forget into the risked back-country filled with rare and violent hillbillies . If you go down in the woods today, you're in for a big surprise. In A World Turned Suddenly Savage The Answers Have Become ... Brutally Simple! It's Too Late for Prayers . He Knows You're Out There ... It's too late for prayers. He's out there. Run...hide...it won't do any good. Start praying. The Creeper is coming.
Yet another low budget ¨Deliverance¨ rip-off , but this time the film results to be acceptable and decent enough . This good and interesting picture dealing with some companions going on vacation in the deep wilderness c, ontaining intrigue , action , violence , strong final confrontation and marvelous landscapes. This trilling film was based on an exciting screenplay Ian Sutherland . To minimize costs, the production wasn't insured and the actors did their own stunts , for instance, some actors actually climbed the mountans and risked landscapes in order to save costs . Very good cast giving nice acting , such as : the veteran and recently deceased Hal Holbrook, Robin Gammell and Lawrence Dane who produced as well.
Gorgeous cinematography by René Verzier, though a perfect remastering being really necessary . Well filmed on location in the following filming locations : Batchawana Bay, Ontario , Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada and studios : Cinespace Film , Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada . The motion picture was competently shot by Peter Carter . He was a craftsman filmmaker , making some passable films as ¨High-Ballin'¨ , ¨Klondike Fever or Adventures of Jack London¨ , ¨Highpoint¨ , but he moved to Television , where he developed most his career until his early death at 48 . As he made several telefilms as ¨The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog¨ , ¨The intruder within¨ , and TV episodes of popular Canadian series , such as : ¨Doctor Locke¨ , ¨The Swiss Family Robinson¨ , ¨The Collaborators¨ , ¨The Rowdyman¨ , ¨Shannon¨ , ¨Wojeck¨ , ¨A Man Called Intrepid , ¨McQueen¨ , ¨Corwin¨ , ¨Telescope¨, among others. Rating : 6.5/10 . Notable and better than average flick . Worthwhile watching .
Yet another low budget ¨Deliverance¨ rip-off , but this time the film results to be acceptable and decent enough . This good and interesting picture dealing with some companions going on vacation in the deep wilderness c, ontaining intrigue , action , violence , strong final confrontation and marvelous landscapes. This trilling film was based on an exciting screenplay Ian Sutherland . To minimize costs, the production wasn't insured and the actors did their own stunts , for instance, some actors actually climbed the mountans and risked landscapes in order to save costs . Very good cast giving nice acting , such as : the veteran and recently deceased Hal Holbrook, Robin Gammell and Lawrence Dane who produced as well.
Gorgeous cinematography by René Verzier, though a perfect remastering being really necessary . Well filmed on location in the following filming locations : Batchawana Bay, Ontario , Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada and studios : Cinespace Film , Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada . The motion picture was competently shot by Peter Carter . He was a craftsman filmmaker , making some passable films as ¨High-Ballin'¨ , ¨Klondike Fever or Adventures of Jack London¨ , ¨Highpoint¨ , but he moved to Television , where he developed most his career until his early death at 48 . As he made several telefilms as ¨The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog¨ , ¨The intruder within¨ , and TV episodes of popular Canadian series , such as : ¨Doctor Locke¨ , ¨The Swiss Family Robinson¨ , ¨The Collaborators¨ , ¨The Rowdyman¨ , ¨Shannon¨ , ¨Wojeck¨ , ¨A Man Called Intrepid , ¨McQueen¨ , ¨Corwin¨ , ¨Telescope¨, among others. Rating : 6.5/10 . Notable and better than average flick . Worthwhile watching .
Nothing here.
bombersflyup7 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Rituals is a similar film to "Deliverance," but significantly worse.
The characters are mostly irritating and obnoxious and think very little of each other as well, which I assume is more than they would think of people that aren't their friends. The trap in the water's memorable, but other than that the film doesn't have much going for it.
The characters are mostly irritating and obnoxious and think very little of each other as well, which I assume is more than they would think of people that aren't their friends. The trap in the water's memorable, but other than that the film doesn't have much going for it.
Excellent war parable
udar5525 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Obviously modeled after the earlier hit DELIVERANCE (1972), the Canadian produced RITUALS manages to set itself apart and puts a unique twist on the blooming 70s backwoods slasher genre. Like the Boorman film, RITUALS showcases the clash between big city types and backwoods folk. But whereas DELIEVERANCE featured men coming together due to their horrific situation, RITUALS shows them falling apart. The characters in this film shatter the moment they fall into danger, arguing at every moment and even refusing to help their wounded brethren.
This realistic portrayal of trauma helps to lay on a much more literal war allegory (right down to the perverse reason for the murders). Director Peter Carter starts things off calm (albeit a bit slow) as the men are dropped off at their location but increases the intensity with each encounter with the killer (enemy). By the end of the film, sole survivor Hal Holbrook looks like he has been through a war (and oddly resembles Charlie Sheen at the end of PLATOON). Subtle hints are dropped throughout the film about the doctors' service time in Korea. As the eerie events begin happening, one doctor even theorizes that the group might be being stalked for one of their past medical transgressions. But, as the killer gets closer, he begins leaving clues in the form of medals and x-rays revealing he is a wounded World War II veteran looking to unleash his unrequited anger at the doctors who harmed him on this group of medical professionals.
Made in 1976, RITUALS beat most backwoods slashers to the punch, even though it did not see theatrical release for several years after completion. In fact, Jeff Lieberman's JUST BEFORE DAWN owes quite a bit to this film, playing almost like a remake of RITUALS right down to the twist of two brothers being in the woods (although only one is a killer here). For a film that debuted before the slasher craze, RITUALS is surprisingly violent in its last half hour. There are stabbings, burnings, shotgun blasts and a great shock involving a severed head. Two versions of RITUALS are floating around. One, released by Embassy in the US, is a cut down version that runs 89 minutes which obscures/cuts the violence and cursing. The uncut version running 100 minutes can be found on the Canadian label Astral Bellevue.
This realistic portrayal of trauma helps to lay on a much more literal war allegory (right down to the perverse reason for the murders). Director Peter Carter starts things off calm (albeit a bit slow) as the men are dropped off at their location but increases the intensity with each encounter with the killer (enemy). By the end of the film, sole survivor Hal Holbrook looks like he has been through a war (and oddly resembles Charlie Sheen at the end of PLATOON). Subtle hints are dropped throughout the film about the doctors' service time in Korea. As the eerie events begin happening, one doctor even theorizes that the group might be being stalked for one of their past medical transgressions. But, as the killer gets closer, he begins leaving clues in the form of medals and x-rays revealing he is a wounded World War II veteran looking to unleash his unrequited anger at the doctors who harmed him on this group of medical professionals.
Made in 1976, RITUALS beat most backwoods slashers to the punch, even though it did not see theatrical release for several years after completion. In fact, Jeff Lieberman's JUST BEFORE DAWN owes quite a bit to this film, playing almost like a remake of RITUALS right down to the twist of two brothers being in the woods (although only one is a killer here). For a film that debuted before the slasher craze, RITUALS is surprisingly violent in its last half hour. There are stabbings, burnings, shotgun blasts and a great shock involving a severed head. Two versions of RITUALS are floating around. One, released by Embassy in the US, is a cut down version that runs 89 minutes which obscures/cuts the violence and cursing. The uncut version running 100 minutes can be found on the Canadian label Astral Bellevue.
The Missing Link Between Deliverance and the Blair Witch Project!!!
videokillerprods8 May 2005
When "Blair Witch" broke big, it's makers named 70's movies like "The Legend of Boggy Creek" among their influences. "Rituals" had to be another influence!!! Not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but boy is it a trashy hoot! My favorite scene? Our protagonists cross a river shoeless (after their footwear's been swiped by an unseen stalker in the woods), unaware the river's bottom has been rigged with bear traps!!! An old friend recommended it to me, it scared the hell out of him on late night TV as a kid. I was lucky enough to find the uncut Canadian version in a bargain bin... Hal Holbrook gives an intense, convincing performance (especially towards the climax) in an otherwise very awkwardly made, awkwardly acted "Deliverance" rip-off. These "awkward" qualities actually enhance the film's creepy atmosphere, much like another old trash favorite of mine, "Don't Look in the Basement." I agree 100% with the other posters here - get this movie UNCUT onto DVD ASAP SVP!!!!
Hal vs. Hick
cwbellor27 December 2022
In his later years, Hal Holbrook had a charming teddybear quality. In his Oscar nominated performance in Into the Wild (2007), his character showed a sincerity that was touching as well as damn-near heartbreaking. That was my introduction to the actor, so to see him in a movie this wild and gritty was notable. We even get to see him in his tighty whites. But don't worry. It's very brief.
Hal and his buddies play urban doctors who wanna get in touch with their rugged side. The cinqos amigos wade thru water, whack through the bush and suspiciously find their boots stolen hundreds of miles from civilization. Could it be that they're being stalked and robbed or did their sex doll come alive in the night and throw their footwear into the water? Yes, they bring a sex doll with them.
As the circumstances turn more dire and urgent, the friends contemplate out loud why their fates have taken a dive. This is when you come to realize that Rituals was meant to be more of a sophisticated film, despite how it may have been marketed at the time. It manages to avoid the over-the-top tropes of violence and gore that u see in other Hicksploitation features like Southern Comfort (1981) and Trapped (1982). It's not thriller escapism as much as it is survival realism. It's a more relatable adventure as the high-stress predicament turns tragic and even surreally comical in a disturbing way.
The film is flawed but it has its own identity. Even the sadism feels unique, which is no easy achievement. The slow burn quality is apparent as the unknown danger closes in. Unfortunately, the tension and animosity between the friends gets old very quick. When they argue over how to cross the river, you may be thinking, SHOW US THE MOUNTAINFOLK ALREADY! Mind you, that's when the anxiety hits a high note with a particularly wince-inducing riverbed surprise. It's as if the film knows that your attention may be waning.
Ultimately, this movie cannot be written off as a pale imitation of Deliverance.
Hal and his buddies play urban doctors who wanna get in touch with their rugged side. The cinqos amigos wade thru water, whack through the bush and suspiciously find their boots stolen hundreds of miles from civilization. Could it be that they're being stalked and robbed or did their sex doll come alive in the night and throw their footwear into the water? Yes, they bring a sex doll with them.
As the circumstances turn more dire and urgent, the friends contemplate out loud why their fates have taken a dive. This is when you come to realize that Rituals was meant to be more of a sophisticated film, despite how it may have been marketed at the time. It manages to avoid the over-the-top tropes of violence and gore that u see in other Hicksploitation features like Southern Comfort (1981) and Trapped (1982). It's not thriller escapism as much as it is survival realism. It's a more relatable adventure as the high-stress predicament turns tragic and even surreally comical in a disturbing way.
The film is flawed but it has its own identity. Even the sadism feels unique, which is no easy achievement. The slow burn quality is apparent as the unknown danger closes in. Unfortunately, the tension and animosity between the friends gets old very quick. When they argue over how to cross the river, you may be thinking, SHOW US THE MOUNTAINFOLK ALREADY! Mind you, that's when the anxiety hits a high note with a particularly wince-inducing riverbed surprise. It's as if the film knows that your attention may be waning.
Ultimately, this movie cannot be written off as a pale imitation of Deliverance.
Great deep-woods stalker film
neverweber16 June 2004
I thought this was a very well-acted, believable and absorbing film. It's is a crime that there is not yet a DVD release of this title. It is very similar to DELIVERANCE in many respects, but with more of a horror-movie feel. Five doctors take their annual camping trip into the thick wilderness of "The Cauldron," a huge, basin-like spot in the forest which was formed, according to Native American legend, when the moon once bumped into the earth. Things go from bad to worse to horrifying for the doctors, as they're faced with a trip through hell brought upon by an unseen, unknown stalker. If you're a horror fan, this is a forgotten gem. Highly recommended for fans of backwoods slashers.
Deliverance
sol-10 July 2017
Frequently compared to 'Deliverance', this Canadian horror film likewise involves a group of adult friends who decide to spend the weekend camping in the wilderness with grisly results. The approach of 'Rituals' is noticeably different though in that the group find themselves teased by a sadistic stalker whose identity remains a mystery until the end. The men here are also doctors and less-than-honorable ones at that; their early conversations all revolve around malpractice and charging exorbitant fees, and when they realise that someone is out to get them, their first thought is that is must be a patient out for revenge. This guilty conscious theme is very interesting with the film almost existing as a manifestation of their deepest fears and paranoia. A further intriguing aspect is all the in-fighting that goes on between them, including how to carry one of their wounded friends on a makeshift stretcher; they almost seem done in by their inability to cooperate. Solid as the film might sound though, it builds up to a rather underwhelming final twenty minutes with the killer never really menacing or fascinating when revealed. By all accounts, the original script did not reveal the killer and it is easy to imagine that approach being more effective. The project could have also benefited from a more downbeat ending given all the guilt and paranoia motifs, but for the most part this is solid stuff.
Could be great with a good print.
sunznc5 July 2013
We found a DVD copy from Synergy and it is poor quality in most spots. However, there is no denying the tension in this film. The premise has been done better in Deliverance and a few others but this film does have a very bleak and hopeless atmosphere.
It's a familiar theme-five doctors go into the wilderness to camp and hike and are being hunted by someone. HIs first attack is subtle but very effective; he steals all of the men's boots. After that things quickly go downhill as the men are injured or worse.
The acting is good but the dialog isn't always great. The editing is poor and this almost seems as though it was transferred from a copy made specifically for television. At times the picture is too dark to see anything. Still, the film is tense and effective.
It's a familiar theme-five doctors go into the wilderness to camp and hike and are being hunted by someone. HIs first attack is subtle but very effective; he steals all of the men's boots. After that things quickly go downhill as the men are injured or worse.
The acting is good but the dialog isn't always great. The editing is poor and this almost seems as though it was transferred from a copy made specifically for television. At times the picture is too dark to see anything. Still, the film is tense and effective.
Above average horror fare packs a few shocks.
gridoon25 December 2002
The predicament of five doctors targeted by an unknown stalker while vacationing in Canadian mountains is gripping, and this unknown film, filmed on gorgeous natural locations, proves that you don't need expensive special effects to deliver shocking moments, just good camerawork and an emphasis on human reactions. The video version I saw was pretty speckly (but at least it ran 100 minutes, which means it was uncut), and the climax was too darkly filmed, making it hard to understand what was happening in the film's most crucial moments. Even under these circumstances, however, the cinematography had moments of breathtaking beauty; a remastered version would probably be dazzling, but it's not likely to come around in the next, say, 30 years, so if you run across this neglected little film, pick it up. (**1/2)
I hate every character, & hope they die...
vnssyndrome898 May 2022
....that's not a great feeling to have about your main characters. I'm half way through this turd, and I don't care about any of these spoiled rich people. The acting is good, which means I believe these guys are total weeds. I keep hoping the disfigured killer will come along and pull them, but I'm half done & I've seen almost nothing yet.
It's 'Deliverance,' meets 'Friday the 13th,' if Jason was not really interested in killing people.
It's 'Deliverance,' meets 'Friday the 13th,' if Jason was not really interested in killing people.
The best backwoods slasher ever made!
Maciste_Brother30 July 2003
Warning: Spoilers
I saw RITUALS on the big screen when I was a teenager and when the end credits rolled, I looked to my friend and said "NOW that was a great movie!" I was totally riveted from beginning to end. While watching it, my attention never veered away from the big screen. I didn't look at my watch or the exit sign. My thoughts didn't drift away in boredom like so many movies back then or even today. RITUALS was compelling viewing from the very first frame to the very last frame. I enjoyed RITUALS so much that it burgeoned a quasi-obsession in me: backwoods slashers. Ever since seeing RITUALS, I've tried to see every backwoods slasher ever made. And none of them come even close to recreating the realism and believability of RITUALS. JUST BEFORE DAWN, THE FINAL TERROR or THE BURNING, etc, are kids stuff compared to RITUALS.
It's amazing that such a great film is totally overlooked by almost everyone. RITUALS basically started the whole maniac-in-the-woods genre and yet few people have seen it. You think Friday THE 13TH started the whole woodsy slasher trend? Well, RITUALS was made 3 years before Friday THE 13TH. And even though the Paramount flick is a classic in its own right, it doesn't even compare to the Canadian shocker. A lot of critics, including Roger Ebert, dismissed RITUALS as a poor man's DELIVERANCE, and though both movies sorta resemble each other, both films couldn't be more different. In DELIVERANCE, we see the villains. In RITUALS, we have no idea who's stalking the men. DELIVERANCE is a survivalist story more about ordinary guys killing hicks in self-defense and the moral implications about killing in a modern world. RITUALS is a survivalist movie about ordinary guys being hounded and killed one by one by an unseen killer. It's more of a horror movie than DELIVERANCE, which is very slick and less believable than the Canadian movie. After watching RITUALS, you really feel you've been through what the actors had to go through in order to make the movie. RITUALS is dirtier, grimier, bloodier and much darker than DELIVERANCE. So, comparing both film is, in my opinion, completely pointless.
If there was an underrated movie, it sure is this one. But why is RITUALS so overlooked? It's probably because it's a Canadian movie. It's also because there's no sex or female nudity from bimbos we usually see in these kind of slashers, which makes it less marketable. RITUALS has an all-male cast and every actor is of a certain age. It's probably too serious for most. It's also been unfairly dismissed by critics who don't care about horror movies. There are countless number of reasons why this movie is unknown and it's a shame because it's a real buried treasure (for those who like these kind of movies, obviously). RITUALS does have a fervent cult following though!
The whole production is excellent. The direction, acting, dialogue, cinematography are top notch. The desolate scenery is at times stunning. And everything has a ring of truth about it. It's filled with tension and dread. It's scary and exhausting. The things that are done to the men are never exaggerated and yet elicit a lot of dread (the bear traps in the river, the medal on Martin, the head on the stick, etc). The conclusion of the film is totally riveting. The whole part at the cabin, with Mitzi hung up in the air. Or the moment Hal Holbrook's character finally meets the killer, when you can help but feel a varied mix of emotions at the sight of the killer (keeping the killer's appearance a mystery up to the very end works, dramatically speaking, perfectly in this instance). Or the scene when the killer gets his hand blown off is shocking because the gore effects are so realistic. Everything about the ending is pure horror, but never over-the-top horror like so many stupid horror films. And, finally, the music is also excellent. For example, when we see the point-of-view of the killer, the music accompanying these shots is subtle and enhances the whole idea behind the usually unimaginative use of POV shots. And I like the very last scene of the movie, the one on the road. All in all, RITUALS is successful on all fronts. The only part that some might find irritating are the behavior of some of the characters (a lot of yelling, grown men crying) but that didn't bother me because it never felt fake. As long as it rings true, I'm fine with any kind of behavior portrayed on screen. RITUALS also has an openly gay character who's just one of the guys. His portrayal, warts and all, is a positive one which was rare in horror movies back then or even today.
I consider RITUALS a masterpiece of horror. Not only is this Canadian flick the best woodsy slasher ever made, it's also one of the best horror films ever made. I give it a big 10!!!!
It's amazing that such a great film is totally overlooked by almost everyone. RITUALS basically started the whole maniac-in-the-woods genre and yet few people have seen it. You think Friday THE 13TH started the whole woodsy slasher trend? Well, RITUALS was made 3 years before Friday THE 13TH. And even though the Paramount flick is a classic in its own right, it doesn't even compare to the Canadian shocker. A lot of critics, including Roger Ebert, dismissed RITUALS as a poor man's DELIVERANCE, and though both movies sorta resemble each other, both films couldn't be more different. In DELIVERANCE, we see the villains. In RITUALS, we have no idea who's stalking the men. DELIVERANCE is a survivalist story more about ordinary guys killing hicks in self-defense and the moral implications about killing in a modern world. RITUALS is a survivalist movie about ordinary guys being hounded and killed one by one by an unseen killer. It's more of a horror movie than DELIVERANCE, which is very slick and less believable than the Canadian movie. After watching RITUALS, you really feel you've been through what the actors had to go through in order to make the movie. RITUALS is dirtier, grimier, bloodier and much darker than DELIVERANCE. So, comparing both film is, in my opinion, completely pointless.
If there was an underrated movie, it sure is this one. But why is RITUALS so overlooked? It's probably because it's a Canadian movie. It's also because there's no sex or female nudity from bimbos we usually see in these kind of slashers, which makes it less marketable. RITUALS has an all-male cast and every actor is of a certain age. It's probably too serious for most. It's also been unfairly dismissed by critics who don't care about horror movies. There are countless number of reasons why this movie is unknown and it's a shame because it's a real buried treasure (for those who like these kind of movies, obviously). RITUALS does have a fervent cult following though!
The whole production is excellent. The direction, acting, dialogue, cinematography are top notch. The desolate scenery is at times stunning. And everything has a ring of truth about it. It's filled with tension and dread. It's scary and exhausting. The things that are done to the men are never exaggerated and yet elicit a lot of dread (the bear traps in the river, the medal on Martin, the head on the stick, etc). The conclusion of the film is totally riveting. The whole part at the cabin, with Mitzi hung up in the air. Or the moment Hal Holbrook's character finally meets the killer, when you can help but feel a varied mix of emotions at the sight of the killer (keeping the killer's appearance a mystery up to the very end works, dramatically speaking, perfectly in this instance). Or the scene when the killer gets his hand blown off is shocking because the gore effects are so realistic. Everything about the ending is pure horror, but never over-the-top horror like so many stupid horror films. And, finally, the music is also excellent. For example, when we see the point-of-view of the killer, the music accompanying these shots is subtle and enhances the whole idea behind the usually unimaginative use of POV shots. And I like the very last scene of the movie, the one on the road. All in all, RITUALS is successful on all fronts. The only part that some might find irritating are the behavior of some of the characters (a lot of yelling, grown men crying) but that didn't bother me because it never felt fake. As long as it rings true, I'm fine with any kind of behavior portrayed on screen. RITUALS also has an openly gay character who's just one of the guys. His portrayal, warts and all, is a positive one which was rare in horror movies back then or even today.
I consider RITUALS a masterpiece of horror. Not only is this Canadian flick the best woodsy slasher ever made, it's also one of the best horror films ever made. I give it a big 10!!!!
Doctors In Distress
bushtony3 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Taking its cue from Boorman's Deliverance, Rituals features a group of middle-aged city doctors heading off for a yearly holiday, this time a hiking trip in the Canadian wilderness. They are systematically terrorised, tortured and killed by a disfigured redneck. As (bad) luck would have it, this one has an axe to grind with the medical profession. So, they really picked the wrong craphole in the middle of nowhere to tramp through.
Visually, this looks like your typically grainy, low budget seventies exploitation flick. What sets it apart is the quality of the writing, the performances by real actors with some pedigree to recommend them and a lack of gratuitous on screen violence. The damage inflicted to human flesh and bone is not sensationalised nor lingered upon, rather the effects and outcomes of that damage becomes the focus and defines how the story arc is affected.
Rituals starts out sedately enough, and slowly cranks up the tension, as the good natured banter and leg-pulling between the "friends" (some of which is quite witty and amusing) quickly spirals into accusatory bile and recrimination as events spiral out of their control. Hal Holbrook gives a fine performance as Harry, the most moral and principled member of the group, nicely counterbalanced by Lawrence Danes' Mitzi, a cynical, self-serving and duplicitous flip-side. This gives some indication early on of who stands the best chance of survival at the end of the day.
The location scenery shots are carefully rendered and provide that faint and haunting sense of "being there." The events, as the protagonists attempt to escape, are suitably gruelling and the final confrontation is escalated nicely to a satisfying climax that avoids the usual clichéd frills, shock double endings, killers who aren't really dead, and the like. The closing image of Holbrook sat in the middle of a deserted, barren highway as the sun slowly rises in a slow burn of muted golden shades lingers longest in the memory.
It is pleasing to see the profile of this unassuming "lost" genre piece now being deservedly raised in a re-mastered release on DVD. Fans of Deliverance, its eerie imagery and unnerving ambiance, could do far worse than give this a spin. Hardcore slasher jockeys will most likely be disappointed by the lack of blood, guts, gore and naked teen breasts.
By today's standards, Rituals is a very tame beast indeed that hasn't really maintained much power to shock the system. It does, however, engage as a fairly gripping story of human endurance in an alien environment and a depiction of civilised man's inhumanity to man. I wouldn't call it essential viewing, but it's certainly worth a look. Especially as the grotesque Stadtler and Waldorf of film critique, Siskel and Ebert, apparently didn't rate it. To me that's usually a sign of some quality, worth and meaning.
Visually, this looks like your typically grainy, low budget seventies exploitation flick. What sets it apart is the quality of the writing, the performances by real actors with some pedigree to recommend them and a lack of gratuitous on screen violence. The damage inflicted to human flesh and bone is not sensationalised nor lingered upon, rather the effects and outcomes of that damage becomes the focus and defines how the story arc is affected.
Rituals starts out sedately enough, and slowly cranks up the tension, as the good natured banter and leg-pulling between the "friends" (some of which is quite witty and amusing) quickly spirals into accusatory bile and recrimination as events spiral out of their control. Hal Holbrook gives a fine performance as Harry, the most moral and principled member of the group, nicely counterbalanced by Lawrence Danes' Mitzi, a cynical, self-serving and duplicitous flip-side. This gives some indication early on of who stands the best chance of survival at the end of the day.
The location scenery shots are carefully rendered and provide that faint and haunting sense of "being there." The events, as the protagonists attempt to escape, are suitably gruelling and the final confrontation is escalated nicely to a satisfying climax that avoids the usual clichéd frills, shock double endings, killers who aren't really dead, and the like. The closing image of Holbrook sat in the middle of a deserted, barren highway as the sun slowly rises in a slow burn of muted golden shades lingers longest in the memory.
It is pleasing to see the profile of this unassuming "lost" genre piece now being deservedly raised in a re-mastered release on DVD. Fans of Deliverance, its eerie imagery and unnerving ambiance, could do far worse than give this a spin. Hardcore slasher jockeys will most likely be disappointed by the lack of blood, guts, gore and naked teen breasts.
By today's standards, Rituals is a very tame beast indeed that hasn't really maintained much power to shock the system. It does, however, engage as a fairly gripping story of human endurance in an alien environment and a depiction of civilised man's inhumanity to man. I wouldn't call it essential viewing, but it's certainly worth a look. Especially as the grotesque Stadtler and Waldorf of film critique, Siskel and Ebert, apparently didn't rate it. To me that's usually a sign of some quality, worth and meaning.
Uncut version is no "Deliverance" or "Hunter's Blood" ...
merklekranz18 July 2007
After being absolutely stunned by how good "Hunter's Blood", another "Deliverance" clone was, I had great expectations for "Rituals". It is however, almost a total misfire. The character development is nonexistent, there is way too much meaningless chattering between the five doctors, and all of the night scenes are so dark due to a lab error, that it is impossible to tell what is going on. If you like watching bad acting, tedious dialog, frequent blackouts of the screen, and an unseen menace, then this is the movie for you. I rate "Deliverance" 7.5, "Hunter's Blood" 6.0, and "Rituals" 4.0, for all of the above reasons. - MERK
low-budget gem
cam2625 August 2004
Just caught this one on T.V. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. The low budget works in its favor. It really gives this movie a realistic feel. Excellent, naturalistic performances by Holbrook, Robin Gammell and (actor-producer) Lawrence Dane, as a bunch of rather ordinary guys caught in extraordinary circumstances. I particularly liked the fact that the killer's motivations are suggested, but never fully explained. The setting and cinematography, particularly during the night scenes, are pretty creepy. All in all, if you're a fan of subtle, realistic, quality horror, check this one out. Kind of surprised Ebert gave this a thumbs down. Seems like his kind of flick.
Note: First make-up credit for FX wiz Carl Fullerton (Friday the 13th parts 2 and 3)
Note: First make-up credit for FX wiz Carl Fullerton (Friday the 13th parts 2 and 3)
So Great.
lorddrewsus4 March 2020
No Firm Statement One Way or the Other
gavin694210 June 2013
Five doctors on a wilderness outing are stalked by disfigured, crazed killers.
The only purpose of my writing this review is to stress the importance of watching a quality copy of a film. While this movie sits at 6 out of 10 (a decent rating, especially by horror standards), I cannot commit to anything more than a 5 because I simply was not able to see the film. I would probably have only given it a 4 if it was not for Hal Holbrook in a starring role.
I watched this on CrypticTV, which is an incredible service for catching horror movies free on the internet or through devices like the Roku. Unfortunately, the version they used (presumably public domain) was so blurry that more often than not the screen was filled with green or brown splotches.
The only purpose of my writing this review is to stress the importance of watching a quality copy of a film. While this movie sits at 6 out of 10 (a decent rating, especially by horror standards), I cannot commit to anything more than a 5 because I simply was not able to see the film. I would probably have only given it a 4 if it was not for Hal Holbrook in a starring role.
I watched this on CrypticTV, which is an incredible service for catching horror movies free on the internet or through devices like the Roku. Unfortunately, the version they used (presumably public domain) was so blurry that more often than not the screen was filled with green or brown splotches.
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