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Thread: The Ritual (David Bruckner) - Netflix Horror

  1. #1
    Administrator Ezee E's Avatar
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    The Ritual (David Bruckner) - Netflix Horror


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  2. #2
    Administrator Ezee E's Avatar
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    An unexpected surprise for a straight-to-Netflix movie. It hits a lot of good notes, even if it follows some familiar territory. Love a good "lost in the woods" flick and the creature design is actually pretty clever.

    Deserves some talk in the "Sangre" thread.

    Barbarian - ***
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  3. #3
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Yeah we watched this last night and I kind of loved it.
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

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  4. #4
    Evil mind, evil sword. Ivan Drago's Avatar
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    Had no idea this was from David Bruckner! His short in V/H/S is awesome.
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  5. #5
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Really enjoyed the characters, and the film subtly but effectively comments on male machismo (and how it differs from true “bravery”). Liked that bit of it.

    Yes it definitely hits many familiar notes as Irish stated, but I thought it hit them in a fresh enough way that I was totally engaged the whole time.

    The slow reveal of the monster was perfectly paced. I’m a sucker for seeing the monster so I would have been ticked if we never really got to see it. We definitely do, and even though we see it in full, I’m not sure I could properly describe it. It’s such a different and unique design.

    This was tense, beautifully filmed (loved the recurring shots peering deep into the woods, through hundreds of layers of trees, with something moving in the back).

    Great stuff.
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

  6. #6
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    There’s so much going on under the hood in this.

    Can’t wait to watch it again.
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

  7. #7
    Administrator Ezee E's Avatar
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    Yeah, it really does captures the fear of being lost and what could be in the woods better than most. The first sleep scene in the house is everything bad dreams and horror stories are made of. It starts to lose a little steam when we actually see the people, as it goes for atypical tactics from there on. I also wonder why they had to have the one english-speaking on to explain what we can already assume on our own.

    But yeah, I'm recommending this to just about anyone that likes scary movies. I hope it catches on.

    Barbarian - ***
    Bones and All - ***
    Tar - **


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  8. #8
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Ezee E (view post)
    Yeah, it really does captures the fear of being lost and what could be in the woods better than most. The first sleep scene in the house is everything bad dreams and horror stories are made of. It starts to lose a little steam when we actually see the people, as it goes for atypical tactics from there on. I also wonder why they had to have the one english-speaking on to explain what we can already assume on our own.

    But yeah, I'm recommending this to just about anyone that likes scary movies. I hope it catches on.
    Same. I’ve gotten 5 people to watch it already.
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

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  9. #9
    Moderator TGM's Avatar
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    Had a lot of Blair Witch vibes in this. I'd say this works better as a sequel than, well, either of the actual Blair Witch sequels. I dug it.

  10. #10
    Administrator Ezee E's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting TGM (view post)
    Had a lot of Blair Witch vibes in this. I'd say this works better as a sequel than, well, either of the actual Blair Witch sequels. I dug it.
    Blair Witch Europe > Blair Witch USA

    Barbarian - ***
    Bones and All - ***
    Tar - **


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  11. #11
    What is best in life? D_Davis's Avatar
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    There's already a toy available!



    Pretty good movie.

    I liked it, but I liked Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows more. I think that movie is highly underrated.

  12. #12
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    Enjoyed the hell out of this. I agree with D that Book of Shadows is very underrated too.

  13. #13
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Anyone who doesn’t say this is outright great are objectively wrong.
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  14. #14
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    My only complaint (and this is a complete nitpick)

    [
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  15. #15
    What is best in life? D_Davis's Avatar
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    It reminded me of Descent: The Version With Dudes, but I think Descent did a better job at conveying the main character's descent into madness, and in fleshing the characters out.

    I really, really liked the opening of this movie though. Totally brutal, and surprising. I also liked the part in the cabin.

    And the creature looked great. I had heard that it was full on a Kingdom Death Monster, monster, and it totally was.

  16. #16
    What is best in life? D_Davis's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Skitch (view post)
    I agree with D that Book of Shadows is very underrated too.
    There is someone else!

    Book of Shadows is fucking awesome. Perfect way to do a sequel, especially for a movie like BW. I also found it incredibly creepy.

  17. #17
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    Totally agree. It felt like it understood the appeal of the first film and turned the notion on its head. Took me a couple trips to come around on it, but its pretty sweet. Love all three in the series.

  18. #18
    Replacing Luck Since 1984 Dukefrukem's Avatar
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    I'll say it. This was better than Witch.

    Really happy they didn't do the whole "that's the same house" bit too.
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  19. #19
    Moderator TGM's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Dukefrukem (view post)
    I'll say it. This was better than Witch.
    I'd agree with that.

  20. #20
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    As much as I enjoyed this movie...NO WAY.

  21. #21
    This is average at best, with a lot of missed opportunities - but yes, it is better than The Witch.
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  22. #22
    Administrator Ezee E's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Dukefrukem (view post)
    I'll say it. This was better than Witch.

    Really happy they didn't do the whole "that's the same house" bit too.
    Do you mean in the second house being the same as the first one they went to?

    Barbarian - ***
    Bones and All - ***
    Tar - **


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  23. #23
    Replacing Luck Since 1984 Dukefrukem's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Ezee E (view post)
    Do you mean in the second house being the same as the first one they went to?
    Yeh. Or that's the same tree. That's the same river. etc etc.
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