Happy Tuesday ☀️ I hope you had a great long weekend!
Today’s recommendation is for The Ritual — an underseen horror gem on Netflix that’s perfect if you liked The Blair Witch Project or The Descent (two bonus recommendations!). If you don’t like horror don’t worry. Thursday’s rec will be safe for you.
Here’s what it’s about: A group of college friends gathers for a trip to the remote Swedish forest after losing someone close to them. However, after losing their way, they realize that something may be following them. [Trailer]
Why you should watch it: The Ritual may not be the most original, but it makes up for it with pure nightmare fuel. Mixing all the best of slow-burn horror with well-executed jump scares, director David Bruckner (whose new movie The Night House I reviewed here) creates an atmosphere of darkness and dread that never feels safe.
The early set pieces pull from The Blair Witch Project by hiding what’s terrorizing the group. Instead, the horror comes from what you can’t see and what’s happening when they’re not aware. The plot gets a little too muddy in the final act and a touch overwrought, but for a sleek 94 minutes it’s completely worth it for the economical horror.
Directed by David Bruckner // Runtime 94 mins // Year 2018 // Genre Horror
📺 The Ritual is streaming exclusively on Netflix.
One trailer you should watch
Vivarium
From Saban Pictures: A young couple looking for the perfect home find themselves trapped in a mysterious labyrinth-like neighborhood of identical houses.
My take: Vivarium apparently premiered at Cannes to little fanfare and then this trailer dropped three weeks ago to the same response because I hadn’t heard about it until now. I love Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg and will pretty much watch anything they’re in. But the ridiculous premise is also enough to interest me.
Directed by Lorcan Finnegan // Runtime 97 mins // Year 2020 // Genre Thriller
📺 In theaters March 27th
That’s it for today! This will be a great week, I can feel it. I’ll be in your inbox this Thursday with a fresh recommendation.
You’re the best!
Karl (@karl_delo)