“The Ritual,” directed by David Bruckner, is a horror film that delves into the themes of guilt, friendship, and survival. The story follows a group of four college friends—Luke, Phil, Dom, and Hutch—who reunite for a hiking trip in the Swedish wilderness to honor their friend Rob, who was killed in a robbery six months earlier. Luke harbors guilt over Rob’s death, as he was present during the robbery but failed to intervene.

As they trek through the dense forest, the group encounters strange and unsettling occurrences. When Dom injures his knee, they decide to take a shortcut through the forest, straying from their planned route. This decision proves to be disastrous. They find themselves lost and disoriented, facing increasingly bizarre and terrifying phenomena, including eerie symbols carved into trees and a gutted animal hanging from the branches.

One night, they take refuge in an abandoned cabin and experience disturbing nightmares. The next morning, they discover strange markings on their bodies and feel a growing sense of dread. Tensions rise among the friends as they struggle to find their way out of the forest. They soon realize they are being stalked by a mysterious and malevolent entity.

The creature, revealed to be a Jötunn, a deity-like being from Norse mythology, begins to pick them off one by one. The group encounters a cult that worships the Jötunn and offers human sacrifices to it. The cult captures Luke and Dom, intending to sacrifice them as well. Luke manages to escape, fighting the Jötunn and ultimately confronting his own guilt and fears.

The film culminates in a tense showdown between Luke and the Jötunn. Luke finds the strength to stand up to the creature, symbolically overcoming his inner demons. He manages to escape the forest, emerging onto an open road, battered but alive.

“The Ritual” combines psychological horror with supernatural elements, creating a chilling atmosphere that explores the complexities of guilt, friendship, and the primal instinct to survive. Through its harrowing journey, the film delves into the dark corners of the human psyche and the haunting power of unresolved trauma.