: Widely praised for its visceral survivalism and psychological tension as the friends get lost in the woods.
: Reviewers from The Hollywood Reporter and Empire describe it as a "rote" and "tired" retread of The Exorcist . The use of "shaky cam" and extreme close-ups was widely panned for being nauseating and distracting . El Ritual
: Highly polarizing. It shifts from wilderness survival to a "weird" plot involving a black metal band . Many readers felt this transition ruined the immersion . : Widely praised for its visceral survivalism and
: Highly recommended for fans of "creature features" and atmospheric survival horror. The Ritual by Adam Nevill (Book) : Highly polarizing
: Critics praise its atmospheric dread , creature design, and the exploration of male guilt and trauma.
The novel on which the 2017 film is based is famously known as a "book of two halves."