Ritual is a 2013 American horror film written and directed by Mickey Keating. It stars Lisa Summerscales and Dean Cates as a married couple who must deal with a murderous cult. It was released in the United States on December 31, 2013.
Plot
Tom Moses' estranged wife, Lovely, kills a man who tried to kidnap her and calls him for help. Finding a video of a cult sacrifice in the dead man's car, Tom realizes he and his wife are in danger.
Cast
Lisa Summerscales as Lovely
Dean Cates as Tom
Brian Lally as Roman
Derek Phillips as The Man
Larry Fessenden as Motel Clerk
Release
Lionsgate Home Entertainment released it in the United States on December 31, 2013.
Reception
Samuel Zimmerman of Fangoria rated it 3/4 stars and wrote, "Being a brisk film, Ritual is one half intimate, indie motel dilemma/one half violent pursuit, punctuated by stark oddities in aesthetic and sound design throughout." Patrick Cooper of Bloody Disgusting rated it 2/5 stars and, though he complimented the score and acting, said the film comes off as "an uninspired attempt at tapping into David Lynch's style". In comparing it negatively to Vacancy, Rohit Rao of DVD Talk rated it 2/5 stars and called it "an odd little thriller that hardly ever thrills".