The Ritual

In this episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rosśa close out 2025 by trekking deep into the haunted woods of The Ritual (2017), David Bruckner’s bleak and beautifully shot folk horror nightmare. What begins as a memorial hike for a fallen friend quickly turns into a descent into guilt, grief, and something ancient lurking among the trees. As tensions fracture the group, the forest itself becomes an active participant in their undoing.

We break down the film’s Norse mythology, rune symbolism, sacrificial cult practices, and the terrifying presence of Moder, a Jötunn-inspired entity born from fear and subjugation. Along the way, we unpack Luke’s trauma, survival guilt, and the film’s meditation on masculinity, mourning, and power. Is The Ritual a witchcraft film, or something older and darker? Join us as we explore folk magic, pagan horror, and why this underrated modern classic still cuts so deep.

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