Questions About The Ritual

by Adam L.G. Nevill (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (6)

I found that they somehow decided to make a movie out of this disaster of a novel. Is it worth watching? I mean, did they make the movie somehow good out of something so bad?

Veronica Shields The problem with the novel is that it's two books slapped together into one story that ultimately isn't cohesive. Part One is more horror-suspense, an…moreThe problem with the novel is that it's two books slapped together into one story that ultimately isn't cohesive. Part One is more horror-suspense, and the Part Two is more horror-fantasy. (IMO, the real failure here is on the part of Nevill's editor - a good one would've caught that genre shift right away and curbed it before it reached the later stages of drafting.)

I think the movie actually improves upon it in the sense that it dumps the Blood Frenzy plotline and changes the character of the village Luke stumbles upon. Instead of the overarching theme of the search for meaning and purpose in a world where human life is small and devalued, it turns into a reflection on death and loss as an inevitable and natural of human experience and how we come to terms with that. I think this was a wise shift for the movie, and the second part (which I won't spoil) more naturally progresses that theme in terms of the relationship of the villagers to the creature. Pretty decent horror movie all around, and honestly, the creature design alone is worth a watch.(less)

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Is there any swearing or sexual scenes in this book?

Jared There is swearing throughout the novel but no real sexual scenes.

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Lisa Wintler-cox I thought this was to show how the Mother and her children were manifested into the world. I didn't think the "how" of the process was explained thoug…moreI thought this was to show how the Mother and her children were manifested into the world. I didn't think the "how" of the process was explained though. I was thinking more along the lines of The Dunwich Horror as I think this was partly an homage.(less)

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