What begins as a crime of greed ends as a sacrifice to something far older than fear.
Rites of Spring (2011) is a hybrid indie horror film that merges two seemingly unrelated storylines—one a kidnapping thriller, the other a creature-driven folk horror—and collides them in a brutal, blood-soaked finale. Directed by Padraig Reynolds, the film dives into primal fear, ancient rituals, and the hidden horrors of rural America.
The film begins with Rachel and her friend abducted by a masked stranger and taken to an isolated farm. There, they’re told they are part of a yearly “cleansing”—a ritual sacrifice to appease something inhuman that lurks beneath the barn. Meanwhile, in a nearby town, a group of desperate criminals executes a plan to kidnap a wealthy man’s daughter for ransom. But their scheme quickly goes awry, forcing them to flee—only to stumble upon the same cursed farm.
The two narratives eventually intertwine in a storm of violence and chaos, as both victims and perpetrators are hunted by a grotesque, inhuman creature that seems tied to the land’s pagan past. The film doesn’t over-explain its mythology, instead leaning into atmosphere, mystery, and relentless pacing.
With stylish visuals, a pulsating score, and a gritty blend of slasher and supernatural horror, Rites of Spring offers something offbeat and unnerving. While some viewers may find its genre-switch jarring, others will appreciate its ambition and chilling sense of inevitability.
At its core, this is a film about the cost of tradition—and how some rituals are never truly buried.
