All Episodes

June 6, 2025 32 mins

In this episode of Cinema D’Amore, hosts Justin Morgan and Charles Phillips venture into the haunting wilderness of The Ritual (2017), currently streaming on Netflix. As part of their ongoing series on thematic connections, they draw eerie parallels to last week’s feature, The Descent, examining both films’ focus on grief, male camaraderie, and lurking supernatural threats.

The conversation explores Rafe Spall’s standout performance, the film’s uniquely British tone, and its moody atmosphere, from striking cinematography to the bone-chilling creature design. The hosts also critique the film’s pacing, narrative gaps, and its handling of fear and emotional trauma in the face of survival.

Is The Ritual a spiritual companion to The Descent—or just another shadowy echo in the woods? Tune in for thoughtful analysis, sharp opinions, and a few unexpected laughs along the way.

Hosted by Justin Morgan Co-hosted by Charles Phillips Mixing by Scratchin’ Menace Music by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley

Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for updates. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms. Please subscribe, rate, and review—we appreciate the support!

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.