It stars A. J. Bowen, Sonny Marinelli, and Katherine Randolph as kidnappers who encounter an unrelated kidnapping victim (Anessa Ramsey), who is fleeing a monster.

The Stranger strips Alyssa naked, gives her a sponge bath, puts a goat mask on her head, and takes her away.

Ben recruits his wife, his brother Tommy, and his acquaintance Paul Nolan to ransom Hayden's daughter.

The kidnapping goes off without any problems, but Paul deviates from the plan: he murders Hayden's wife and takes nanny Jessica hostage.

When they find his mementos and a wall covered in news clippings of missing women, they attempt to leave, but the Stranger captures them both and prepares them for the creature.

[2] A. J. Bowen was shooting A Horrible Way to Die when he heard from Ti West that producer John Norris was looking to cast him in Rites of Spring.

[8] Scott Weinberg of Fearnet wrote that the film's tropes are not original, but that the fast pacing, freshness, and suspense make up for it.

"[12] John Anderson of Variety called it a "genuinely gripping" film that will appeal to hardcore horror fans.

[13] Nick Schlager of Time Out Chicago rated it 1/5 stars and called it "a hodgepodge of genre clichés that proves as exciting as a bloody nose.

"[14] David Guzman of Film Journal International said that the lack of originality was offset by the fresh premise and suspense.

[15] Paul Doro of Shock Till You Drop criticized the lack of back story for the creature and scenes that "appear to be a homeless man chasing idiots around an empty building.