Rituals is a 1977 Canadian horror-thriller film directed by Peter Carter, and starring Hal Holbrook, Lawrence Dane, and Robin Gammell.

D.J., already tired of the animosity among the group, volunteers to hike to a hydro-dam that, according to his map, is several miles away, presuming there will be people operating it who can help them.

leaves, that night, Mitzi finds a severed deer head hanging in front of their campsite, along with a snake curled around its spinal cord, resembling the caduceus.

Harry, Mitzi, and Martin flee, tumbling down a steep hill to a lake below to escape the bees, with Abel trailing behind them.

From the water, Martin briefly glimpses a shadowy figure throwing Abel over the steep incline, causing him to break his neck, killing him.

In the morning, while using the rope to cross the river, Martin steps on a bear trap in the water, breaking his leg.

Mitzi subsequently tries to apologize to Harry after the men camp onshore, and reminisces about their mutual friend, Andy, who died by suicide when they were in medical school.

Shortly after, they find someone has placed a World War II medal around Martin's neck, leading Harry to believe their stalker is a veteran.

Tied to his body, Harry finds an overexposed x-ray and hospital discharge paperwork for a man named Matthew Crowley.

Alone, Harry locates an abandoned cabin, where he uncovers several World War II mementos, along with the group's stolen boots.

Harry begins to lose consciousness due to blood loss, and is forced to cauterize his own wound, but is unable to save Mitzi from the blaze.

In the morning, Harry finally reaches a country road where he sits idly, awaiting the next passing car.

[2] According to actor Hal Holbrook, the shoot was very physically demanding; he noted that the sequence in which he and Lawrence Dane's character attempt to pull Martin (Robin Gammell) upstream on a river took five days to film.

"[7] TV Guide, however, awarded the film an unfavorable 1 out of 5 stars, calling it "[a] cheap north-of-the-border ripoff of Deliverance".